S.F.L Division 1
Tinryland 2-15 St. Patricks 1-12
Tinryland seniors won the league points and assured themselves of a semi-final place with a comfortable enough win over the home side at Bro. Leo Park on Friday 20th May.
There were a lot of positives to be taken out of the game from a Tinryland viewpoint but if there is a downside it was the number of chances kicked wide or into the goalkeeper’s hand over the hour. The game began with a St. Patricks point from centre forward Craig Staunton in the 4th minute. Tinryland replied one minute later with a great Conor Brennan point after good interplay between Maurice Lawler and Shane Redmond who was the best player on the field in this game. Tinryland edged ahead with a well struck 45 in the 6th minute before Jack Kennedy levelled matters with a free won by himself in the 14th minute. Tinryland then had a gilt- edged goal chance but Cillian Fagans shot was too near the Tullow goalie James Tobin. Two superbly struck Niall Lowry points from dead balls gave Tinryland breathing space and when Matthew O’Toole lofted over a great point following good work by Paddy Regan the men in blue and white were 3 points ahead by the 20th minute. A good interception by Conor Ryan resulted in another Tinryland point in the 24th minute. Two minutes later it got even better for Tinryland when Paddy Regan crashed the ball to the Tullow net following great play by Niall Lowry, Shane Redmond and Maurice Lawler. Tinryland were coasting now with a 7 point lead but were soon rocked back to reality when a Jack Kennedy delivery was well caught by St Pats corner forward Brian Byrne who crashed the ball past Chris Townsend 2 minutes before half time.This score gave the home team encouragement and a Dillon Hanley point in the 29th minute left only 3 points separating the teams. The final jousts of the opening half saw both sides score a point via Maurice Lawler for Tinryland and Craig Staunton for St. Patricks. Half time score Tinryland 1-7 St. Patricks 1-4
When referee James Foley re-started proceedings Cormac O’Brien had entered the fray for Matthew O’Toole and it was Tinryland that got on the scoresheet first when Cillian Fagan raised a white flag after good play from Jonah Dunne, Niall Lowry and Conor Brennan. Jack Kennedy kept St. Patricks in touch with another conversion but a great catch from Shane Redmond was transferred to Conor Brennan who slotted over another Tinryland point leaving 4 points separating the teams once again.
Tinryland then introduced Cian Lawlor who was returning from injury and his presence began to cause problems for the home team. It was St Patricks who enjoyed their best spell at this stage however and 3 quick points from Brian Byrne, Craig Staunton and Jack Kennedy left only a single point separating the sides entering the last quarter. It was time for Tinryland to knuckle down now and John Murphy lifted the siege with 2 well worked points in quick succession in the 46th and 47 minutes. Jack Kennedy kept the Tullow account going with another point from a free before Cillian Fagan got his due reward when he crashed the ball to the Tullow net to leave 5 points separating the teams with 9 minutes remaining. Eoin O’Toole and Niall Lowry then traded points before Craig Staunton for St. Patricks and Cian Lawler for Tinryland did likewise. The home side to their credit would not lie down and another point from Jack O’Neill left 4 points separating the sides once again. The final stages of the game saw Tinryland up the ante and well worked points from Maurice Lawler and Conor Brennan ensured a safe passage to the league semi-final where Tinryland’s probable opponents will be Eire Og.
Tinryland: Chris Townsend, Adam Fennelly, Conor Ryan, John Murphy, Niall Lowry 0-4, Jonah Dunne, Michael Hosey, Shane Redmond, Conor Brennan 0-3, Conor McGrath, Matthew O’Toole 0-1, Conor O’Toole, Paddy Regan1-0, Maurice Lawler 0-2, Cillian Fagan 1-1. Subs: Cormac O’Brien, Cian Lawlor 0-1, Cian Nicholl.
St. Patricks: James Tobin, Ben Butler, Adam Johnson, Conor Murphy, Eoghan Cleary, Lee Kavanagh, Dylan Gorman-Comerford, Padraig Murphy, Dillon Hanley 0-1, Stephan Metcalfe, Craig Staunton 0-4, Jack Kennedy 0-4, Jack O’Neill 0-1, Cathal Murray, Brian Byrne 1-1. Subs: Ryan Malone, Eoin Dempsey, Cathal Murray, Darren Walsh, Eoin O’Toole 0-1
Referee James Foley Kilbride
