Tyrrellspass too slick for Shandonagh

Tyrrellspass 1-15, Shandonagh 1-7

On a damp and heavy pitch in Shandonagh on Sunday morning, Tyrrellspass booked their place in the much delayed junior B championship final with a well merited and convincing win over the hosts.

There is no doubting the more cohesive and clinical team won the day and despite a sticky patch in the third quarter, they were simply too good for a gallant but outplayed Shandonagh. Fielding many of this year’s senior team, it was evident from the outset that Tyrrellspass used that experience and knowhow and they will now look to finish the season on a high, while for Shandonagh, it just adds to what has been a poor season all round at adult level, and a winter and spring to rebuild and reset.

The opening exchanges were even, as both teams struggled in the conditions - yet, despite the weather, the pitch held up well, and slowly Tyrrellspass were gaining the upper hand.

Brian Slevin was denied a goal by a superb Cian Molloy save in the Shandonagh goal but they then hit four unanswered points from three Tommy Ryan frees and a fine strike by Mikie Mullen.

The evergreen Kevin Boyle got Shandonagh on the board on 17 minutes with a trademark beauty, but, incredibly, they would not score again for the rest of the half, as Tyrrellspass took control.

Mullen, from a narrow angle, Cathal Dunne, after a super team move, Eoin Corcoran, with a wonderful solo effort, and Brian Slevin, from way out, added points for Tyrrellspass, and they led eight points to one at the end of a dominant but slightly wasteful first half.

Slevin put eight between the sides immediately on the resumption, but Shandonagh then showed huge heart and spirit to drag themselves back into the game as Zane Carroll converted after a flowing move for a fine point, before midfielder Darren McWade netted a beauty by lobbing the ball over the keeper – and suddenly the gap was down to four.

Tommy Ryan for Tyrrellspass and Ryan Donnelly for Shandonagh exchanged frees before a long range Cathal Dunne point edged Tyrrellspass five ahead, only for Donnelly to reply with another free and, as the game entered the final quarter, it was still in the balance.

Mikie Mullen pounced on a wayward kickout and bore down on goal but drove very wide before referee Michael Moran decided he was pushed in the process and awarded a penalty, which Mullen slotted expertly to the net, and even at that stage, it looked the game defining score.

Donnelly, with a free, and another wonderful Boyle strike kept the host somewhat in contention, but Eoin Corcoran and Mullen replied at the other end to keep them at arm’s distance as the game petered out.

Shandonagh sub Aaron O’Donoghue scored the point of the game with a brilliant strike under pressure, but late points from Cathal Dunne and Evan Connell for Tyrrellspass rubber-stamped their superiority, and rounded off a productive hour for the Sky Blues, who now have a final to look forward to.

Scorers - Tyrrellspass: Mikie Mullen 1-3 (1-0 penalty), Tommy Ryan 0-4 (all frees), Cathal Dunne 0-3, Eoin Corcoran and Brian Slevin 0-2 each, Evan Connell 0-1.

Shandonagh: Ryan Donnelly 0-3 (all frees), Darren McWade 1-0, Kevin Boyle 0-2, Zane Carroll and Aaron O’Donoghue 0-1 each.

Teams - Tyrrellspass: Phelim Brady, Conor Gavigan, Jamie Corcoran, Chris Daly, Mark Devine, David Hanlon, Eoin Corcoran, Cathal Dunne, Conall Dunne, Tommy Ryan, Cathal Monaghan, Eoin Martin Brian Slevin and Mikie Mullen. Subs: Evan Connell for Monaghan (34 mins), Sean Deegan for Gavigan (44 mins), Kai Harte for Jamie Corcoran (52 mins), Alan Farrell for Ryan (53 mins), Cormac Eighan for Daly (56 mins).

Shandonagh: Cian Molloy, Joseph Cahill, Ben Treanor, Brendan McVeigh, Eoin Quinn, Jack O’Brien, Ronan Ward, Darren McWade, Caelum Faughnan, Zane Carroll, Kevin Boyle, Jake Costello, Aaron Flanagan, Ryan Donnelly, Jack Tynan. Subs: Mark Kerrigan for Tynan (20 mins), Simon Kavanagh for McVeigh (33 mins), Conor Kilmurray for Quinn (42 mins), Cathal Lynn for Ward (43 mins), Aaron O’Donoghue for Flanagan.

Referee: Michael Moran

Examiner's Eye on the game

Man of The Match

Cathal Dunne (Tyrrellspass): Treanor, McWade and especially Boyle tried their best for Shandonagh, while Mullen, Eoin Corcoran and Cathal Dunne were the pick of the Tyrrellspass men – the latter getting the nod for an all-round display in which he covered a lot of grass and kicked three fine points.