Tyrrell double seals Moorefield’s progress

MOOREFIELD were far from flattered by their six-point winning margin against Mullingar Shamrocks at TEG Cusack Park, Mullingar yesterday – the reigning provincial champions in control for most of a disappointing first round clash in the Leinster Senior Football Club Championship.

The home team started brightly, however, and were two points clear within six minutes, courtesy of a Denis Corroon free and a neat score from play by Tye Adamson.

Moorefield levelled by the 12th minute, with a point apiece from Ronan Sweeney and Niall Hurley Lynch.

An Adamson free put the Westmeath champions ahead by 0-3 to 0-2, but their Kildare counterparts pounced for their first goal in the 16th minute, the outstanding Adam Tyrrell (pictured) finding the net in style after a great catch from a delivery by Cian O’Connor.

When the same player doubled his goal tally in the 25th minute, having collected a long ball from Eanna O’Connor, his side looked en route to a Leinster quarter-final against Portlaoise.

Another Tyrrell point from play in the 28th minute left Moorefield ahead by 2-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

An unispiring third quarter produced only two points, both to Moorefield, but Mullingar Shamrocks came right back into contention against the run of play by scoring an unanswered 1-2 between the 48th and 54th minutes.

A foul on Kieran Gavin resulted in a penalty, which was duly converted by Dean Moore.

With Moorefield resting a number of key players, the game looked like it might take an unexpected twist, but two late frees from Eanna O’Connor wrapped up a comfortable win for the holders, who had David Whyte dismissed in added time after picking up a black card to go with his earlier yellow.

Moorefield, who won last year’s Leinster title with a late comeback against another Mullingar team, St Loman’s, will have home advantage when they face the Laois champions next Sunday week.