Old Leighlin move into knockout stages
Tadhg Roche (Old Leighlin) tries to get past MOunt Leinster Rangers defender Tim Brennan Photo: Pat Ahern
Old Leighlin assured themselves of a place in the knock-out stages of the senior football championship when they carved out a hard-earned second round victory over Mount Leinster Rangers on Friday in Netwatch Cullen Park.
Despite the heavy rain which fell right from the start, both sides stuck to their task. By the 21st minute, Old Leighlin had built themselves a 0-5 to 0-1. A Fiachra Fitzpatrick point had put Rangers into the lead but scores from Cathal Coughlan (free), Mikey Bambrick, Darragh Fitzgerald and Jamie Doyle (2) suggested Old Leighlin were in control.
It could have been worse for Rangers and they had to thank keeper, Dean Grennan, who came out of his goal to make an intercept as the Old Leighlin looked poised with space opening up in front of his goal.
Before the interval, Conaill Fitzpatrick was at the end of a Rangers move to raise a white flag and Eddie Byrne converted a free to leave Old Leighlin 0-5 to 0-3 ahead on the change of ends.
While the rain looked set to go away it came back quickly enough and it was a factor for the remainder of the contest. David Bambrick was unlucky to see an early effort for a point come back off the right-hand upright. Seamus Kinsella did convert a free as the sides probed at each end.
Old Leighlin hit a purple patch with Kinsella (f), Coughlan (f) and James Dowling all adding to their side’s total. Evan Kealy replied for Rangers with a point who were unlucky when a Chris Nolan two point effort came back off the upright. When the rebound was worked towards Eddie Byrne he failed to find the target from a difficult angle.
The game petered out from there with Old Leighlin assured of a place in the knock-out stages with one game still to come in the group stages.
C Coughlan 0-3 (2fs), D Fitzgerald, S Kinsella (fs) each (f), J Doyle each, M Bambrick, J Dowling 0-1 each.
C Fitzpatrick, E Byrne (f), F Fitzpatrick 0-1, E Kealy 0-1
Steven Scallan; Jordan Kelly, Niall Roche, Tadhg O’Neill; Tadhg Roche, Sean Bambrick, Jamie Doyle; Ian Atkinson, David Bambrick; Aaron Amond, Mikey Bambrick, James Dowling; Cathal Coughlan, Seamus Kinsella, Darragh Fitzgerald. Subs: Sean Taylor for Doyle (58), Ruarc O’Neill for C Coughlan (59), Mark Brennan for Dowling (61).
Dean Grennan; Michael Joyce, Jack Griffith, Jamie Nolan; Richard Coady, Jon Nolan, Sean Joyce; Eddie Byrne, Fiachra Fitzpatrick; Tim Brennan, Conaill Fitzpatrick, Evan Kealy; Ruairi Murphy, Chris Nolan, Ted Joyce. Subs: Joe Dundon for Murphy (18), Donagh Murphy for T Joyce (h/t), Robert Stafford for C Fitzpatrick (54), Paul Coady for Dundon (59).
Lar Murphy
