Reid goal seals victory for Tubberclair
Tubberclair 2-12, Tyrrellspass 1-7
The first teams of these two clubs lost out at the semi-final stage of their respective championships this year, so last Sunday's encounter in Tubberclair was a chance to reach a county final before the conclusion of 2023.
It was Tubberclair who grasped the opportunity of advancing to the Junior 'B' football decider and the prime reason was that they took a greater proportion of their chances than Tyrrellspass.
The final scoreline flatters Tubberclair but the home side deserved their victory for making better use of their possession and they played the more cohesive football overall. In contrast, a wasteful Tyrrellspass side - who registered 12 wides - relied on moments of individual inspiration.
Despite Tyrrellspass enjoying plenty of the ball, Tubberclair led by 1-7 to 1-1 at half-time, with Oisín O'Meara's goal arriving in unusual circumstances. Tubberclair's second goal, scored by the lively Danny Reid in the 49th minute, effectively sealed their victory.
Considering this was a contest between two second teams, played two weeks before Christmas, it provided enjoyable fare for the attendance. Thankfully, the two recent storms, Elin and Fergus, did not impinge on proceedings to any great extent though it was quite windy at times.
Tubberclair had the benefit of the wind in the first half and they quickly went ahead through a Robbie Curley mark. Cathal Dunne, wearing number 15 but operating around midfield, set up an early goal chance for Tyrrellspass but Tommy Ryan fired wide. This was just one of their early misses, though Ryan pointed a 12th-minute free after a foul on the same player.
The men from the Glasson area responded in style by hitting an unanswered 1-4. With Curley proving a real handful for the Tyrrellspass defence, the points came from Finn Duffy (a sweet score), Curley (a free), Danny Reid and wing-back Joe Martin.
The Tubberclair goal arrived in the 22nd minute, moments before Martin's point, and it came about in an unusual fashion. After Tubberclair put the visitors' defence under pressure, O'Meara got the credit for the goal as he dispossessed a Tyrrellspass defender and the loose ball spilled just over the line. The goal was confirmed after consultation between referee Niall Ward and the umpires on duty.
On 24 minutes, Tyrrellspass got the tonic they needed with a goal of their own. Ryan's wayward point attempt was kept in play by Ger O'Toole and Brian Slevin then forced the ball home, despite the best efforts of Tubberclair goalkeeper Simon Fagan and his defenders.
Duffy clipped over his second point (after Danny Reid's run created the opening), before O'Meara's neat point left six between them at half-time. Indeed, the lead could have been even greater with Tyrrellspass netminder James Quinn making a fine save to deny Conor Reid, and Curley was unable to palm the rebound to the net.
Shortly after the restart, Gerry Walker's charges added to their lead when Duffy raised his third white flag. But Tyrrellspass then enjoyed something of a purple patch with four points on the trot. The scorers were substitute Phelim Brady, Ryan (two, one free) and Peter Pierson.
As Tubberclair tried to lift the siege, Duffy saw his excellent effort signalled as a point only for the referee to overrule the umpire. Yet it mattered little when, after O'Meara's point attempt came back off the post, Tubberclair recycled the ball and Danny Reid fired to the net.
That left Tubberclair sitting pretty on a 2-8 to 1-5 lead and Conor Elliott then added to the advantage, after Curley again showed his ball winning prowess.
In the time remaining, Tyrrellspass added to their tally with points from Eoin Martin and Ger O'Toole but they needed goals to turn the tide. Ryan tried to find the net in the closing stages from a close range free but his dropkick effort flew wide. At the other end, O'Meara decorated Tubberclair's victory with two late points as the home side's thoughts turned to the final and the chance to finish the year with silverware.
Man of the match: Robbie Curley (Tubberclair). Curley proved a valuable focal point in attack and won virtually every ball sent into his vicinity, also setting up numerous chances for his colleagues. He was joined in a threatening full forward line by Oisín O’Meara and Conor Elliott, while Finn Duffy and Danny Reid were among the young players to impress. For Tyrrellspass, Tommy Ryan never stopped trying to make things happen but his shooting radar was often awry on this occasion.
What’s next: In the Junior ‘B’ final next Sunday (throw-in 12.00), Tubberclair will meet Coralstown/Kinnegad after the latter defeated Milltown in the other semi-final. At the time of writing, the venue for the final had yet to be confirmed.
Scorers - Tubberclair: O O'Meara 1-3; D Reid 1-1; F Duffy 0-3; C Elliott and R Curley (1 mark, 1f) 0-2 each; J Martin 0-1. Tyrrellspass: B Slevin 1-0; T Ryan 0-3 (2f); P Brady, P Pierson, E Martin and G O'Toole 0-1 each.
Tubberclair: Simon Fagan; Cian Kenny, Michael Byrne, Kyle Fagan; Joe Martin, Niall Walker, Peadar Dolan; Charlie Kennedy, Kevin Claffey; Finn Duffy, Conor Reid, Danny Reid; Oisín O'Meara, Robbie Curley, Conor Elliott. Subs: Luke Maleady for Kennedy; Eoin Irwin, Cian Connell and Shane Harrington for Martin, Duffy and Elliott.
Tyrrellspass: James Quinn; Conor Gavigan, Eoghan O'Neill, Kai Harte; Conall Dunne, Joe Hyland, Christopher Daly; Seanie Bagnall, Cormac Monaghan; Sean Gavigan, Thomas Ryan, Brian Slevin; Peter Pierson, Ger O'Toole, Cathal Dunne. Subs: Ciaran Corcoran for O'Neill (injured); Phelim Brady for S Gavigan; Eoin Martin for Brady (inj.).
Referee: Niall Ward (Garrycastle).