Polished Dromtariffe come good in quarter replay

Dromtariffe 2-16 Ballydesmond 0-13

DROMTARIFFE got the verdict to edge out Ballydesmond in a trap to line win in their County Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final replay at Boherbue last Sunday.

Two weeks earlier, Dromtariffe had pulled out a result from the fire thanks to quickfire goals deep into injury time. However on this occasion, nobody could quibble with this outcome, Dromtariffe’s football refreshing, operating with a pace and direction that Ballydesmond failed to match.

This replay belonged to Dromtariffe thanks to an impressive team performance, faster to the ball, sharper in the tackle and more creative in possession allowed Dromtariffe deliver an impressive appetite for success. For their part, Ballydesmond will regret letting a five point advantage slip deep into injury time to the drawn game, the overall performance levels down to that of the previous outing.

At the end of the hour, Dromtariffe team manager James McAulliffe heaped praise on their rise in intensity, particularly given, the fact of they were forced to overcome adversary, without two first team players, centre back Jack Murphy incurred a season ending injury in the drawn game and top forward Daniel O’Keeffe was absent owing to suspension.

“We’re happy after getting out of jail in the drawn game where we under performed. This is a pleasing outing considering that we were without two key players, we showed our panel’s strength, that’s most pleasing,” he said.

“There was a feeling of a little under siege from the opening game, our supporters disappointed, the lads wanted to prove their capabilities. Our tactics are varied, going with long and short, the maturity showing up well where we certainly learned much from two weeks ago.”

Though the game never reached the epic status of the drawn encounter, there was no disputing Dromtariffe’s wellbeing here to the Duhallow derby. At the outset, Dromtariffe were primed for a gutsy performance, the Howard brothers and Eanna Mernagh strong and composed in defence, Adam Buckley and Michael Healy helped by Conor O’Callaghan bossed the centre and offered the springboard for a number of attacks.

Indeed Dromtariffe’s mix of pace coming down the centre troubled the Ballydesmond defence as did the long ball to target man Seamus O’Sullivan. And a lack of discipline within the Ballydesmond rearguard allowed Evan Murphy convert pointed frees.

An early setback to Ballydesmond saw Richard Flynn pick up an injury that made for a sixth minute exit.

Still Ballydesmond got to grips with the situation, points to Niall Fleming and Daire Moynihan offered encouragement.

However Dromtariffe received a shot in the arm in the 28th minute, Buckley centred for target man O’Sullivan to connect only for Ballydesmond ‘keeper Fergal O’Sullivan produce a marvellous reflex save. But from the rebound, Darren O’Connor sidefooted the ball home for a 1-8 to 0-6 advantage at the break.

In fairness, Ballydesmond offered commendable battling qualities upon the restart, applying the pressure allowed Donncha O’Connor find the range. Indeed, Ballydesmond spurned gilt edged goal chances, Fleming fired narrowly wide and Shane Kelly denied by a timely leg block from Dromtariffe sub ‘keeper Michael O’Brien.

With the scoreboard standing 1-9 to 0-9 in Dromtariffe’s favour, matters worsened for Ballydesmond when defender John O’Keeffe picked up a red card. That allowed Dromtariffe dictate the closing stages with points to Murphy, Denis O’Donoughue and Conor O’Callaghan.

And though Ballydesmond chased the game, the icing was put on the Dromtariffe cake from a goal netted by substitute Shane Collins to book a semi final place against Gabriel Rangers. Disappointment for Ballydesmond, enjoying their best campaign for some years, dropping their guard in injury time to the drawn encounter gave Dromtariffe the space to deliver a considerable improvement.

DROMTARRIFFE: D Mann; C Cremin, T Howard, S Howard; E Mernagh, C O’Mahony, B O’Keeffe; A Buckley, M Healy; E Murphy 0-6 (4f), D O’Donoghue 0-1, M O’Connor 0-2; D O’Connor 1-0, S O’Sullivan, C O’Callaghan 0-6 (3f). Subs: M O’Brien for D Mann (34 inj), S Collins 1-1 for M O’Connor (41), J Buckley for M O’Connor (48).

BALLYDESMOND: F O’Sullivan; C Linehan, N O’Leary, T Howard; J Healy 0-1, D Kelly, J O’Keeffe; S Kelly, S Cronin 0-1; R Flynn, S Carey 0-1, Donal O’Connor; Donncha O’Connor 0-6 (4f), D Moynihan 0-1, N Fleming 0-3. Subs: L Murphy for R Flynn (6 inj), S Murphy for T Howard (ht), B Fleming for L Murphy (49), K O’Connell for S Cronin (55).

REFEREE: D Farrell (Mitchelstown)