Coolderry scrape through as gallant Tullamore go agonisingly close

COOLDERRY booked their place in the knockout stages of the Offaly Senior Hurling Championship after a pulsating battle with Tullamore in Rath – Ballinamere were also big winners as a Tullamore win would have put them out after they lost to Birr but they make it into the quarter-finals by the seat of their pants.

Molloy Precast and Environmental Systems Senior Hurling Championship Group 1 Round 5

Coolderry 1-16

Tullamore 1-15

In what was a closely contested encounter between these two sides, it was the Tullamore men who were left heartbroken as their championship came to an end at the hands of Coolderry on a scoreline of 1-16 to 1-15, the most agonising of ways. 

Shane Dooley’s last minute free came crashing off the post and Coolderry were able to clear the ball and thus leaving Rath with the points and the knockout spot. The work of Eoin Burke in the full forward line chipping in with 1-5 and Daniel Miller finishing with 0-3 as well as their stern defence, was enough for them to claim a monumental victory.

Tullamore will walk away disappointed, however, full credit must go to them and their management team, including manager Shane Hand who has done a marvellous job this season. Despite an early exit, they’ve been tremendous to watch and are certainly a team that will get stronger as time goes on. 

The sides were even enough up until the 20th minute as Dan Fox’s goal was scored less than 60 seconds after Eoin Burke rattled the net the far end and left it at 1-6 to 1-5, but a further three points were tagged on by the Coolderry men, which included some fine points by the likes of Stephen Corcoran and Eoin Ryan who was having a big game in the middle. 

Tullamore trailed by four at half time, despite the good work off the Fox’s and Cillian Bourke in the full forward line who was catching balls and causing havoc for the Coolderry defence. Their deficit grew in the second as Coolderry stretched their lead to seven by the 34th minute and things were looking bleak for Tullamore at that stage. 

However, as has been a trademark of their season, Tullamore has a defiant new mentality in these games and so kept fighting and drew frees from Dooley to keep reducing the gap and giving themselves every opportunity of winning the game. 

Some frees went abegging for the experienced Dooley, but they kept fighting and had one or two chances for goals too, but Corcoran was always on hand to deny a second and keep their advantage intact. 

Coolderry kept the scoreboard ticking at every possible chance, with Daniel Miller and Eoin Burke to fore, with Eoghan Parlon, David King and James Tooher also stepping up big time for Brian Carroll’s team when needed. 

Luke Egan’s 55th minute point brought it back to a two point game again, but Tullamore just couldn’t get across the line and thus Coolderry escaped with the victory at the end, with Dooley’s long range effort coming crashing off the post and thus ending a truly remarkable game of hurling. 

A win for Tullamore in the end would have been enough for both sides to stay in the championship, given the result between Birr and Ballinamere, but it wasn’t to be and it is Coolderry who’ll now have a quarter final to look forward to in two weeks time.   

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Eoin Burke (Coolderry): Cian Burke was a big performer in the middle for Coolderry, as was Stephen Corcoran in goals for Coolderry. Ajay Cleary fought hard at full back, as did James Tooher in the half back line. 

Eoin Burke finished the game with 1-5, took his goal really well and chipped in with three impressive points from play and stood up when his side needed him most. 

From a Tullamore perspective, Shane Dooley kept Tullamore in the game with his frees, Dan and Mike Fox worked their socks off, as did Cillian Bourke who caused major headaches inside the full forward line. Cormac Egan tried hard in the middle too, with Luke Egan also on a lot of possession.     

THE SCORERS

Tullamore: Shane Dooley (9frees, 2 65), 0-12, Dan Fox 1-0, Cillian Bourke, Mike Fox and Luke Egan 0-1 each.

Coolderry: Eoin Burke (2frees) 1-5, Daniel Miller 0-3, Stephen Corcoran (2frees) and Eoin Ryan 0-2 each, Gearoid McCormack, Ajay Cleary,  Cian Burke and Shane Ryan 0-1 each. 

THE TEAMS

COOLDERRY: Stephen Corcoran; Stephen Connolly, Stephen Burke, Ajay Cleary; Conor Molloy, David King, William Malone; Cian Burke, Eoin Ryan; Eoghan Parlon (C), Kevin Connolly, Gearoid McCormack; Eoin Burke, Shane Ryan, Andy Connolly. Subs– Shane Connolly for Connolly (41m), Andy Connolly for Ryan (44m).

TULLAMORE: Cormac Martin; Jack Daly, Dylan Hensey, Kevin Waters; Luke Egan, Niall Houlihan, Michael Feeney, Cormac Egan, Mike Fox; Peter Fox, James Houlihan, Dan Fox; Niall Furlong, Shane Dooley, Cillian Bourke. Subs–Jay Sheerin for Fox (41m), Brian Hogan for Feeney (43m), Martin Keogh for Furlong (55m).

Referee Shane Guinan, Drumcullen

REFEREE WATCH

Shane Guinan took charge of the game and had a lot to deal with and had a lot of decisions to make throughout the game but refereed it well. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Coolderry’s five scores on the bounce before half time were crucial as it kept them in front by a big margin heading into the half and kept Tullamore back just enough, with Stephen Corcoran’s second half save from close range also a key moment in preserving their lead.

VENUE WATCH

For the Rath venue on Saturday afternoon, the pitch was in fine cognition for the decent sized crowd, no issues with parking either. 

WHAT'S NEXT

Coolderry head to the quarter final stages to face the team third in group two, Tullamore’s year comes to an end. 

STATISTICS

Wides: Tullamore – 13 (7 in first half); Coolderry – 10 (6 in first half).

Yellow cards: Tullamore – 2 (Niall Furlong, Cillian Bourke); Coolderry  – 1 (Conor Molloy)

Red cards: 0