An Tochar march on to face Kilcoole in Junior ‘C’ decider

at Ballinakill greasy on an otherwise ideal night for football.

An Tochar got off to a great start when full-forward Enda Nolan goaled after two minutes, following a defensive mistake in the Donard goalmouth.

Four minutes later Des Mann opened the Donard account with a point from a free. Exchanges were lively enough in these early stages with both sides carrying the ball in passing movements but scores were hard to come by.

Defences were on top with the Donard full-back trio of Gavin Walsh Brendan Daly and Gerry Daly along with centre back Rory Toomey dealing with everything that came their way.

An Tochar were holding possession well but showing little danger of a scoring surge.

Tom Kenna put them 1-1 to 0-1 ahead with a fine point from play after 11 minutes.

The next score did not come for another 17 minutes when Des Mann stroked over his second point, once again from a free. An Tochar midfielder Hugh Kenna finished the scoring for the half when he pointed two frees in quick succession to put his side into a 1-3 to 0-2 lead at the break.

Just before the referee called a halt for half-time the unfortunate Rory Toomey picked up his second yellow card and was gone for the remainder of the game.

Tom Mulligan began the second period as if he was going to win this game on his own for An Tochar. He kicked over points from play in the second, third and seventh minutes to open up a gap of seven points between the sides.

At this stage it was looking as if the handicap of being a man down was going to kill off Donard. However, another Des Mann point, this one from play, followed by a Lar Daly pointed free after 12 minutes steadied things for the western men.

Full-forward Enda Nolan added another point for An Tochar coming up to the half way stage in the half to leave his side two clear goals ahead.

Five minutes later Donard got a break when they were awarded a penalty.

Des Mann’s shot was well saved by PJ Turner but Mann finished the rebound to the net to leave just a goal between the sides with eleven minutes of normal time (plus five added minutes) left.

While An Tochar had loads of possession throughout the remainder of the game, a Tom Kenna point from play after 24 minutes was the only score for the remainder of the game.

The last ten minutes did not produce any score for either side and An Tochar ran out deserving winners in the end.

While the Donard men were under pressure for all of the second half, it is to their credit that they were within a goal of their opponents with ten minutes left. The Tom Kenna point for An Tochar turned out to be a very important insurance point.

While An Tochar were very good at holding possession with the evergreen Noel Brady and Enda Nolan playing a lively role around the field, their lack of scores kept a spirited Donard alive almost to the end.

Scorers – An Tochar: Enda Nolan 1-1, Tom Mulligan 0-3, Hugh Kenna 0-2, Tom Kenna 0-2.

Donard: Des Mann 1-3, Lar Walsh 0-1.

An Tochar: PJ Turner; Rob Cullen, Conor Kenna, Paul Brady; Paul Kenna, Noel Power. Niall Fennell; Colm O’Brien, Hugh Kenna; Tom Kenna, Noel Brady, Tom Mulligan; Conor Byrne, Enda Nolan, John Carr. Subs: Marty Cullen for Conor Byrne; Shane Healy for John Carr; Shay Carr for Tom Mulligan; Ronan Marah for Niall Fennell (BC).

Donard: Enda Walsh; Gavin Walsh, Brendan Daly, Gerry Daly; Oisin Adler, Rory Toomey, Joe White; Pat Flynn, Lar Daly; Nicky Donovan, Tommy Dwyer, Cameron Griffin; Des Mann, Gerome Kelly, Dean Mann. Subs: Colm Waters for Oisin Adler; Diarmuid Doyle for Cameron Griffin; Jack Graham for Dean Mann.

Referee: Pat Hickey.