Terminator Tyrrell

Lorcan runs amok as Knockananna beat Newcastle

KNOCKANANNA NEWCASTLE 1-12 1-7

KNOCKANANNA produced a tremendous second half performance in their Junior A championship clash with Newcastle at Pearse’s Park, Arklow last Sunday. Restricting the opposition to a single second half point, they turned a four-point deficit into a comfortable five-point victory with ace full-forward Lorcan Tyrrell leading the way, scoring a superb goal and five points.

A beautiful afternoon for football saw real championship fare on display, with both teams showing pride and commitment in the jersey. It was the men from Knockananna who opened the scoring with a Kevin Tyrrell free.

Newcastle replied immediately with Shane Magee running into space and launching a terrific point before Dylan Forde gave the seasiders an early lead.

Lorcan Tyrrell provided Tristan Maher with the chance to level it up after 15 minutes with a well worked short free and the midfielder obliged.

Newcastle were starting to get on top around the middle third with Shane Cloake gathering a mountain of possession.

It was Cloake himself who raised the first green flag of the afternoon. Robbie O’Gara sprayed a ball into him, he ran at the fullback sold a dummy before drilling home at the near post.

With Cloake playing in a sweeper role, Newcastle dominated the next 10 minutes with Warren Merriman (3) and Cloake with a long-distance score only replied to for Knockananna by a Padraig Lancaster point to leave the east coast men six clear.

Lorcan Tyrrell with two important late points, including a humdinger from 50 yards, closed the first half scoring and left the gap at four points.

Knockananna made changes at half-time with club veteran Anthony Tracey sprung from the bench to replace his son Dylan and it seemed to rejuvenate his side.

It was all the club from the Carlow border now, with Lorcan Tyrrell adding another superb score as he was left in an acre of space, Ed Bracken finishing off good work by the aforementioned Tracey before Tracey himself clipped his own score.

When Tyrrell had an effort blocked down he retrieved the ball himself took off towards goal and his rasping shot was tipped over by keeper Ian Lucey, we had a draw game.

The game’s crucial score came with ten minutes left. Garry Bradley launched a high, hanging ball into the Newcastle square and it was Tyrrell who rose highest to palm home. When Tracey trundled over to a loose ball and fed Kevin Tyrrell the lead was out to four.

The impressive wing back Reid Byrne stretched the lead to five with only minutes left.

It was not untill injury time in the second period that Newcastle finally troubled the scoreboard with Stephen Taylor clipping a delightful point but it proved too little too late.

It was somewhat poetic that Lorcan Tyrrell was to get the last score as he had such an influence on the outcome.

A classic championship clash, Newcastle will rue shooting 13 wides, many from good positions and perhaps going too defensive when they had their lead. Robbie O’Gara and Shane Cloake were influential for them.

For the victors, Reid Byrne and Noel Byrne were tireless, but Lorcan Tyrrell was towering above everyone else on the field.

I’m sure everyone wishes Brian Lawrence a speedy recovery from a nasty looking shoulder injury that he received in the early stages of the second half.

Scorers - Knockananna: Reid Byrne 0-1, Padraig Lancaster 0-1, Tristan Maher 0-1, Ed Bracken 0-1, Kevin Tyrrell 0-2, Lorcan Tyrrell 1-5, Anthony Tracey 0-1.

Newcastle: Stephen Taylor 0-1, Dylan Forde 0-1, Shane Cloake 1-1, Warren Merriman 0-3, Shane Magee 0-1.

Sean Canna; Declan Whelan, Aaron O’Neill, Brian Lawrence; Reid Byrne, Garry Bradley, Noel Byrne; Padraig Lancaster, Tristan Maher; Ed Bracken, Declan O’Keefe, Kevin Tyrrell; Dylan Tracey, Lorcan Tyrrell, Joseph Byrne. Subs: Alan Doyle, Anthony Tracey, Patrick O’Keefe, Johnny Wybrant, Willie Phelan.

Ian Lucey; Sean O’Gara, Ciaran Doyle, Dean Taylor; Stephen Taylor, Ruairi Farrell, Martin Gaskins; Oisin Doyle, Robbie O’Gara; Dylan Forde, Philip O’Connor, Shane Cloake; Warren Merriman, Shane Heffernan, Shane Magee. Subs: Paul Magee, Neil Yeoman, Alan Daly, Ryan Heffernan.

John Whyte (Donard-The Glen) JAFC Group 1

PWD LF A DP Valleymount 2 2 0 0 18 12 6 4 Knockananna 2 2 0 0 15 10 5 4 Newcastle 2 1 0 1 10 15 -5 2 Barndarrig 2 1 0 1 12 18 -6 2 Éire Óg 0 004 0 0 00 JAFC Group 2

Aughrim

Rathnew

St Patrick’s

Kilcoole 1 1 0 0 13 6 7 2 11000 0 02 10010 0 00 1 0 0 1 6 13 -7 0