Carlow Credit Union S.F.L Division 1
Tinryland 1-18 Eire Og 1-18
Tinryland senior footballers assured themselves a place in the semi-final of the Carlow Credit Union S.F.L. Division 1 with a well- earned draw against town rivals Eire Og in an enjoyable round 6 game at Rathcrogue on Friday last. Tinryland had led for most of the game with the Yi’s finally gaining parity in the dying seconds with a Colm Hulton equaliser.
The new playing rules played a very big part in this enjoyable encounter on a fine early May evening with frees being awarded for infringements for the 4 V 3 rule, the defending team gathering the kick out within the 40- metre arc and two- point scores which all added to the enjoyment of this modern football game.
Cormac O’Brien who was one of the home teams best players opened the scoring after 2 minutes before Adam McCarron levelled matters 3 minutes later. Ronan Quinlan then edged Eire Og ahead with a successful close in free in the 8th minute as Eire Og lost Shane Murphy through injury. The sides were all square in the 10th minute when Conor Carew converted for the hoops who went three points ahead by the 13th minute when Conor O’Toole crashed the ball to the Eire Og net after the ball was turned over. Carlow U20 player Ross Moran then showed his class with another Tinryland point before Eire Og enjoyed a purple patch with points from Ronan Quinlan, Murtough Ware and a fine 2 pointer from Colm Hulton. Tinryland then upped the ante and after Ronan Quinlan for the YI’S and Conor Carew had traded points Tinryland’s Conor Byrne made a courageous block on Ware as he bore down on Chris Townsends goal. The half ended on a high note for the home team when Cormac O’Brien gathered a great kick out from Chris Townsend and slotted over a point with Ronan Quinlan closing the first half scoring with a point on the stroke of half time. Interval score Tinryland 1-10 Eire Og 0-9.
When Kilbride referee James Foley re-started proceedings it was Eire Og who were first out of the blocks scoring 1-2 without reply with their goal coming from Diarmuid Ruth and Shane Buggy and Ronan Quinlan their point scorers.
By the 34th minute Tinryland were back on level terms with a successful Conor Carew free which was a catalyst for another home team purple patch with a two pointer from Carew and another successful conversion from the same player.
Mid-way through the 2nd half Josh Brady stemmed the Tinryland drive with an excellent point before Peter Hennessy for Tinryland saw his goal disallowed for a square infringement.
Tinryland were 3 points clear in the 48th minute with another Conor Carew point as Eire Og responded with a Kieran Nolan point with 9 minutes remaining.
Tinryland then introduced Maurice Lawler into the fray and he made an immediate impact scoring a point before Eire Og responded with another Ronan Quinlan conversion. It was all square once again in the 57th minute when David Dunphy pointed for the Carlow town team but Cormac O’Brien restored the Tinryland lead within seconds which was quickly added to by super sub. Maurice Lawler which appeared to ensure a home victory. Eire Og however refused to lie down and they finished the game on a high note with 2 Colm Hulton points which saw this enjoyable game end in a draw and guarantee a semi-final berth for both clubs with one round remaining. Eire Og will now play Clonmore in the final league game and Tinryland will travel to Tullow to take on St. Patricks before the knock out stages which will also involve Palatine and Co. champions Rathvilly.
Outstanding for Tinryland were Ross Moran, Mikey Hosey, Conor Ryan, Cormac O’Brien and Conor O’Toole. Eire Og’s best players were Cathal Kelly, Shane Buggy, Colm Hulton, Ronan Quinlan and Diarmuid Ruth.
Tinryland: Chris Townsend, Danny Moran, Conor Byrne, Cian McGuire, Lorcan O’Connor, Ross Moran 0-2, Mikey Hosey, Conor Ryan, Conor Carew 0-9, Cormac O’Brien 0-5, Conor O’Toole 1-0, Peter Hennessy, Conall O’Shea, Matthew O’Toole, Jamie Walker. Subs: Maurice Lawler 0-2, Conall McGuire, Diarmaid Walshe.
Eire Og: Ben McCarron, Cathal Kelly, Adam Nolan, Daire Dooley, Kieran Nolan 0-1, Brendan Kavanagh, Eoin Maddock, Diarmuid Ruth 1-0, Shane Buggy 0-1, Reece Denieffe, Adam McCarron 0-1, Murtough Ware 0-1, Colm Hulton 0-5, Shane Murphy, Ronan Quinlan 0-7. Subs: Josh Brady 0-1, David Dunphy 0-1, Mark Behan, Adam Shaw.
Referee James Foley Kilbride.
