Rangers qualify for SFC quarter-finals but Tinryland head to relegation final
Conaill Fitzpatrick carries the ball forward for Mount Leinster Rangers during their win over Tinryland Photo: Pat Ahern
Two goals in the first half all but clinched victory for Mount Leinster Rangers in this senior football championship group 1 round 3 game at Netwatch Cullen Park on Friday.
Tim Brennan scored the first goal when he was on the end of an Eddie Byrne volleyed pass after Jon Nolan’s speculative effort caused mayhem in the Tinryland full-back line.
A James McGrath point had put Tinryland ahead but they settled after the three-point concession with Matthew O’Toole finding the posts. The Borris side had their moments particularly when Tony Lawlor converted a free and added a point from play.
A brace of points from Diarmaid Walshe and successful efforts from Conor Carew and Jonah Dunne levelled matters with the half-time whistle approaching. Tinryland were undone by another high delivery with Ted Joyce netting from inside the small square. It gave his side a 2-3 to 0-6 interval lead.
It was a dismal second half as Rangers were happy to hold what they had while Tinryland didn’t have any ideas and failed to upset their opponents. Even the introduction of Paul Broderick failed to inspire Tinryland.
The highlight of the second period was Lawlor’s shot which came back off the Tinryland crossbar at the O’Hanrahan end while Ted Joyce was denied by Chris Townsend in the Tinryland goal.
The game meandered to a closure with Tinryland never in the hunt while their rivals had enough chances to clinch victory without making them pay.
It’s the quarter-finals for Rangers now who no-one will want to face while Tinryland will be putting their senior status on the line when they play Clonmore in three week's time.
T Brennan 1-1, T Joyce 1-0, T Lawlor (f), C Nolan 0-2 each, E Kealy, R Stafford 0-1 each
D Walshe 0-3 (2fs), C Carew 0-2, J McGrath, J Dunne, M O’Toole 0-1 each
Willie Hickey; Michael Joyce, Sean Joyce, Richard Coady; Joe Dundon, Jon Nolan, Evan Kealy; Kevin McDonald, Tony Lawlor; Robert Stafford, Eddie Byrne, Conaill Fitzpatrick; Tim Brennan, Chris Nolan, Ted Joyce. Subs: Declan Brennan for Stafford (53), Diarmuid Byrne for T Joyce (54), E Fenlon for Dundon (61), Brad Bolger for Fitzpatrick (62).
Chris Townsend; Danny Moran, Shane Redmond, Conor Ryan; Conor O’Toole, Peter Hennessy, Michael Hosey; Conor Carew, Diarmaid Walshe; Mark Mullen, Paddy Regan, Niall Lowry; James McGrath, Jonah Dunne, Matthew O’Toole. Subs: Cian McGuire for Ryan (h/t), Shane Webb for Hosey (h/t), Paul Broderick for M O’Toole (37), Cillian Fagan for Hennessy (44), Mark Lawlor for Lowry (56).
Jonathan Murphy (St Mullins).
