Fenagh stun league champions
Fenagh's Josh Kearney jumps with delight at the final whistle
Fenagh caused the shock of the Michael Lyng Motors Senior Football Championship when they deservedly beat a fancied Tinryland side in this group 2 round 1 game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Saturday.
There was little between the sides in the opening half with both teams enjoying periods of domination. A Padraig Hynes two-point free got Fenagh on their way and, against the wind, Jack Treacy, added another point.
Tinryland hit back and brothers, Diarmaid and Cormac Walshe both pointed.
Fenagh got on top and Treacy scored 1-1 in quick succession at the end of the quarter. Twelve minutes before the interval, they led by five points.
The Tinryland revival was instigated by John Murphy who ended the half with three points from play while also setting up two more points for his side. At the interval, Fenagh led 1-6 to 0-8.
Tinryland struggled against the wind in the second half but even though Sean Murphy raised a white flag from the restart, it took a while for Fenagh to make use of the elements. Tinryland had two goal chances in the third quarter with both Murphy and Cormac O’Brien pulling efforts across the face of the goal and wide.
The decisive goal came late in the game when a quick line ball at half-way and directed towards the tunnel saw play switched inside and Padraig Hynes was on hand to fire home. Tinryland hit back and a high ball was not dealt with by the Fenagh defence and substitute, Bobby Doyle, found the net.
There was further drama when Cormac O’Brien’s shot was deflected over the bar by a Fenagh defender. Two minutes injury time was announced but referee, James Foley, played three. Anything could have happened in that unexpected extra minute but Fenagh lived to take the spoils.
J Treacy 1-4, P Hynes 1-3 (2ptf), I Craddock 0-2, S Murphy, A Smyth 0-1 each
B Doyle 1-0, J Murphy, C Walshe 0-3 each, D Walshe 0-2 (1f), N Lowry, C O’Brien, C Ryan, M Mullen 0-1 each
Jack Rowan; James Cummins, Darragh Byrne, Mark Dermody; Eric English, Jack Kehoe, Cormac Nolan; Jamie McCabe, Sean Murphy; Adam Smyth, Colin Byrne, Cormac Lomax; Ian Craddock, Padraig Hynes, Jack Treacy. Subs: Josh Kearney for Smyth (50).
Chris Townsend; Ross Moran, John Murphy, Michael Hosey; Jonah Dunne, Paddy Regan, Conor O’Toole; Conor Ryan, Mark Mullen; Diarmaid Walshe, Peter Hennessy, Niall Lowry; James McGrath, Cormac Walshe, Cormac O’Brien.Subs: Danny Moran for Hennessy (46), Bobby Doyle for Lowry (46), Maurice Lawler for Ryan (53), Conall O’Sé for C Walshe (55), Lorcan O’Connor for McGrath (58).
James Foley (Kilbride).
