Magpies in flying form

Tinahely must beat Bray

NEWTOWN TINAHELY 2-13 2-09

A lovely sunny afternoon on a well laid out resplendent pitch. Ideal conditions for this crucial Keating trophy encounter between Newtown and Tinahely played at St. Patrick’s grounds in Dunbur Road on Saturday last October 28. The only spoilsport was a strong breeze blowing up field from the dressing room end of the ground.

Newtown had first use of this breeze but Tinahely got on the scoreboard early when full-forward Alan Nolan converted a free in the first minute.

Newtown pressed strongly for the next five minutes scoring points from Ross Davis (one free) and one from play and a third from mid fielder Paul O’Riordan.

Tony Darcy scored Tinahely’s second point and by eight minutes another Ross Davis free left Newtown ahead by 0-4 to 0-2.

The Newtown forwards were playing a fast, running game, coming deep for the gall and carrying it at the defence.

Alan Nolan brought Tinahely to within a point of Newtown when he converted another free. Just on the quarter hour mark

Tinahely got a great break when a goal bound shot from mid fielder Brian Walsh appeared to strike a defender, came back into Walsh’s possession and end up in the back of the net to leave Tinahely ahead by 1-3 to 0-4.

This score appeared to spur Newtown into action and three points from wing back Karl Carty, midfielder Mark Fitzsimons and pacey wing forward Sean Gregory had their side one point up by the twenty first minute. Tony Darcy scored point number four for Tinahely two minutes before the break leaving the sides all square again. Ross Davis pointed a free to put Newtown back into the lead in the first minute of added time.

Tinahely would have been reasonably content to be only one point in arrears (0-8 to 1-4) with the advantage of a strong breeze to come in the second period.

Tony Darcy got them off to a great start in the second period when he levelled scores in the first minute of the half.

Stephen Dillon added another when he turned on a rolling ball in front of goal and fly kicked over the bar. Niall Gorman pointed a minute later and Tinahely were flying.

A long clearance from the half back line was judged much better by Alan Nolan when he caught the ball behind full back John O’Donoghue, made ground and slid the ball home past the advancing goalkeeper to put Tinahely ahead by 2-7 to 0-8.

Eleven minutes gone in the second half and Newtown had not yet scored.

From about this point the game began to change towards Newtown - they went on to score 2-5 as against 0-2 for Tinahely in the remainder of the half.

Ross Davis pointed a free after fourteen minutes, Mark Fitzsimons added another two minutes later and when full-forward John Halpin goaled, Newtown had closed the gap in just three minutes.

They were making their greater fitness level tell and were carrying the ball to their opponents.

A point from Rory Stokes restored the Tinahely lead, but quick points from wing forwards Bobby Greenan and Sean Gregory put Newtown back ahead and the momentum was now very much swinging in their favour. With two minutes of normal time left Ross Davis gained possession about twenty metres out.

He passed inside, raced for the return and slid the ball past Niall Byrne for the clinching goal.

In added time Niall Byrne pointed a 45 for Tinahely but just before the end Ross Davis capped a great display with the final point.

The game ended on a sour note with a flare up in front of the Tinahely goalmouth following the final Davis point. Referee Noel Kinsella dismissed four players - M. Byrne, W. Dillon and D. Blake (Tinahely) and J. Halpin (Newtown) before calling a halt to proceedings following the kick out.

Newtown: Ross Davis 1-6, John Halpin 1-0, Mark Fitzsimons 0-2, Sean Gregory 0-2, Paul O’Riordan 0-1, Karl Carty 0-1, Bobby Greenan 0-1.

Tinahely: Alan Nolan 1-2, Brian Walsh 1-0, Tony Darcy 0-3, Stephan Dillon 0-1, Niall Gorman 0-1, Rory Stokes 0-1, Niall Byrne 0-1.

Scorers:

Ciaran McGuirly; Glen Carthy, John O’Donoghue, Darren Walsh; Oisin Greenan, Shane Mooney, Karl Carty; Paul O’Riordan, Mark Fitzsimons; Bobby Greenan, Neilly Martin, Sean Gregory; Daragh Callan, John Halpin, Ross Davis. Subs: John Heffernan for Glen Carty.

Ml Byrne; Lar Keating, Michael Byrne, John Blake; Curtis Keating, Willie Dillon, James Tyrell; Brian Walsh, Conor Hatton; Rory Stokes, Stephan Dillon, Niall Gorman, Tony Darcy, Alan Nolan, Jason Cush. Subs David Blake for Niall Gorman, Jamie Cullen for Rory Stokes (BC). N. Kinsella

Newtown: Tinahely: Referee: