An Tochar off to flying start Shillelagh prove no match
at Pearse’s Park, Arklow
the decision was overturned and play restarted with a throw up by the referee.
So it was a four-point deficit that Shillelagh needed to overturn after the break but they suffered more setbacks as Gerard Byrne and Joe Gaffney both scored really well worked points.
Midfielder Conor Davis was a great asset for An Tochar as he dropped deep many times to collect the ball and more often than not found the perfect pass.
The closest Shillelagh got to An Tochar in the second period was three points, as they struggled to get a grasp of the game.
The Shillelagh defence was under pressure midway through the second half. Brendan Swords fired wide after being picked out by Conor Davis, who charged through the defence with a powerful run.
The pick of the scores was by Tom Kenna. A great catch from a long pass, he then swivelled goalwards and pointed excellently with his right boot. A merited point for the strong full-forward who had caused the Shillelagh backs problems with his mix of strength and mobility.
This point made the scores nine points to five in favour of the side from Roundwood.
After 44 minutes, An Tochar were reduced to 14 men as Liam Gaffney was shown his second yellow card after a rough challenge.
The yellow cards were shown on many occasions for both sides in what was a rather physical encounter, a typical Junior ‘A’ game.
An Tochar’s Brendan Kennedy had three goal chances in the last ten minutes of the game, the first of which was a low strike saved by the legs of Shillelagh goalie Laurie Cullen, after good team play.
Kennedy then had two 20-yard strikes with both smashing against the woodwork, one off the crossbar and then hitting the post.
Shillelagh corner-back Francis Simpson was shown his marching orders in the final minute of the game as he was a second yellow of the game. Chris Canavan’s yellow card was certainly busy during the contest.
It was a comprehensive victory for An Tochar against Shillelagh. Fitness was the main factor in the game as Shillelagh struggled in the final minutes of the game.
Both sides will prove a stern test for anyone in their group during the championship with a lot more from both sides still to come.
Final Score: An Tochar 0-14 Shillelagh 0-6
– An Tochar: Graham Sutton 0-3 (3f); Gerard Byrne 0-2, Brendan Kennedy 0-2, Brendan Swords 0-2, Conor Davis 0-1, Joe Gaffney 0-1, Tom Kenna 0-1, Liam Kenna 0-1, Gavin Kenny 0-1.
Shillelagh: Daniel Behan 0-3 (2f); Cathal Murphy 0-2 (2f), Brendan Behan 0-1.
Peter Byrne; Stephen Connor, Jamie Salley, Conor Short; Eamonn Wolohan, Colm O Brien, Joe Gaffney; Gavin Kenny, Conor Davis; Gerard Byrne, Liam Gaffney, Brendan Kennedy; Brendan Swords, Tom Kenna, Graham Sutton. Subs: John Kavanagh for Wolohan (46min); Liam Kenna for T Kenna (47min); David Kavanagh for Swords (53min); Noel Power for Connor (58min); William Halligan for O Brien (60min)
Scorers An Tochar:
Laurie Cullen; Keith Collins, Sean Carroll, Francis Simpson; Noel Murphy, Daire Foley, Enda Foley; Paddy Hennessey, Raymond Murphy; Cathal Murphy, Gary Murphy, Robbie Elliott; David Whelan, Brendan Behan, Daniel Behan. Subs: Ger O Brien for R Murphy (HT); Cian Doyle for D Behan (56min)
Chris Canavan
Shillelagh: Referee: