FENAGH 3-13 CLONMORE 4-05
THIS was a great advertisement for football. The score line tells its own story. Two committed sides who went for it from the off in Tullow.
There was also some eye-catching individual efforts too. Michael Murphy helped swing the game in Fenagh’s favour and contributed four points from his midfield position.
“It was a good game. Both sides wanted to play football. We eventually started to get going after our bad start,” observed two-goal hero Frankie Dowling.
Clonmore’s Dylan Bowes also raised two green flags. Darren McGrath’s point had opened the scoring for Clonmore. Then Bowes flicked a hopping ball past Donnacha Murphy in the Fenagh goal.
When Mark A Byrne pointed to put Clonmore five points up such was their dominance it was hard to see how Fenagh could respond.
“We thought we were in trouble. We had won all our matches and topped the group but Clonmore put it up to us,” said Dowling.
It certainly didn’t look as if it was going to be their day when Michael Murphy stroked a penalty just outside of the right hand upright and wide.
A Niall Quirke point eventually got Fenagh off the mark. It got better. Quirke’s initial shot was saved but Dowling blasted the rebound to the net. Then Murphy pointed and the sides were level. All in the space of a few minutes.
The eventual winners gave it back straight away when they were caught napping. Shane McGrath’s quick free put Gary Byrne clear. He drew the defender and passed to Bowes who slotted his second goal.
Fenagh replied with two points and after being out played early in the first quarter they only trailed 22 to 1-4 at half time.
The sides exchanged points early in the second half. Clonmore couldn’t kick on when Mark A Byrne put his namesake Gary through for a goal.
After a long winning sequence Fenagh just had that little bit of self belief. Michael Murphy cajoled his side forward. He led by example with a point. Craig Wall and Quirke took up the baton and with 16 minutes left on the clock the sides were level.
A Richard Bulmers point inched the underdogs ahead but Craig Wall had only one thing on his mind as he drove forward. The Clonmore keeper had no chance. Eight minutes later Dowling got his second goal.
Quirke can take much of the credit for the clincher as it was he who put Dowling clear.
“Crucial goals at the end,” the goal scorer admitted. “Up to the last five minutes it was close. Fair play to them they are a good side,” he added. He embellished his performance with two more points.
It was a lost cause for the spirited Clonmore boys. They had the satisfaction of finishing the game on a high. Shane McGrath showed Murphy how to convert a penalty.
Low and hard. Keep it on target. It works every time. A total of 4-5 wins many games. Not this time.