TINAHELY TRIUMPH
Cush goal crucial in deserved victory over Blessington
TINAHELY BLESSINGTON 1-12 0-11
TINAHELY got their new life in Division 1 of the football leagues off to the best possible start with this fully deserved victory over visiting Blessington last Saturday afternoon.
Mick Murray’s men made the journey south without the services of Patrick O’Connor and the McLoughlin brothers, but they still looked a very decent outfit with likes of Stephen Bohan, Kevin Hanlon, Gavin Murray, David Boothman, Eoin Keogh, Barry Murphy and Mikey O’Connor within their ranks.
When the Tinahely men emerged up the steps of their home ground it was striking to see a full-forward line consisting of Eoin Darcy and Alan Dillon either side of Eoghan Byrne and you get the sense that that will be a line that will torment many a side in club football for the next decade at least all going well.
Blessington drew first blood on a finger-numbing day in Tinahely with full-forward Curtis Geraghty firing over a sweet score off his right after Kevin Hanlon had made the first of a number of interceptions in the first half in his role as sweeper. Jason Cush grabbed the first of his tally of 1-3 after five minutes from a free following a foul on Eoghan Byrne who would drift out from the full-forward position to make room for Dillon and Darcy inside.
Blessington had opened up a two-point lead at 0-3 to 0-1 after 12 minutes after sweet scores from half-back Adam Boland and corner-forward Mikey O’Connor who floated over a dreamy point off his trusty left.
It was 0-5 to 0-2 for the visitors within the next few moments.
Noel Mulhall split the posts for Tinahely after being picked out by an exquisite Eoin Darcy ball before Jack Cotter and Mikey O’Connor - this time off his right – pushed Mick Murray’s men ahead by three.
Five minutes later and Tinahely were level. A stunner from Stephen Dillon, another Cush free and a placed ball from Eoin Darcy left the sides level at 0-5 apiece and all to play for.
The home side led briefly thanks to an Eoin Darcy point from a free after a foul on Paddy O’Rourke but Blessington bagged the next three scores before the break through Curtis Geraghty and two from Mikey O’Connor (one free) to leave Mick Murray’s men ahead by 0-8 to 0-6 at the break.
The major turning point of the game arrived shortly after the restart when Brian Walsh looked to be fouled in the Blessington square and referee Garreth Whelan spread the arms wide for a penalty. Up stepped Cush and he drove it hard past Peter Manning for the game’s only goal.
Adam Boland’s second score of the game levelled matters at 1-6 to 0-9 with six on the second half clock, but a stunner from Alan Dillon was followed by Eoin Darcy announcing himself at adult level when he hoisted over a humdinger having been picked out with a fantastic ball from Stephen Dillon to leave Tinahely ahead by 1-8 to 0-9 after 12 minutes.
Blessington rallied and closed to within one thanks to points from Mikey O’Connor and Stephen Carroll and things were looking ominous for the home side when they lost full-back Michael Byrne to a straight red for striking the aforementioned Carroll.
However, Blessington would fail to score again in this game and Tinahely powered on with points from Alan Dillon (free), Stephen Dillon and Jason Cush to get their Division 1 journey off to a marvelous start.
Early days for Mick Murray and Gavin Wynne with this talented Blessington side. They won’t want to be slipping up when they welcome AGB over to the west this Sunday.
– Tinahely: Jason Cush 1-3 (3f, 1p), Alan Dillon 0-4 (3f), Stephen Dillon 0-2, Noel Mulhall 0-1, Eoin Darcy 0-1.
Blessington: Mikey O’Connor 0-5 (1f), Curtis Geraghty 0-2, Adam
Scorers
Boland 0-2, Jack Cotter 0-1, Stephen Carroll 0-1.
Niall Byrne; Conor Hatton, Michael Byrne, Kevin Mulhall; Noel Mulhall, Curtis Keating, John Blake; Willie Dillon, Brian Walsh; Patrick O’Rourke, Jason Cush, Stephen Dillon; Alan Dillon, Eoghan Byrne, Eoin Darcy. Subs: Niall Gorman foe P O’Rourke, Brian Hickey for A Dillon.
TINAHELY:
Peter Manning; Jack Gilligan, Wayne Callaghan, Stephen Bohan; Adam Boland, Kevin Hanlon, Jack Cotter; Gavin Murray, David Boothman; Stephen Carroll, Eoin Keogh, Barry Murphy; Mikey O’Connor, Curtis Geraghty, Bryan Carroll. Subs: Barry Finan for B Murphy, Jordan Nolan for B Carroll, Daniellius Sarkauskas for G Murray, Aaron Curran for D Boothman, Jordan McGarr for C Geraghty.
BLESSINGTON: REFEREE:
Garreth Whelan (Kiltegan)