Coolaney/Mullinabreena defeat Tubbercurry
KILCOYNE Park, Tubbercurry was the setting for a clash between two teams headed on a collision course for each other in the group stages of this year’s Senior Championship, although with both teams down key players for various reasons, it may not prove to be the precursor to the championship showdown it had the potential to be.
The visitors started brightly in the first half, with Darren Coleman opening the scoring for Coolaney/Mullinabreena.
The teams then traded scores for the next few minutes with Tubbercurry’s Brian Morahan providing the best score of this patch.
A crucial aspect of the first half was Coolaney/Mullinabreena’s early dominance of the kick outs, despite Tubbercurry dropping an extra player into the middle third to contest breaking ball. This was counteracted by midfielders Barry Gorman and Stephan Connolly catching several marks, thus launching quick attacks.
A major boost to the visitors came approximately 10 minutes into the first half, when wing-forward Kieran Finan lobbed goalkeeper Colm McGee on a point attempt.
Coolaney/Mullinabreena simply grew from there, and pressed high onto the Tubbercurry kick out. They were rewarded for their endeavours when Anthony Walsh was brought down in the large rectangle for a penalty. Criostoir Davey duly converted. After a flurry of scores, the boys in blue found themselves with a seven point lead.
Tubbercurry, ruing their undeniably lethargic start, rallied late in the half, with 4 consecutive scores, including a well taken goal courtesy of Dermot Walsh.
When all was said and done, the teams headed to the dressing room with a goal between them, at a score of 1-06 to 2-06. When the second half got underway,it was the hosts who came out with a fresh impetus, albeit aided by a black card for corner back Gavin Feely,and soon narrowed the gap to a single point, with talisman David Kelly leading from the front with a pair of points.
The remainder of the game was a tit for tat affair, with Tubbercurry failing to capitalise on the sustained period of pressure they applied in the second half, and never drawing level, instead trading scores.
In the last 5 minutes, Coolaney/Mullinabreena edged clear, and hit a few big scores to keep Tubbercurry at bay, chief among them Barry Gorman’s crucial free to extend the lead to three points. This proved to be a bridge to far for Tubbercurry, with the final score 1:11 to 2:12. Coolaney/Mullinabreena can now look ahead to a showdown with Championship dark horses St. Molaise Gaels, while Tubbercurry will look to bounce back against Coolera/Strandhill.
TUBBERCURRY: Colm McGee, Cathal Surlis, Brian Murphy, Oisín McCann, Rory Ryan, Brian Curran, Conall Ryan, James Kelly, Brian Morahan, Daragh Kilcoyne, David Kelly, Stephan Kilcoyne, Fergal McDonagh, Dermot Walsh, Oisín O’ Donnell.
COOLANEY/MULLINABREENA: Cathal Finan, Kevin O’Kennady, Aidan Coleman, Gavin Feely, Anthony Walsh, Declan McCormack, Niall Con- nolly, Stephan Connolly, Barry Gorman, Sean Gorman, Shane O’ Brien, Kieran Finan, Darren Coleman, Criostoir Davey, Gavin Gorman.