Lethal Shamrocks drown Tinahely in Tullamore

TINAHELY fell to their first defeat of 2018 when they bowed out in the first round of the Leinster Intermediate Club Championship against the Shamrocks GAA Club of Offaly in O’Connor Park, Tullamore, last Saturday afternoon.

This was Tinahely’s first time in the Leinster club competition since 1984.

Shamrocks were down in the Intermediate grade since 2011 and made the return to Senior ranks this year and they were first on the score board after three minutes when captain Nigel Dunne scored a free from the 21-yard line.

Wicklow GAA supporters will remember Dunne as being the player taken off in the first half of the Leinster Senior Championship clash with Wicklow earlier this year before being reinstated in the second half.

Things took a turn for the worst for Shamrocks in the fifth minute when Luke Molloy got a straight red for an off-the-ball incident.

Alan Heffernan fisted over a point to leave the score 0-2 to 0-0 after six minutes.

Two minutes later, Jason Cush got Tinahely on to the score board with a point. Straight from the kick-out, Tinahely attacked the Shamrocks defense and an accurate pass from James Hedderman sent Rory Stokes through to take a well-taken goal.

In the 11th minute Jason Cush pointed another free after Tony Darcy was fouled. The scoreboard now read Tinahely 1-2, Shamrocks 0-2.

At the start of the second quarter Tinahely were looking good for their lead and Alan Heffernan kicked a point.

However, Tinahely didn’t score again until the 27th minute when Tony Darcy slotted over a point from a free after Rory Stokes was fouled.

Shamrocks were quiet until the stroke of half-time when Alan Heffernan rattled the Tinahely goal with a rocket of a shot to leave the half-time score reading Shamrocks 1-5, Tinahely 1-4.

Tinahely introduced Alan Dillon at half-time for James Gilbert, but Shamrocks hit the pitch fast early in the second half and got two quick points before James Hedderman was put through on goal in the 33rd minute.

Shane Heffernan replied with a point for Shamrocks after Niall Byrne had saved a possible goal chance. Three more points for captain Nigel Dunne and now Shamrocks were pulling away. William Dillon got his marching orders in the 50th minute as Tinahely introduced David Blake for Stephen Dillon.

Shamrocks kicked a few more really good points from Nigel Dunne and Alan Heffernan before the referee blew for full-time.

Tinahely’s season in the club championship is now over and Shamrocks march on to play Balinabranna of Carlow in two weeks’ time.

Final score from O Connor park was Shamrocks (Offaly) 1-15, Tinahely 2-7.

Scorers: Jason Cush 0-3, Rory Stokes 1-0, James Hedderman 1-0, Tony Darcy 0-4.

Shamrocks: Nigel Dunne 0-9, Alan Heffernan 1-5, Shane Heffernan 0-1

Tinahely: Niall Byrne; James Gilbert, Michael Byrne, Conor Hatton; Paddy O’Rourke, Curtis Keating, Kevin Mulhall; Noel Mulhall, Brian Walsh; Stephen Dillon, Jason Cush, James Hedderman; Willie Dillon, Rory Stokes, Tony Darcy. Subs: Alan Dillon for S Gilbert, David Blake for S Dillon.

Shamrocks: Brian Lowry; Darragh Minnock, Conor Condron, Cathay O’Brien; Dan Heffernan, Scott Delaney, Gary Hutchinson; Andrew Delaney, Johnny O’Toole Greene; Shane O’Toole Greene, Shane Heffernan, Luke Molloy; Alan Heffernan, Nigel Dunne, Paddy Dunican.

Referee: