Cox strikes twice as Rosemount edge out Tubberclair

Rosemount 3-10, Tubberclair 2-11

By John Dingle

Both teams ended up with the same amount of scores but crucially three of Rosemount’s scores were goals compared to two for Tubberclair in this Westmeath IFC clash at Hogan Park, Moate last Sunday evening.

Karl Dermody's men led by three points at half-time and had to survive a second-half comeback from Tubberclair to finally emerge victorious by two points.

Tubberclair opened the scoring with a point from Fred Kelleher after two minutes of play but were soon behind as a free kick from David O’Reilly and a point from Matthew Cox had Rosemount in front. The lead was short-lived though as Tubberclair raised the first green flag with nine minutes played. Matthew Whittaker set up Oisín O’Meara who made no mistake with his strike.

Tubberclair were unable to build on this boost, however, as the scores dried up thereafter with a barren spell of 18 minutes following for the eventual losers.

Rosemount took full advantage with four unanswered scores which included a goal. The green flag was raised after 13 minutes with O’Reilly passing to Padraig Geoghegan for a major score.

O’Reilly then stretched the lead to two with a point while a Declan Mullen free left a goal between the teams. A further point from Liam Maxwell left it 1-5 to 1-1 with 21 minutes gone.

Eoghan McCabe’s free after 27 minutes was Tubberclair's first score for some time. A further successful free from the midfielder reduced the deficit to just two points but the last score of the half, a free from O’Reilly, left Rosemount in front at the break by 1-6 to 1-3.

The outcome might have been different had Matthew Whittaker found the net on the stroke of half-time but Peter Elliffe made a great save instead. It was not the only time the winners' goalkeeper was called into action to break Tubberclair hearts.

Daniel Sammon's charges got to within a point of Rosemount inside the first two minutes of the second half, Kelleher and McCabe popping over points to leave the bare minimum between the teams.

Ben Cox grabbed Rosemount’s first second-half score but Tubberclair then went in front when raising their second green flag of the contest.

James Madden was the provider for O’Meara to grab his second goal of the game after 34 minutes. Amazingly, another goal followed within a minute as Rosemount responded in positive fashion. The goal from Matthew Cox edged Rosemount into a two-point lead, 2-7 to 2-5. A ten-minute gap until Rosemount scored again almost proved costly.

Tubberclair kept their composure to regroup and headed into the last quarter in front. Two frees from O’Meara and another point from play by the number 14 had the green and gold men enjoying a slender lead.

Again, though it was not built upon as nearly ten minutes elapsed before another score was recorded. It is something Tubberclair will hope to rectify in future outings.

Rosemount recovered to race into a four-point lead with 19 minutes in the half gone. A Geoghegan point levelled matters and then a brilliant strike had the Rosemount men ahead by three. Matthew Cox sent a rocket of a strike to the net as Ben Cox followed up with a point.

The outcome was still in the balance though as Tubberclair were not finished just yet. Tubberclair substitute Finn Duffy and O’Reilly then exchanged points to still leave Rosemount in front by four heading into the closing stages. O’Reilly's score proved to be Rosemount’s last of the game as Tubberclair scored the final two points late on but still fell just short at the final whistle.

An O’Meara free on the stroke of full-time left a goal between the teams and suddenly Tubberclair were sensing that they might again strike late for a share of the spoils. A McCabe free had earned Tubberclair a point against Milltown in the first round of the championship but more was needed on this occasion. Another free, this time from Kelleher, in the second additional minute left it a two-point game but it completed the scoring as Rosemount held on to edge over the line.

Just over four additional minutes were eventually played but there was no late drama with Rosemount making it two wins from their two games played, with Tubberclair still looking for their first victory after an opening round draw. They will look back with regret on going nearly 20 minutes without a score in the first half, allowing Rosemount to build momentum that was the foundation for their success.

Man of the match: Matthew Cox (Rosemount). An unstoppable strike to the net by Cox in the last quarter proved crucial as Tubberclair's challenge was halted in dramatic fashion.

SCORERS – Rosemount: M Cox 2-2 (0-1 free); P Geoghegan 1-1; D O’Reilly 0-3 (2f); B Cox 0-2; L Maxwell and D Mullen (f) 0-1 each. Tubberclair: O O’Meara 2-4 (0-3f); F Kelleher (1f) and E McCabe (2f) 0-3 each; F Duffy 0-1.

ROSEMOUNT: Peter Elliffe; Cathal Byrne, Padraig Nestor, Adam Keane; Boidu Sayeh, Liam Maxwell, Declan Mullen; David O’Reilly, Cillian Lawlor; Lorcan Daly, Andy McCormack, Padraig Geoghegan; Plunkett Maxwell, Matthew Cox, Ben Cox. Subs: Ciaran Maxwell for L Maxwell (40 mins); Thomas Parker for Mullen (46); Luke Kelly for Geoghegan (50).

TUBBERCLAIR: Simon Fagan; Aaron Brady, Kyle Fagan, Kevin Claffey; Sean McGrane, Jason McHugh, Sean Claffey; Peadar Dolan, Cathal Tighe; Gavin Delaney, Stephen McGonagle, Fred Kelleher; Oisín O’Meara, Eoghan McCabe, Matthew Whittaker. Subs: James Madden for McGrane (10 mins); Graham Whittaker for Tighe (14); Robbie Curley for M Whittaker (40); Joe Martin for K Fagan (50); Finn Duffy for Dolan (50).

REFEREE: Gary Hurley (Moate All Whites).