Phelan pounces to earn

COOLKENNO TINAHELY 3-08 2-05

COOLKENNO travelled to neighbours Tinahely for their opening fixture of the Junior ‘C’ football championship last Thursday looking to set an early marker for pushing out of the group and into the knockout status continuing their recent form in the competition.

The conditions before the game started were horrific with rain pelting off the stand in the Tinahely warm up but it brightened up as referee Stephen Fagan made his way up the steps to start the game.

The game itself threatened to be a classic in the opening minutes, petered out a little during the opening quarter and served up a treat to end the fixture.

Stewart Gilbert dispossessed a Coolkenno clearance in the third minute and found David Dillon who supplied a finish to the net giving Tinahely a perfect start.

Unfortunately, this would be the only score until the 20th minute with both sides guilty of some genuine chances in the difficult conditions under foot. Gilbert was unlucky not to add a second goal for Tinahely in the 17th minute but pulled his shot wide much to the dismay in the Tinahely stand. Brian Hickey was enjoying a great game for Tinahely in the opening half with himself and midfield partner Niall Gorman shading their battle but it was on their own kick out that caused Coolkenno’s equaliser.

Veteran Colm Murphy caught the kick out cleanly and was allowed the time to run 15 yards and his dropping shot crept in under the cross bar from 30 yards out.

Dillon almost responded imme- diately for Tinahely when he reacted quickest to the ball rebounding off the upright on another Gilbert attempt but Stephen O’Donoghue turned it around the post. As the players adjusted to the conditions, the game started to spark in the 25th minute.

Points from Anthony Phelan and Willie Quaile pushed Tinahely into the lead again moments before key figure David Dillon was involved again. His shot at goal was adjudged to have been foot blocked allowing Phelan the opportunity to fire home which he duly obliged. Johnny Kavanagh closed out the scoring of the half leaving the score at 2-2 to 1-1 to the home side.

The second half started at a lovely pace for junior c football with a Hickey shot turned over the Coolkenno bar and a point from opposite number Adam O’Neill after Ian Roche had seen his effort rebound off the bottom of the post