Target worked hard by Moyvane
Tarbert -12 Moyvane 0-11
IT was always going to be a tough task for Moyvane.
Operating in Division 5 of the County League and playing away to Division 4 side Tarbert, the cards were certainly stacked against them in this County Junior championship contest. However, in fairness to them they gave as good as they got in a very entertaining and competitive championship game, before eventually running out of steam.
Tarbert were the better side throughout ,and but for a brief spell at the start of the second half when Moyvane put over four on the bounce, they were that bit slicker and more workmanlike than their opponents. Shane Enright didn’t line out due to injury and Tarbert will be hoping to have him available for the tougher tasks ahead in this competition.
Moyvane will point to the concession of 1-3 in the first 10 minutes as having a major impact on the game. The goal in the very first minute from a well struck penalty by Gerald O’Sullivan gave Tarbert a tonic start and three further points from a Shane O’Connor free, O’Sullivan and Mark Buckley, put them firmly in the driving seat.
Credit to Moyvane, and to their most dangerous attacker Martin Stack, who put over three points in a row to keep his team in the contest. Tarbert began to take a foothold at midfield once more and with Micheal Carrig driving forward from wing-back, they put over three more points, one a monster 50-metre free by Shane O’Connor, and two from Cillian Langan, as the Moyvane defence struggled under the constant pressure.
Both sides swapped some bad wides, but Timmy Noonan did score a superb individual point over his right shoulder for Moyvane, to leave the half time score Tarbert 1-6 Moyvane 0-4.
Moyvane had the benefit of the breeze in the second half and started in whirlwind fashion. Points from Shane Stack, Martin Stack (2) and Padraig Leahy brought them back to within a point of the hosts with just five minutes gone.
It could have been worse for Tarbert as Martin Stack was very unlucky not to score a goal when a poor kickout was nearly punished to the full when his attempted lob over the stranded Tarbert keeper Kennedy went over,
rather than under the bar.
Sensing danger, and with their backs to the wall, Tarbert took control of the game once more, and Danny Wren at centre half back was an inspirational figure when his side needed him the most.
Points followed from Cillian Langan (2), Shane O’Connor, and the industrious Mark Buckley to push Tarbert five ahead, 1-10 to 0-8, with just 10 minutes remaining in a what was a fast free flowing encounter.
Tarbert were now firmly in control of the contest and they dropped a number of players back to defence to close out the contest. Shane Stack and Kevin Kennelly were doing their utmost to bring Moyvane back into the game, but disciplined defence by Wren and Micheal Heaphy kept the Moyvane attack at bay. Shane O’Connor pointed a free for Tarbert from out near the sideline, and Kevin Enright pointed from play, to push them further ahead with only minutes remaining.
Moyvane did add two more points in the dying minutes from Colin Enright and Donal Leahy, but it was too little too late as the Tarbert men deservedly finished the game as four point victors.
Fair play to both sides for playing the game in a spirited and honest fashion. Tarbert now march on to the next round where they face a tough away game against Listry.
TARBERT: John Kennedy, Sean Holly, Michael Heaphy, Sean Carrig, Noel Kennedy, Danny Wren, Michael Carrig, Micheal Normoyle, Donal Leahy, Shane O’Connor (0-4, 3f), Mark Buckley (0-2), Cillian Langan (0-3,1f), Finbarr Carrig, Gerald O’Sullivan (11,1pen), Kevin Enright (0-1) Subs: Ian Flavin for N Kennedy, 59
MOYVANE: Brendan Galvin, Mike Woods, Eamon O’Faherty, Denis Kennelly, Shane Stack(0-1), Owen Stack, Colin Enright (0-1), Donal Leahy (0-1), Con Mulvihill, Brian Stack (0-1), Kevin Kennelly, Aidan Keane, Martin Stack (0-5, 1f), Timmy Noonan (01), Padraig Leahy (0-1) Subs: Gavin Kennelly for P Leahy, 43 REFEREE: John Dineen (Fossa)