Deadly Dillon delivers at the death for Tinahely

BRENDAN LAWRENCE at Baltinglass

of the hour with the game in the melting pot right up until Dillon’s class score that sealed victory for Alan Costello’s side.

With their clash against Rathnew abandoned the previous Sunday morning by referee Pat Dunne it seemed as if Tinahely were releasing some pent-up energy in the opening moments of the game when they raced out to a 0-3 to 0-0 lead.

Full-forward James Hedderman opened their account, Alan Dillon added to that with a beautiful bomb off his left before a ball from Rory Stokes allowed Jason Cush fire over.

The calls from the Baltinglass sideline were for their players to get the ball inside fast where John McGrath and company were waiting and when they began following those instructions things started to really happen for the home side.

They were level after nine minutes through a free from Adam McHugh after a foul on John McGrath followed by two peaches from the former Wicklow man who produced a scintillating performance at times that required Tinahely’s Michael Byrne to be at the very top of his game to curtail his impact.

The game was turned on its head by the end of the first quarter after points from Jordan Deans and two from Sean O’Brien had Baltinglass leading on doubvle scores at 0-6 to 0-3.

But Tinahely regained their footing and pulled it back to a onepoint deficit by the break through Alan Dillon (free), Rory Stokes and Cillian McDonald while Baltinglass full-back Kevin Murphy rampaged up the field to raise a white flag for the home side.

Alan Costello’s side were dealt a blow when referee Garreth Whelan dished out a black card to midfielder Willie Dillon and they were denied a certain goal thanks to the defending of the tenacious Tom Burke.

Tinahely unleashed Matthew Ging from the start of the second half and he would go on to bag four points (one free).

They were very much on the front foot in the opening exchanges with points from Niall Byrne (45) and Ging and a beautiful goal from Jason Cush to leave it 1-9 to 0-7 for the visitors.

Baltinglass clawed their way back it with points from Sean Doody who enjoyed an enterprising hour, Johnny Keogh, David Gethings and the majestic McGrath and when the gifted attacker fired over from close range after 31 minutes of the second half you get the feeling that the spoils were about to be shared.

However, Niall Byrne’s kick out was won by Cillian McDonald who made a mark and deposited the ball in front of Alan Dillon.

Dillon cut back inside in heavy conditions and hoisted up a magnificent shot that barely crept inside the upright on the stand side to push them back in front.

Baltinglass would have one more chance but the move would break down around the middle of the field and the shrill whistle sounded to give Alan Costello his first win while Brian Heaslip must reflect on his second defeat on the trot, this one after a very decent performance.

– Tinahely: Jason Cush 1-1, Matthew Ging 0-4 (1f), Alan Dillon 0-3 (1f), James Hedderman 0-1, Rory Stokes 0-1, Cillian McDonald 0-1, Niall Byrne

Scorers

0-1 (45).

Baltinglass: John McGrath 0-5, Sean O’Brien 0-2, Sean Doody 0-2, Jordan Deans 0-1, Adam McHugh 0-1 (f), Kevin Murphy 0-1, David Gethings 0-1, Johnny Keogh 0-1.

Niall Byrne; Fionn Furlong, Michael Byrne, Conor Hatton; Kevin Mulhall, Curtis Keating, Bradley Hickey; Brian Walsh, Willie Dillon; Alan Nolan, Rory Stokes, Cillian McDonald; Alan Dillon, James Hedderman, Jason Cush. Subs: Matthew Ging for B Walsh, Noel Mulhall for A Nolan, Tony Darcy for J Hedderman, Daniel Hedderman for N Mulhall.

TINAHELY:

William Rogers; David Gethings, Kevin Murphy, Jason Steed; Cian Lee, Tadgh O’Toole, Tom Burke; Peadar Burke, Jordan Deans; Dan Kelly, Stephen Heaslip, Sean Doody; Adam McHugh, Sean O’Brien, John McGrath. Subs: John Murray for T O’Toole, Ian Fisher for A McHugh, Johnny Keogh for S O’Brien, Paddy Kirwan for S Heaslip, Chris Heaslip for Peadar Burke.

BALTINGLASS: REFEREE:

Garreth Whelan (Kiltegan)