Stryve U20 Super League
Tinryland 1-11 Ballon 1-7
Tinryland U20s kept their unbeaten record intact with a 4-point win over Ballon at a windy Rathcrogue on Friday evening 26th November.
Ballon were first to settle and despite playing against the strong wind were two points ahead after only 4 minutes after a 1st minute point from full forward Callum Fisher and a successful free from mid-fielder Fionn McCaffrey. The away side could not improve on this good start though and Tinryland settled down to dominate the remainder of the half. The opening score for the home side came from their best player Cormac O’Brien who converted a free won by himself in the 8th minute. Ballon then were reduced to 14 when full back Lorcan Doyle was black carded in the 10th minute and Cormac O’Brien levelled matters when he converted the subsequent free. Two brilliant Cillian Fagan points before the first water break edged Tinryland ahead and when play resumed Seamus McCullough put 3 points between the teams as Tinryland tried to take advantage of the strong wind advantage. Two more Cillian Fagan points in the 22nd and 23rd minutes stretched the hoops lead and the opening half ended with a brilliant Mark Mullen point which left Tinryland leading by 8 points to 2 points when referee John Hickey sounded the half time whistle.
With wind advantage Ballon were expected to mount a significant challenge to the home team in the second half and they added to their tally when full forward Callum Fisher pointed in the 35th minute. Kevin Maher then added another point for Ballon before senior player Jonah Dunne lifted the siege to extend Tinryland’s lead just before the 2nd water break. Two quick Cormac O’Brien points immediately after the restart appeared to have sealed victory for the men in blue and white and victory seemed assured when sub Jody Doyle Hutton raised a white flag with 13 minutes remaining. There was another kick in Ballon though and a Myles Hutton point heralded another mini revival that continued with another point from Hutton and a fortunate goal from Luke Devlin that deceived Tinryland goalkeeper Daniel Donegan and brought his side right back into this contest.
Tinryland looked in trouble when Callum Fisher pointed with 4 minutes remaining to leave the minimum separating the team’s but it was the home side that had the final say and after good play by a pletoria of players Paddy Regan crashed the ball to the Ballon net with 2 minutes remaining to seal victory for Tinryland. Outstanding for the winners were Matthew Gleeson, Michael Hosey, Jonah Dunne, Mark Mullen, Cillian Fagan, Cormac O’Brien and Paddy Regan.
Ballon had outstanding players in Adam Deacon, Fionn McCaffrey, Sean Treacy, Myles Hutton, Luke Devlin and Callum Fisher.
Tinryland: Daniel Donegan, Matthew Gleeson, Daire Brophy, Cian McGuire, Mark Mullen, Jonah Dunne 0-1, Michael Hosey, Cian Nicholl, Cormac McElligott, Brian McGrath, Cillian Fagan 0-4, Paddy Regan 1-0, Cormac O’Brien 0-4F, John Dempsey, Shay McCullough 0-1. Subs: Luke Broderick, Alex Kelliher, Jody Doyle- Hutton 0-1, Aongus O’Shea.
Ballon: Cormac Kinsella, Joshua Fernandez, Lorcan Doyle, John Kinsella, Adam Deacon, Conor Bolger, Donncha Murphy, Luke Devlin 1-0, Fionn McCaffrey 0-1, Sean Tracey, Padraig Murphy, Myles Hutton 0-2, Kevin Maher 0-1, Callum Fisher 0-3, Ben Goodwin Sub: Seamus Connolly
Referee John Hickey (Fenagh)
