Tubberclair show intent as Rosemount are left reeling
Tubberclair 3-17 Rosemount 0-11
Tubberclair made clear their Westmeath Intermediate Football Championship ambitions with a comprehensive defeat of Rosemount in their opening Section A encounter played at a well attended Hogan Park, Moate on Saturday evening.
A team performance of the highest quality, the 2022 intermediate championship finalists dominated proceedings from the first quarter, their fitness levels complemented by a fluid attacking style of play which is certain to serve Tubberclair well as their campaign progresses.
Shorn of key playing personnel due to injuries and travel, last year's semi-finalists Rosemount will need to recover swiftly from this defeat if they are to repeat their feat of reaching the knockout phase this year.
The final scoreline did not appear likely when Rosemount enjoyed a three-point lead at the end of the first quarter, but two Tubberclair goals in the space of three minutes as the game approached half-time seemed to dent the Roses confidence and for the remainder of the contest Tubberclair were dominant.
Tubberclair started the game in determined vein Kealan Connell pointing after two minutes, a score which was soon complemented by a Finn Duffy white flag. Rosemount responded to the early pressure and four successive points had Karl Dermody's charges to fore after 12 minutes.
A penetrating run from Boidu Sayeh saw his assist finished by Matthew Cox on five minutes, before Rosemount stalwart Declan Mullen equalised with a placed ball. The returning Sean Pettit then had Rosemount in front with a free on ten minutes before Matthew Cox clipped over his second score two minutes later. The same player extended Rosemount's lead to three points when he once again combined with Sayeh to point.
Playing with the aid of a sharp breeze, Rosemount were finding their flow but Tubberclair's Gavin Delaney reduced the deficit following a Peter Elliffe save. A marauding run from Rosemount wing-back Lorcan Daly culminated in a fine kicked pass, putting Pettit in the clear for his second point of the contest on 16 minutes. But two quick points in succession from Tubberclair's Eoghan McCabe and Fred Kelleher had the lead back to the minimum on 21 minutes.
The end to end feel of the first half was soon evaporated when Kelleher netted on 22 minutes to restore Tubberclair's lead. Connell added his second point three minutes later as the victors started to stamp their authority on the game.
Pettit responded with a pointed free for Rosemount, their last of the half, before Tubberclair wing-back James Madden pierced the right hand side of the Rosemount defence and netted spectacularly to extend his team's lead out to five points.
Centre-back Tom Kelleher and McCabe, with a two-pointer, added further scores to ensure Tubberclair enjoyed a healthy eight-point lead at half-time (2-9 to 0-7).
Pettit pointed a Rosemount free on the resumption of play but the contest was all but over on 33 minutes when Tubberclair corner-forward Oisin O'Meara fielded a high ball and placed the ball past the diving Elliffe. With the lead now out to ten points,
Tubberclair showed no sign of relenting, Fred Kelleher pointing on 35 minutes, before Duffy kicked the game's second two-pointer on 40 minutes. Paul Keegan, who worked tirelessly for his team's cause, fisted a point as Tubberclair extended their lead to 14 points after 41 minutes.
A shellshocked Rosemount responded on 42 minutes when Cathal Geoghegan pointed from a Daly pass but Fred Kelleher immediately wiped out that white flag when he responded in kind on 44 minutes
As the Tubberclair scores continued, McCabe pointed a free on 45 minutes, Pettit replying with a pointed free for the Roses. O'Meara added to his goal with his second well taken point. Despite Pettit responding once again for Rosemount, it was fitting that Tubberclair closed out the game with a score, the impressive McCabe pointing a free to mark a dominant 15-point victory for the men in green and gold.
Man of the match: In a comprehensive victory, the Tubberclair team rightly receives the plaudits, but there were prominent displays from corner-forwards Oisin O'Meara and Fred Kelleher. The industrious Paul Keegan also performed admirably but it was county player Eoghan McCabe who really excelled from his centrefield berth and duly gets the accolade.
Scorers – Tubberclair: O O'Meara and F Kelleher 1-2 each; E McCabe 0-5 (1 2pt); J Madden 1-0; F Duffy 0-3 (1 2pt); K Connell 0-2; G Delaney, P Keegan and T Kelleher 0-1 each. Rosemount: S Pettit 0-6; M Cox 0-3; D Mullen and C Geoghegan 0-1 each.
Tubberclair - Kevin Fagan; Stephen McMonagle, Cathal Tighe, Liam Staunton; James Madden, Tom Kelleher, Taylor Slevin; Sean Claffey, Eoghan McCabe; Kealan Connell, Tom Bourke, Finn Duffy; Fred Kelleher, Gavin Delaney, Oisín O'Meara.
Rosemount - Peter Elliffe, Cathal Byrne, Adam Keane, Plunkett Maxwell, Andy Geoghegan, Boidu Sayeh, Lorcan Daly, Shane Boland, Declan Mullen, Eoin Geoghegan, Eamon Boland, Ben Cox, Sean Pettit, Cathal Geoghegan, Matthew Cox. Subs: Luke Kelly for Byrne; David Tone for E Geoghegan.
Referee - Michael Murtagh (The Downs).