Second half surge carries Tidy Town over the line

A strong second half showing from Tyrrellspass saw them ease to victory over Castledaly at Hogan Park, Moate last Sunday evening in the first of a Westmeath SFC double-header.It was a game that saw Castledaly put it up to their opponents for the majority of the game but, in the end, they succumbed to the superior fire-power of their opponents with five of the starting six Tyrrellspass forwards getting their names on the score-sheet.Both teams went into this game still with hopes of reaching the knockout stages. The win would have done for Castledaly but, for Tyrrellspass, it was slightly more complicated and less likely. They needed, not only the win, but also for St. Malachy’s to beat The Downs in Cusack Park on the same evening.In the end, The Downs’ comprehensive win over St. Malachy’s meant that both Castledaly and Tyrrellspass exited the Westmeath SFC at the group stage.Tyrrellspass flew out of the blocks on Sunday and soon had the lead through a David Glennon point. Midfielder John Brennan followed that up with a converted free and by the eleventh minute those two scores had been added to by two more from Denis Glennon (free) and Ger Egan.A string of Castledaly wides preceded their opening score on 17 minutes - a fine score from Brendan Kelly having received an accurate pass from Gordon Duffy - but once they got their first, they suddenly came alive.On 21 minutes it was the lively Kelly who once again found range, this time after cutting inside his maker.Paul Kelly then grabbed his first of the day with a pointed free a minute later and from the very next kick-out, Gordon Duffy fielded well before combining, just as he had done earlier, with Brendan Kelly who turned and raised another white flag.This was a real purple patch for Castledaly and it was to get even better on 27 minutes when Paul Kelly, proving to be very tricky for the Tyrrellspass backs to handle, won possession out in front before selling a few dummies and pointing off his right. Five unanswered points had turned a four-point deficit into a one-point lead.There was still time remaining in the first half, however, for Denis Glennon to draw the sides level once again with a routine free and that’s the way it stayed until half-time.Castledaly had their tails up but it was once again Tyrrellspass who emerged from the dressing-rooms in flying form, mirroring their first half opening with four unanswered points. Denis Glennon grabbed the first from a converted free after Gavin Hoey had been felled. Gerard O’Toole got the second and that was followed by two further scores from Denis Glennon.And on the 44th minute, four unanswered points became five when corner-forward Dean McNicholas won the ball before taking on his man and pointing from a tight angle.Castledaly were in danger of slipping out of sight and out of the championship but, out of nowhere, they suddenly found themselves back in contention. After a flowing move that started back in the half-back line with Tommy Warburton, the ball made its way to Brendan Kelly. Kelly’s shot, however, dropped short but just as it looked as though Tyrrellspass ‘keeper Darren Quinn would collect, Paul Kelly arrived to punch the ball emphatically to the net and bring the difference back down to two with 14 minutes remaining.On 49 minutes Darren Quinn came up from his goal-line to convert a 45 to steady the ship for Tyrrellspass.But with 8 minutes to go they killed the game off completely. A solo run from midfielder John Brennan saw him pass in inside to David Glennon. Glennon could have taken his score but instead squared the ball to the onrushing Dean MicNicholas who fisted the ball to the net. This time there was no way back for Enon Gavin’s men.Two further scores from Gerard OToole sealed the win for Tyrrellspass but the news from Cusack Park meant that they joined Castledaly for an early championship exit.Scorers: Tyrrellspass: Denis Glennon, (0-5, four frees), Dean McNicholas (1-1), Gerard O’Toole (0-3, 1 free), Darren Quinn (0-1, forty-five), John Brennan (0-1, free), Ger Egan (0-1). Castledaly: Paul Kelly (1-2, one free), Brendan Kelly (0-4, one free).Tyrrellspass: Darren Quinn; Jamie Gonoud, Cathal Daly, Terence O’Brien; Sean Bagnal, Philip Sheridan, Brian Slevin; Adrian Corcoran, John Brennan; Gavin Hoey, David Glennon, Gerard O’Toole; Ger Egan, Denis Glennon, Dean McNicholas. SUB: Declan Feery for B. Slevin (17’).Castledaly: Justin Coughlan; Enda Kelly, Ciaran Henson, Michael Gavin; Stephen Kavanagh, Tommy Warburton, Adrian Kelly; Gordon Duffy, Russell Casey; Alan Fitzgerald, Liam Fitzpatrick, Niall Duffy; Eoin Fleming, Paul Kelly, Brendan Kelly. SUBS: James Galvin for L. Fitzpatrick (29’), Alan Stone for E. Fleming (HT), Niall O’Neill for A. Kelly (46’), MJ McLoughlin for R. Casey (46’).Referee: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).