Spollen goal the key as Tubberclair claim narrow win

Tubberclair marked their return to the senior championship ranks with a narrow victory over Killucan at Moate last Sunday, but the result was harsh on the eventual losers who had looked the better team for long spells. Ultimately, the concession of a soft goal proved Killucan's undoing and the game's turning point. With Killucan leading 0-10 to 0-7 and looking well placed for victory, Ian Coffey's attempt for a point was caught by Killucan 'keeper Darren Brady, but Francis Spollen followed up, knocking the ball out of Brady's hands and into the net. That 53rd minute goal deflated Killucan and gave 2009 intermediate champions Tubberclair the impetus to go on and win the game. A minute later, Ian Coffey pointed a free to put Tubberclair ahead and although Cormac Boyle then equalised, points by Ronan Walker and Jeffrey Farrell (free) gave the men in green and gold a two-point lead in an exciting finish. Dermot Brady's side pressed forward in a bid to salvage something from the game, but their only reward was an injury-time point by Francis Boyle, who had surged forward from full-back in the closing stages. Killucan could count themselves unlucky not to at least draw this game and full-forward Paul Greville certainly didn't deserve to be on the losing side, after scoring six points (including four excellent scores from play). Tubberclair's Simon Lawless injured his ankle in the warm-up and was replaced at centre-back by Robbie Buckley, while Fergal Wilson was not deemed fit enough to start. For their part, Killucan were without regular goalkeeper David Bryan and James Nugent. Conditions at Hogan Park were dry (although there was some rain during the first half) and breezy, with Killucan having the advantage of the wind in the first half. In the IFC curtain-raiser, Rosemount fought back to earn a draw against St Mary's, Rochfortbridge. There was a lengthy stoppage at the start of this SFC clash after an awful collision between Conor Jordan and Killucan team-mate Chris Leech. Jordan sustained a cut over the eye in the incident but Leech came off far worst and he had to be stretchered off the field but, thankfully, he was not seriously injured. Tubberclair wing-forward Ronan Walker went off with a blood injury, as a result of the same incident, and was replaced by Conor Elliott, though Walker was reintroduced later in the game and scored a vital point. When play eventually restarted, Killucan took the lead with a pointed free from Paul Greville (7th minute). With Padraig Leavy and Conor Jordan on top at midfield, Killucan were dominating the early stages, and Alan Doyle and Rory O'Reilly soon landed splendid points, centre-forward Shane Leavy the chief creator of both scores. That brace left Killucan leading 0-3 to 0-0 by the 11th minute. But in a first half of swaying fortunes, Tubberclair gradually upped their game and reeled off six points on the trot from the 17th to the 28th minutes. Tom Lennon's charges opened their account when the ball broke invitingly for Ian Coffey and the full-forward made no mistake. Coffey then pointed a free off the ground after he had been fouled himself. The Tubberclair No 14 was giving Killucan and Westmeath defender Francis Boyle plenty of problems and, when the latter fouled his direct opponent, Jeffrey Farrell made light of the tricky angle to draw the sides level (21st minute). Tubberclair full-back James Martin had to do well on a couple of occasions as Killucan tried to get the ball into dangerman Paul Greville. At the other end, Conor Elliott (who played for a lengthy spell as a 'temporary substitute') made his mark on the game with two points in quick succession. In the 25th minute, he burst forward for a fine individual point and he then pointed smartly after taking a pass from Francis Spollen. David Ganly broke the resulting kick-out to David Cassells, who set up Ian Coffey for a well-taken fisted point. Tubberclair were now 0-6 to 0-3 in front. Killucan weren't getting enough good ball into Paul Greville so he was brought out to 'the forty' in a switch with Shane Leavy. This move paid dividends with Greville landing three points in a row, a pointed free coming in between two wonderful scores from play. The last of the trio was probably the score of the game, an exquisite point from an acute angle on the right. With the game now in first-half injury-time, Tubberclair had a goal chance when Spollen's shot came back off the upright, but a combination of Killucan goalie Darren Brady and a defender blocked Elliott's goalbound shot. With five minutes of injury time being played, there was still time for Tony Doyle to give Killucan a 0-7 to 0-6 lead at half-time. Interestingly, Tubberclair had no wides in the first half with Killucan registering five, many from overhit deliveries rather than shots at goal. Killucan finished the game with nine wides while Tubberclair had six by the end. There were no yellow cards shown in the first half but, as the exchanges became more intense, referee Mick Gordon issued six in the second half (four to Killucan). Two more points by Paul Greville saw Killucan extend their lead to three within eight minutes of the restart. The second of the brace was a huge kick which hung up in the air for some time before eventually landing over Gary Connaughton's crossbar. Tubberclair were clearly worried about how the game was progressing and they opted to introduce Fergal Wilson five minutes into the second half. Two wides from long range by midfielder David Ganly - when playing the ball inside seemed the better option - did little to ease the concern of the Tubberclair supporters and Ganly was soon replaced by Mark Fitzgibbon, who made a significant impact on proceedings. A superb point by Rory O'Reilly gave Killucan a four-point lead (0-10 to 0-6), before wing-back Enda McGee went forward to score a much-needed point for Tubberclair. Still, Tubberclair had a lot of work to do but that Spollen goal changed the complexion of the game. And Tubberclair battled hard in the closing stages to eke out a vital, if scarcely deserved, victory in this opening round clash. SCORERS - Tubberclair: I Coffey 0-4 (2f); F Spollen 1-0; C Elliott 0-2; J Farrell 0-2 (2f); E McGee, R Walker 0-1 each. Killucan: P Greville 0-6 (2f); R O'Reilly 0-2; A Doyle, T Doyle, C Boyle, F Boyle 0-1 each. TUBBERCLAIR: Gary Connaughton; Aonghus Hanna, James Martin, Rory Walsh; Bernard 'Beano' Cassells. Robbie Buckley, Enda McGee; Jeffrey Farrell, David Ganly; David Cassells, Francis Spollen, Ronan Walker; Daniel Sammon, Ian Coffey, Niall Walker. Subs: Conor Elliott for R Walker (blood sub, 4 mins); Fergal Wilson for Sammon (35); Mark Fitzgibbon for Ganly (46); R Walker for Elliott (51); Jack Byrne for D Cassells (59). Yellow cards: F Wilson, KILLUCAN: Darren Brady; Johnny Greville, Francis Boyle, Stephen Morley, Chris Leech, John Shaw, Mark Dunne; Padraig Leavy, Conor Jordan; Tony Doyle, Shane Leavy, Cormac Boyle; Alan Doyle, Paul Greville, Rory O'Reilly. Subs: Brendan McKeogh for Leech (injured, 2 mins); Paul Briody for A Doyle (50). Yellow cards: B McKeogh, F Boyle, S Morley, P Greville. REFEREE: Mick Gordon (Shandonagh).