Superb Barry Conroy goal secures vital win

Gerry BuckleyTyrrellspass, Leinster senior club finalists as recently as 2007, are all but out of contention for this year's county title after a wonderful goal from Barry Conroy, some six minutes from the end of normal time, propelled age-old rivals The Downs to a vital win by the narrowest of margins in Cusack Park on Sunday evening last.The atmosphere was surprisingly mute for this eagerly-awaited clash between two of the dominant teams of this millennium in Lake County football. The men in black and amber looked the likely winners for most of the first half but, with Denis Glennon far more influential on the change of ends, the Tidy Town looked set to secure their first points of this campaign, until Conroy pounced for a goal which would grace any ground at any time of the year. Johnny Murray's troops are now well in contention for a place in the business end of the championship, while the men in sky blue and navy have a battle on their hands to avoid the ignominy of a relegation play-off.The Downs were two points to the good by the fifth minute, courtesy of a pair of trademark frees from the left boot of Tommy Cleary. However, it could easily have been five, but referee Michael Gordon disallowed Shane Power's close-range 'goal', assumedly for a 'square ball' offence, after Luke Folan's initial effort came back off the woodwork. After Sean Loughlin's shot rebounded from the upright, a Tyrrellspass counterattack resulted in a well-taken point from Ger Egan. By the midpoint of the first moiety a rampant Downs side were four points to the good courtesy of a point apiece from Barry Conroy (a right-footed free), Luke Folan (rounding off a fine move) and Tommy Cleary (unusually with his right foot after receiving Conroy's pass). However, the losers rallied with three unanswered points from David Glennon (a classy score from an acute angle), John Brennan (shortly after missing from a similar range) and Gavin Hoey (a fly-kicked effort). A neat score from John Smyth and a converted free from 35 metres by Barry Conroy put The Downs three points in front and it should have been more when Shane Power fisted the ball wide from Noel Molloy's accurate cross. In the second minute of added-time, Ger O'Toole cut in well from the stand sideline to rifle over a fine point in the very last action of the half, leaving the scoreboard reading: The Downs 0-7 Tyrrellspass 0-5.Ciaran McCormack was called into action in the opening half-minute of the second moiety, the winners' netminder doing very well to keep out Ger O'Toole's shot at the expense of a '45' which was sent wide by Tyrrellspass goalkeeper Darren Quinn. Denis Glennon opened his account with a fine point from play and the referee then declined to award a free to the latter player as he appeared to be bundled over the endline. By the midpoint of the half, a rejuvenated Tidy Town side had opened a three-point lead with four unanswered points from Denis Glennon (three, including one free, with the former All-Star nominee now operating in a more menacing attacking role) and Ger Egan (a fisted effort to round off a flowing move). Prior to Glennon's last score, Tommy Cleary shot a most untypical wide from a scoreable free. Ger Egan hit the upright from a good chance and this proved costly when Barry Conroy tapped over a free at the other end, with ten minutes of normal time remaining. Some four minutes later, The Downs' fans were on their feet, Tommy Cleary picking out Barry Conroy who duly flashed an unstoppable 20-metre shot past Darren Quinn. Ciaran McCormack did well to hold a shot taken under pressure by Denis Glennon as tempers began to fray and some players were extremely lucky not to receive at least yellow cards, when punches were exchanged. However, The Downs held out for a priceless win, leaving Tyrrellspass in a most unaccustomed position, jointly propping up their section of the championship.The Downs: Ciaran McCormack; Niall Nolan, Mark Dalton, Steven Cleary; Conor Carley, Ben Hogan, Sean Loughlin; John Smyth (0-1), Brendan Murtagh; Barry Conroy (1-3, 0-3 from frees), Luke Folan (0-1), Greg Crowley; Tommy Cleary (0-3, 0-2 from frees), Noel Molloy, Shane Power. Subs: Sean O'Leary (for Hogan, 44 mins), Jimmy Conroy (for Crowley, 46 mins), Mark Conroy (for Folan, 52 mins).Tyrrellspass: Darren Quinn; Cathal Daly, Barry Murphy, Terence O'Brien; Sean Bagnall, Dan Gavin, Philip Sheridan; Adrian Corcoran, John Brennan (0-1); Dean McNicholas, Ger Egan (0-2), Gavin Hoey (0-1); Denis Glennon (0-4, 0-1 from a free), David Glennon (0-1), Ger O'Toole (0-1). Subs: Brian Slevin (for O'Toole, 54 mins), Jamie Gonoud (for Slevin, inj, 60 mins).Referee: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).