Tubberclare NS fend off strong Downs comeback
Tubberclare NS 2-11 The Downs NS 1-6
In scorching sunshine, Tubberclare NS produced a blistering start to give them a solid platform in the Boys Football Division 2 final at TEG Cusack Park on Thursday of last week.
Aided by Damien Clerkin’s wonderful goal in the third minute, the charges of Noel Mulligan and Oliver Keating led by 1-8 to 0-3 at half-time and quickly added to their tally on the restart to open up a 10-point lead. The Downs rallied impressively as the second half unfolded and managed to halve the deficit, but Tubberclare regrouped well and a second goal, scored by Kyle Madden late on, made certain of victory.
It was a fine victory by a tenacious Tubberclare side for whom Ronan Bourke stood out, being a real driving force from midfield and then later shoring up the defence when a match-winning lead had been secured.
They managed the situation astutely and when The Downs came back - Conal Murphy’s point making it 1-10 to 1-5 with seven minutes remaining - Kyle O’Callaghan grabbed a crucial score to steady the ship. It was nervy at that stage as the winners missed a couple of scoring chances, but they didn’t panic and Madden’s opportunist finish gave them their second major in the closing minute.
The entire parish was out in force to support their heroes and there was wonderful colour and excitement as Daniel Connaughton was presented with the cup by Derek Butler, Cumann na mBunscol chairman. Ronan Bourke deservedly picked up the player of the match award, pushed all the way by an excellent Conal Murphy on the losing side.
Tubberclare certainly put their best foot forward here having lost to the same opposition in the group stages and Ronan Bourke’s fine point with the left boot got them up and running. Great scores from distance followed - Kyle Madden, Denis Igoe and Ronan Bourke showcasing their fine kicking skills. Adam Chatterton set up Damien Clerkin for an early goal; all The Downs could muster in reply was a Murphy point and that was the general trend throughout the first half.
It was much more evenly contested in the final quarter and The Downs scored an excellent goal when Tom O’Connell set up Rían Gilhooley, who finished clinically to the net. Conal Murphy then cut the leeway to five points. A spirited comeback was gathering momentum, but Tubberclare hadn’t read the script.
Full credit to The Downs' Tom O’Connell, whose speech was the most memorable of the day as he paid tribute to everyone, but the spoils of victory went to Tubberclare NS, and Daniel Connaughton and his colleagues could celebrate with great gusto.
Player of the match: Ronan Bourke (Tubberclare NS). A fine display by the Tubberclare NS midfielder who dropped back to full-back when required.
Scorers - Tubberclare NS: K Madden 1-2; R Burke 0-4; D Clerkin 1-0; D Igoe 0-2; R Ghee, J Ghee and K O’Callaghan 0-1. The Downs NS: C Murphy 0-6 (2f); R Gilhooley 1-0.
Tubberclare NS: Cormac Slevin, Riann Fagan, Joe Convey, Ronan Ghee, Daniel Connaughton, Sean Slevin, Denis Igoe, Ronan Bourke, James Ghee, Damien Clerkin, James O'Grady, Kyle O'Callaghan, Kyle Madden, Adam Chatterton, Sénan Rafferty, Jerome Kearns, Oisín Killian, Luke Quigley, Jack Convey, Jacob Keane, James Coghill, Luca Flynn, Daniel McCormack, Rian McCormack, Conor Moran, Max Mullane, Jimmy Whyte, Vladyslav Vasiuta.
The Downs NS: Andrew Bradley, Ronan Murtagh, Ethan O'Brien, Harry Doyle, Darryl Egerton, Tom O'Connell, Cillian Martyn, Conal Murphy, Dylan Crowley, Fionn O'Donoghue, Rían Gilhooley, Tiernan Smyth, Ben Conroy, Peter Fitzpatrick, Tiernan Coyne, Donnacha Grogan Moran, Pauric McNamee, Michael Kretsu, Luke Kenna, Dylan Casserly, Fintan Harte, Rory Murphy, Sam Gartland, Oisín Kelly, Séamus O'Brien.
Referee: Michael Gordon (Shandonagh).
*See more photos and Cumann na mBunscol reports in this week's print edition.