Éire Óg survive at Tinryland’s expense
Kyle O'Byrne celebrates scoring Éire Óg's first goal Photo: Pat Ahern
Éire Óg maintained their senior championship status when they got the better of Tinryland in this relegation play-off at Netwatch Cullen Park on Sunday. The ability to score goals was crucial and the final margin was harsh on Tinryland who were in this game all the way up to injury time.
In an open and fast moving first half, Tinryland took an early lead with a two-pointer from play through Diarmaid Walshe which cancelled out Niall Quinlan’s early free. Éire Óg had two extraordinary let-offs in each quarter when shots from Niall Lowry and John Murphy beat Johnny Furey but Diarmuid Ruth was on the line flicking the first over the bar and gathering the second.
Éire Óg’s first goal came on 26 minutes when Colm Hulton off-loaded to Kyle O’Byrne who finished well.
Tinryland themselves enjoyed a let-off when Sean Gannon looked certain to score but keeper, Chris Townsend, made a brilliant reflexive save from Sean Gannon at the expense of a 45.
A two-pointer from Danny Moran cut a five point lead to three but Éire Óg had the last say of the half when they carved open the Tinryland defence and Adam Nolan netted. At the break Éire Óg led 2-8 to 0-8.
Tinryland dominated the third quarter. James McGrath converted a free. Walshe added on a two-point free. The sides were level after Jonah Dunne and Maurice Lawler also raised white flags.
After that, it was a battle of wills and there was still twenty minutes to go. The YI management team got it right and their replacements made their mark. Adam McCarron pointed from play while the introduction of Alex Delaney, Recce Denieffe and Eoin Myers added pace to their attack. Eoghan Ruth also made a vital catch and his influence in a worrying time for Eire Og was vital.
As Éire Óg fought to get into a three-point lead, Tinryland went on the attack but erred when leaving only two defenders in their own half. McCarron converted the routine free. As the Tinryland effort crumbled they were caught when Ross Dunphy beat a retreating Chris Townsend for the final goal of the game.
R Dunphy 1-2, K O’Byrne 1-1, C Blake, N Quinlan (1f) 0-3 each, A Nolan 1-0, A McCarron 0-2 (1f), C Hulton, B Kavanagh, D O’Brien (f) 0-1.
D Walshe 0-4 (1-2p, 1-2pf), J Dunne 0-4 (1-2p), D Moran 0-3 (1-2p), N Lowry, M Mullen, J McGrath (f), J Murphy, M Lawler 0-1 each
Johnny Furey; Cathal Kelly, Mark Furey, Lee Moore; Shane Buggy, Benny Kavanagh, Adam Nolan; Kyle O’Byrne, Sean Gannon; Diarmuid Ruth, Colm Hulton, Niall Quinlan; Darragh O’Brien, Ross Dunphy, Chris Blake. Subs: Eoin Myers for Kavanagh (h/t), Adam McCarron for Quinlan (37), Alex Delaney for Ruth (42), Reece Denieffe for Hulton (47), Eoghan Ruth for Buggy (53).
Chris Townsend; Ross Moran, John Murphy, Michael Hosey; Jonah Dunne, Paddy Regan, Maurice Lawler; Conor Ryan, Mark Mullen; Diarmaid Walshe, Peter Hennessy, Niall Lowry; James McGrath, Danny Moran, Cormac O’Brien. Subs: Cormac Walshe for Lawler (42), Conor O’Toole for Hennessy (45), Bobby Doyle for Moran (57), Conor Byrne for Ryan (58).
David Hickey (Fenagh)
