Tullamore in cruise control in comfortable win over Bracknagh

WITHOUT truly clicking into top gear or over extending themselves, Tullamore were quietly impressive as they cruised to a comfortable Senior Football Championship win over Bracknagh in O'Connor Park on Saturday evening.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship Group 1 Round 2

Tullamore 3-11

Bracknagh 1-5

The champions controlled the game almost from start to finish, never experiencing real discomfort, and they sauntered over the finish line as struggling Bracknagh fell way off the pace in the second half.

They now meet Rhode to decide who tops the group and meets the fourth place team in group 2, which will be Durrow following their defeat to Ferbane earlier on Saturday evening. With Shamrocks assured off top spot in group 2, the losers of Rhode and Tullamore will face either Ferbane or Edenderry in the quarter-final and while that won't scare either of them, it will ensure they will both want to win the last game.

Some doubts remain about Tullamore but they are motoring nicely and there was something admirable about the efficient way in which they controlled this game. With Cormac Egan away, they played within themselves and always looked like they had another gear.

They demonstrated this very emphatically when Bracknagh did very briefly threaten a revival early in the second half.

Playing against the wind in a very lacklustre, borderline boring first half, Tullamore had a lot of the hard work done when they led by 2-2 to 0-4 at half time. The sides were level at 0-2 each after 12 minutes, with Mikey Cunningham getting both Bracknagh's points, the second a sensational score from out on the right wing. However, from the moment that Tullamore got their first goal in the 14^th minute, it was clear that they would win. That was a very well taken penalty by in-form defender Daire McDaid after Niall Furlong was fouled while lining up a shot.

A punched goal from John Furlong in the 27^th minute after Aaron Leavy's fisted attempt for a point was short really put the winners in the driving seat. Furlong was suspiciously close to being in the square as Tullamore stuck with the experiment of giving him an attacking role – once again, it was a questionable tactic though Furlong again played his way into the game in the second half, as he did against Ballycommon in the first round. He moved much better in the second half, got into good positions and you could see the merit in what they are trying once he fully warmed to the task.

Bracknagh got a penalty goal in the first minute of the second half with Mikey Cunningham taking his kick very well after a foot block on Charlie Keogh. Suddenly, the gap was just a point, 1-4 to 2-2 and for a brief few moments, it seemed Bracknagh might make a contest of it.

That, however, was very much a false illusion and Tullamore's response when questions were asked was the most impressive aspect of their win. They very quickly found another gear, took control all over the field and three points in a row put them four in front, with Cillian Bourke, Harry Plunkett and Nigel Bracken scoring.

Mikey Cunningham brought it back to a goal with a very good 39^th minute free but unfortunately for Bracknagh, that was their final score. Not only that but they rarely threatened to score again, though Cunniungham did miss a couple of frees, as Tullamore took absolute control all over the field.

John Furlong tapped over a free and a 42^nd minute punched goal from Aaron Leavy after Harry Plunkett chased down a ball drifting across the end line and booted it across the goals ended it as a contest. That was that as the fight ebbed out of Bracknagh and Tullamore did as they wished in the closing quarter, adding five very simple and easy points.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Nigel Bracken (Tullamore): Nigel Bracken had an excellent game in the Tullamore defence. He controlled things at centre half back, doing his primary defensive duty well, while he got forward when he could. He got two points, he was very composed in possession and his distribution was almost exemplary.

Daire McDaid, Aaron Leavy, Aaron Hensey, John Furlong, Cillian Bourke, Niall Furlong and sub Sean McCabe also had very good spells for Tullamore.

It was a disappointing display by Bracknagh who now face Ballycommon in the last group game – with Shamrocks surprisingly topping group 2, the losers of this will face them in the quarter-final. While the Rahan-Mucklagh outfit have played at a much higher level than both to date, the losers of that will fancy their chances in the quarter-finals. Bracknagh, however, have a lot of improving to do, though they were always on a hiding to nothing with Rhode and Tullamore first up. Mikey Cunningham was their best player here.

THE SCORERS

Tullamore: John Furlong 1-2 (1f), Harry Plunkett 0-4 (2f), Daire McDaid (penalty) and Aaron Leavy 1-0 each, Nigel Bracken and Cillian Bourke 0-2 each, Sean McCabe 0-1.

Bracknagh: Mikey Cunningham 1-3 (goal from a penalty and one free), Eoghan Geoghegan and Ciaran Donnelly 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

TULLAMORE: Corey White; Ciaran Burns, Declan Hogan, Paul McConway; Daire McDaid, Nigel Bracken, Oisin Keenan-Martin; Aaron Leavy, Aaron Hensey; Cillian Bourke, John Furlong, Niall Furlong; Luke Egan, Harry Plunkett, Sean Afolabi Joseph. Subs – Ciaran Egan for Burns (HT), Sean McCabe for Afolabi Joseph (HT), Michael Feeney for Keenan-Martin (55m).

BRACKNAGH: Keith Keogh; Adam Kelly, Fionn Dempsey, Tom Hyland; Colm Cunningham, Chris Whittle, Anthony Cunningham; Peter Cunningham, Jason Dempsey; Sean Dempsey, Ciaran Donnelly,Charlie Keogh; Ricky Geoghegan, Eoghan Geoghegan, Mikey Cunningham. Subs – Colin Broderick for Sean Dempsey (42m), Robin Galbraith for Charlie Keogh (42m), Jamie Sheridan for Eoghan Geoghegan (55m), Mark Dunne for Jason Dempsey (55m), Josh Maher for Ricky Geoghegan (58m).

Referee – Ger Keyes (Shamrocks).

REFEREE WATCH

Ger Keyes had a good game. John Furlong's first half goal looked very close to a square ball but the referee was well positioned and had a good look at it, he got the vast majority of decisions right and was in no way a factor in the result.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Tullamore's 14^th minute penalty goal from Daire McDaid gave them early control and Bracknagh were chasing the game from then on, never looking like getting there.

VENUE WATCH

Some people queried Tullamore being allowed to play their home game in O'Connor Park. Firstly, there is nothing wrong with them using O'Connor Park as their home venue. While the ground may be leased to the County Board and under their control, Tullamore still own it and are the landlords. It also appears that Bracknagh were happy to play them in O'Connor Park and it was an infinitely better venue for this fixture than O'Brien Park – though the small crowd was lost in headquarters.

WHAT'S NEXT

Tullamore play Rhode while Bracknagh meet Ballycommon in round 3.

STATISTICS

Wides: Tullamore - 8 (4 in first half); Bracknagh – 4 (1 in first half).

Yellow cards: 0
Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0