Tenacious Tang scupper Shandonagh to set up quarter final with Maryland

Two stunning second-half goals - combined with a first half in which they took a greater proportion of their chances - were key factors in this crucial Tang victory over last year"s county finalists, Shandonagh. The result means the Maroons leapfrog into third place on the Division 2 Intermediate Football Championship table, thereby earning a quarter-final date versus fellow parishioners Maryland. Saturday evening"s double bill at resplendent, but poorly attended, Cusack Park, Mullingar, effectively cleared the decks for the knockout stages of this year"s IFC. Weather conditions were ideal for football and, in the curtain-raiser, Ballynacargy (having been ahead by 2-6 to 0-7 at half-time) performed a second-half blitzkrieg against Milltownpass to emerge runaway winners on a 5-14 to 0-9 scoreline. Ballynacargy"s prize is a quarter-final meeting with Kilbeggan Shamrocks. Before referee Pat Fox got the second match underway, Shandonagh were second in the table to unbeaten Tubberclair (who completed their programme the previous night with a 1-point win over Rosemount) and needed just a draw to copper-fasten qualification. Tang, on the other hand (3 points from 4 games), required outright victory to progress - a win over Ballynacargy, a draw against Rosemount, with losses versus Tubberclair and Milltownpass were not overly encouraging as they threw down the gauntlet to the Sky Blues. But, as events panned out, it was a case of the Longford border men leaving the good wine until last, to the unbridled delight of their supporters and mentors. A tentative start (two wides inside as many minutes) for the Maroons gave little indication of what was to follow. Alan Hickey opened the scoring with a 4th minute Shandonagh point, but Tang quickly settled down, with well-taken points from Alan Higgins and their subsequently outstanding midfielder Niall Bannon edging them ahead. Mickey Boyle"s point from play (10th minute) had Shandonagh on terms, but they would squander three scorable chances, in what would turn out a frustrating evening for them, prior to a second quarter which went Tang"s way on an 0-4 to 0-1 scoreline. A Niall Bannon free was superbly fetched by full forward Paul Conway whose goal-bound shot took a deflection off full-back James Kiernan and zoomed over the bar. Paul again tested goalie Damien Fox 3 minutes later, but Aidan Burke was on hand (19th minute) to send over Tang"s 4th point. Almost immediately, Shandonagh wing-forward Andy Fox reciprocated with a like-score, but Paul Conway again led a Maroon attack, drawing the foul pointed by Niall Bannon. The 24th minute saw Tang increase their lead when Denis Bannon, placed by team captain Alan Higgins, send over a fine point from play. As the balance of power now tended to switch to Shandonagh, Colm Conlon and Paul Conway, who were listed in Tang full-forward line, were seen in their own half-back sector. But the Sky Blues failed to turn their temporary ascendancy into scores, something which would again haunt them at game"s denouement. And so, having defended stoutly in those closing minutes of the half, Tang went in leading 0-6 to 0-3. Shandonagh, having hit a half-dozen wides in the opening 30 minutes, needed quick scores on the resumption, but notwithstanding a brace of points from play per corner-forwards Mickey Boyle and Christy Coyne, either side of a Tang point from Tommy McCormack in the fledgling minutes of the second half, they were rocked back on their heels when midfielder Niall Bannon, although shipping a series of heavy tackles, got through the Shandonagh rearguard to finish his solo with a cracking goal. This left the 2007 County Finalists 1-7 to 0-5 adrift but they responded admirably to the challenge. Playing their best football of the hour, and inspired by the marksmanship of Alan Hickey up front, they hit an unanswered 4 points. Alan bagged the total, 3 from frees, the first from play a terrific score. This was Shandonagh at their best, but a superb long-range point from Tang centre half-back, the excellent Robert English, steadied the Maroon ship. It would be a short respite, however, as super-sub Kevin Boyle, only minutes on the field, shot the Sky Blues into the lead with a sizzling goal which featured Alan Hickey and Andy Fox in the build-up. It took great defending from Tang"s Ciaran Duncan and Greg Carey in their full-back line to repel strong Shandonagh pressure, but they received another mighty fillip when a Niall Bannon free was not dealt with by the Shandonagh defence, and Aidan Burke took full advantage to finish to the net. An Alan Murray-Niall Bannon-Colm Donoghue-Tommy McCormack move saw the latter loft over a 53rd minute point, and their last score of the hour to regain a 3-point lead. The final minutes were fought out in the Tang half with the Mid-County men throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the Maroons, but apart from an Alan Hickey free, a combination of poor finishing and last-line Tang resistance left the scoreboard unchanged to the end. Heart, courage and determination were key constituents in what was a huge win for Tang on the evening. Their goals came at crucial times, and they fought might and main to emerge victorious. Goalie Michael Galvin, defenders Ciaran Duncan, Greg Carey and Robert English, midfielder-par-excellence Niall Bannon, with forwards Aidan Burke, Thomas McCormack and Paul Conway played key parts in this success. But, at various stages, all of the team, with replacements, contributed in style to a great evening for the club. For Shandonagh, it was a case of so near and yet so far, as only an inferior scoring difference denied them further progress. However, they only showed the form which took them to the 2007 decider in spasms, and failed to pull the trigger in that late, late rally. Their best players were Danny Foster, James Kiernan, Kevin Hickey, Declan Barry, David Scahill, Alan Fox, Alan Hickey, and Mickey Boyle, but the fact that they replaced three of their starting forwards tells its own story. WHAT NEXT? Tang play Maryland in an local derby quarter-final. Shandonagh have completed their group programme but miss out on qualification on score difference, although equal on points with Tang and Ballynacargy. SCORERS - Tang - N Bannon (1-2, 0-1f), A Burke (1-1), T McCormack (0-2), A Higgins (0-1), P Conway (0-1), D Bannon (0-1), R English (0-1). Shandonagh - A Hickey (0-6, 4f), K Boyle (1-0), M Boyle (0-2), A Fox (0-1), C Coyne (0-1). TANG: Michael Galvin, Damien Gill, Ciaran Duncan, Greg Carey, Eamon Carey, Robert English, Alan Murray, Joe Conlon, Niall Bannon, Denis Bannon, Alan Higgins (capt), Aidan Burke, Colm Conlon, Paul Conway, Tommy McCormack. Subs: Colm Donoghue for Eamon Carey (43), James Tormey for D Bannon (49), Sean Egan for C Conlon (54), Pat Reilly for G Carey (63). SHANDONAGH: Damien Fox, Robbie Byrne, James Kiernan, Danny Foster, Kevin Duffy, Kevin HIckey (capt.), Declan Barry, David Duffy, David Scahill, Andy Fox, Damien Moran, Philip Smith, Mickey Boyle, Alan Hickey, Christy Coyne. Subs: Mick Mercer for Byrne (h/t), Pádraig Lynn and Kevin Boyle for Coyne and Moran (both 41), Roy Smith for P Smith (55). REFEREE: Pat Fox (Rosemount).