Connor"s goal sets Tang up for victory

Having disposed of Milltownpass last time out, Tang took their second brace of points in the Westmeath IFC when overcoming the searching challenge of Moate All Whites in this Round 2 Division 1A encounter played in ideal conditions in the sylvan setting of Caulry GAA Park on Saturday evening last. The ultimate deciding score in this keenly fought clash came in the 55th minute, when Tang"s Chris Connor, introduced 10 minutes into the second moiety, ran on to a perfect through ball from wing-back Alan Murray to blast to the Moate net for the game"s only goal. For the first time in the hour, this put five points between the protagonists (never more than two points had separated them up to this critical junction), and while the All-Whites reduced the deficit with a brace of late, late Eoin Dalton pointed frees, it wasn"t enough to prevent the Maroons from maintaining their early-season momentum at the Mount Temple venue. Eamon Mahon"s squad, following that first round loss to Ballynacargy, thus seek their first points in Championship 2009, and must now seek a return to winning ways on the resumption of the competition - a situation well within their capabilities as they only missed out on a quarter-final spot on scoring difference in 2007 and 2008. Tang, on the other hand, have no such concerns at this, albeit, early stage. John Burke"s changes displayed plenty of evidence on Saturday evening that they are ready, willing and able, to emulate the feat of near neighbours and fellow parishioners Maryland last year by success in this grade. Their defence was the epitome of steadiness and reliability on Saturday with Michael Galvin keeping another clean sheet between the posts, while the central core of Kieran Duncan and team captain, the excellent Robert English, augmented by the Carey brothers, Greg and Eamon, Damien Gill and attack-oriented Alan Murray, inspired confidence in dealing with many dangerous Moate raids. The inability of the town team to break down this trench-like resistance was a key factor in the ultimate destination of the two points on offer. Another set of brothers, Joe and Colm Conlon, completed well at midfield for the winners, though it must be stated that Moate suffered a severe blow following the 13th minute withdrawal of Lar Gillivan with a leg injury. While substitute Chris Connor emerged as the hero with his 1-1 when introduced, the real pacemakers in attack were listed corner-forwards Aidan Burke, in particular, and Denis Bannon. Aidan may have missed a few scoring opportunities in the latter stages of the opening half, but he was the playmaker par-excellence up front. His crisp combination play with Bannon was the source of the majority of their side"s scores, in a sector where the promptings of the vastly experienced Paul Conway, with Colm Donoghue, also brought big pressure to bear on the Moate rearguard. Killer goal sinks Moate The late goal proved a real killer blow to a Moate side who, up to that point, looked set to take something from the local derby. That Lar Gillivan injury was a cruel blow, but they fought heroically to overcome this, with midfield colleague Niall Mackey turning in a brainstorming performance and taking plenty of heavy knocks in the process. Goalkeeper and skipper David Mackey could do nothing about the goal that beat him, but did bring off a number of fine saves, one early in the first half was especially noteworthy. In a defence often under pressure from the Burke-Bannon axis, there were, notwithstanding this, solid and gutsy performances from Damien Phelan, Declan Whelan, Brendan Arigho and Stephen Byrne, the latter especially in the second half, with Eamon McDermott and Paul McLoughlin providing a doughty left flank of resistance. Niall Mackey played his heart out at centrefield, with Alan Claffey, Eoin Dalton and David Adamson effective up front in a sector which experienced difficulty in breaking down the superbly organised Tang defence, while Mark Ennis also got among the scorers, though replaced late in the game. On the reverse side, while there was much to admire in the competitiveness of the match, there was also too much short passing, several instances of poor marksmanship and, especially in the opening half, poor handling and a surfeit of turned-over possession, which both sets of mentors will doubtless address in their respective training camps, before upcoming confrontations. A beautiful early summer cloudless sky welcomed players and public to this excellently prepared venue. On an evening where the wind was not of major influence, Tang"s No. 13 Denis Bannon took exactly 13 seconds to point his team into an early lead, but Moate went ahead by the second minute with a brace of points per Eoin Dalton (free) and a fine Alan Claffey effort. It would, however, be the only time they got their noses in front in this match, as a triduum of points courtesy of Aidan Burke (2, 1 free) and Colm Donoghue shot Tang into an 0-4 to 0-2 lead on 9 minutes. With plenty of early scores and fast moving play, there was much to entertain spectators in the glorious weather, but Moate were dealt a blow 13 minutes in when Lar Gillivan had to come off. For a time, play was fragmented and untidy, but the scoring famine was broken on 20 minutes when sub Terry Mulready made the road for a smart David Adamson point, and the sides were level when Alan Claffey drilled over another superb score. A free won by Paul Conway led to Denis Bannon placing Aidan Burke for Tang"s first score in 17 minutes, and it was the latter duo who chiselled out the last score of the half with Bannon, on this occasion, doing the scoring honours. And so, at half-time, Tang led by 0-6 to 0-4, and had also accumulated five wides to their opponents" one. We hadn"t long to wait for the opening score of the second half, with Moate"s Eoin Dalton pointing inside a minute for the resumption. Exchanges then became tough and uncompromising for some minutes with only a point separating the sides. Both teams went at it with renewed vigour and, following a ten minute period (37th to 47th minutes) which produced 6 points (3 to each side), it looked likely that this hitherto goal-less match could end in a draw. The half-dozen points were shared between Tang"s Aidan Burke (2 frees) and Denis Bannon, while Moate"s scorers were Mark Ennis (move involving Conor Costello and Eamon McDermott), David Adamson and Eoin Dalton (free). Meanwhile, Chris Connor had been brought on to the Tang team, and his 51st minute point again stretched the lead to a slender two. In the 55th minute, the No. 21 proved the ace in the pack for Tang, scoring what would be the clinching and only goal of the game. Sub Nigel Adamson had a late, late chance of a Moate goal, but the danger was cleared, and though Eoin Dalton had two late pointed Moate frees, Tang triumphed in the end. SCORERS - Tang: A Burke (0-5, 2f); C Connor (1-1); Denis Bannon (0-3); C Donoghue (0-1). Moate All Whites: E Dalton (0-5, 4f), A Claffey (0-2), D Adamson (0-2); M Ennis (0-1). TANG: Michael Galvin, Damien Gill, Kieran Duncan, Greg Carey, Eamon Carey, Robert English (capt), Alan Murray, Joe Conlon, Colm Conlon, James Tormey, Colm Donoghue, Dean Reddin, Denis Bannon, Paul Conway, Aidan Burke. Subs: Dermot Bannon for Reddin (inj., 19), Chris Connor for C Donoghue (40), C Donoghue for Dermot Bannon (56). MOATE ALL WHITES: David Mackey (capt), Damien Phelan, Declan Whelan, Eamon McDermott, Brendan Arigho, Stephen Byrne, Paul McLoughlin, Niall Mackey, Lar Gillivan, Conor Costello, Alan Claffey, Eoin Dalton, David Adamson, Anthony Malone, Mark Ennis. Subs: Terry Mulready for Gillivan (inj., 13), Nigel Adamson for Ennis (54), James Gillivan for Mulready (54). REFEREE: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).