Round three of the Championship
TUBBERCURRY took a step closer to the championship semi-finals with a five-point win over Shamrock Gaels at sun drenched Corran Park last Sunday.
In a game played in ideal conditions, Tubbercurry survived a late Gaels’ rally but in reality, they dominated this game throughout and the Gaels can thank goalkeeper Daniel Lyons who made four excellent saves to keep them in the game right to the end.
Tubbercurry opened the scoring through Jason Perry who had an excellent hour with the Gaels responding a few minutes later through a Brian Boyd free. That was to be the closet the Gaels got to Tubbercurry in a game played at a frantic pace.
Tubbercurry’s first goal chance came on six minutes when a breaking ball in the square was cleverly flicked by veteran David Kelly only to see his effort come of the post.
It would be eight minutes before Tubber got their second score from a Darragh Kilcoyne free and this seemed to lift the team with two excellent individual points from Brian Morahan in quick succession starting the Tubber dominance. Cian Gilmartin who was dominant at centre back, created and finished a great move only to see his goal bound shot go narrowly wide.
The Gaels defended well however struggled to get past the midfield area kicking away a lot of possession while Tubbercurry on the other hand were calmer in possession and led by four going into the water break.
They started the second quarter where they left off, patiently retaining possession while aggressively fighting for possession with a number of turnovers with Brian Curran and midfielder Rory Ryan involved in most of what was good for Tubbercurry. The Gaels did not register their second score until twenty minutes through Shane Deignan and generally lacked ideas and creativity up front. With David Kelly pulling the strings in the forward line, the Gaels were caught napping when a through ball from Kelly found Jason Perry in acres of space and his pass found Dermot Walsh who forced Lyons into his first save on twenty-three minutes.
Boyd and Kelly exchanged points before the decisive score of the match with two minutes remaining when Tubber were awarded a penalty after a foot block on Jason Perry by Gaels captain Paul Higgins.
Perry converted with ease to put Tubber six points as half time approached, but not before Lyons was again called on to save the Gaels’ blushes with a save from Kilcoyne who found himself unmarked in front of goals on the stroke of half time.
Tubbercurry started the second half without the injured Brian Curran who was replaced by Gerard Perry and immediately got on the scoreboard with the first of Dermot Walsh’s two points from converted marks.
Frank Quinn responded for the Gaels before Lyons again was called on to save from Jason Perry as the Tubber attack carved through the Gaels defence.
Kilcoyne pointed from the resultant 45 to extend Tubbercurry’s lead to seven points.
Lyons denied Perry for the second time on six minutes with another great save and
Kilcoyne again converted the 45.
The Gaels were given a lifeline just before the water break when a good turnover from Sean Carroll after Gerard Perry was caught in possession leading to Frank Quinn and David Quinn combining to set up substitute Eoin Carroll for a well worked goal.
A renewed Gaels emerged after the water break with a greater sense of urgency and a higher work rate and when Darragh Hailstones got the Gaels second goal after a mistake from keeper Colm McGee, a comeback looked on with the gap now just three points.
David Kelly immediately settled Tubbercurry’s nerves with a point while substitute Lee Deignan responding for the Gaels after a patient build up.
The closing quarter was free ridden which led to almost five minutes injury time which the Gaels did not factor in as they persistently tried to work a goal with eight minutes left when maybe picking of their points would have been a better option.
Dylan Willis did hit the post after a great catch on the edge of the square.
David Kelly and Jason Perry on the other hand were much more efficient at the other end stepping up when needed and taking the pressure off in the frantic closing stages.
Tubbercurry were deserving winners in the end and was it not for Gaels keeper, Daniel Lyons this game would have been beyond doubt much sooner.
The Gaels have it all to do now in their final two games if they have any chance in making the semi-finals while Tubbercurry on the other hand come up against a wounded St Mary’s in their final game.
SHAMROCK GAELS: Daniel Lyons, Evan Lyons, Paul Higgins (Capt.), Andrew Flynn, Karl McKenna, Frank Quinn (0-1), Sean Carroll, Dillon McDermott (0-1), Dylan Willis, James Carroll, Brian Boyd (0-2), Shane Deignan (0-1), Johnny Quinn (0-1), David Quinn (0-1), Brendan Hailstones. Subs: Darragh Hailstones (1-0) for B Hailstones, Eoin Carroll (1-0) for D McDermott, Lee Deignan (0-1) for B Boyd, Ciaran O’Connor for K McKenna.
TUBBERCURRY: Colm McGee, Conal Ryan, Eddie McGuiness, David Brennan, Oisín O’Donnell, Cian Gilmartin, Darragh Kilcoyne (0-3), Rory Ryan, Niall Murphy, Brian Morahan (0-2), Jason Perry (1-3), Dylan Henry (0-2), David Kelly (0-3), Dermot Walsh (0-3), Brian Curran. Subs: Joe Moran for C Ryan, Gerard Perry for B Curran, Aidan Brennan for B Morahan.
REFEREE: Ciaran McGovern (Eastern Harps).