Tullamore's second string show good form in convincing win

TULLAMORE showed their championship potential with a convincing Intermediate Football Championship win over Ballinagar in Cappincur on Saturday evening.

Tullamore Court Hotel Intermediate Football Championship Group 2 Round 3

Tullamore 2-10

Ballinagar 1-7

The win earned Tullamore second spot in group 2 and a quarter-final against Ferbane while Ballinagar finish in third after losing their last two games and now face a very tricky one against the great unknowns in this grade, Kilcormac-Killoughey.

Tullamore looked good here, controlling the game most of the way and they were never in true danger of losing.

They laid the foundations for victory with a very efficient first half display. They led by 2-6 to 0-5 at half time and while Ballinagar had the use of a difficult cross wind in the second half, Tullamore were the better team by a sufficient distance to suggest that they had enough done.

In fact they could have been out of sight at the break and should have had at least another two goals on the board. Their attack opened up the Ballinagar defence with alarming ease in the first half and Peter Fox blazed wide with the goal at his mercy after just fifty seconds. They also spurned a great goal chance just before the break with Shane Enright opting to pass to Shane Dooley, when it was there for him to tap to the net. Ballinagar goalkeeper Ryan Kinahan made a fantastic save to keep the ball from reaching Dooley and it left them with a slim chance for the second half.

Peter Fox atoned for that earlier miss in sensational style, scoring their first 2-1 as they stormed into a 2-1 to 0-1 lead after ten minutes. He took both goals well and while Ballinagar fought hard after that to hang in there, it was Tullamore's to lose at half time.

They continued to control the game for much of the second half. They were 2-8 to 0-6 ahead after 45 minutes with fierce rain making conditions very hard to play in. Morgan Tynan was unlucky to see his punch hit the crossbar while Ballinagar got a lifeline in the 52^nd minute with a great goal. Ray Daly gave a fantastic pinpoint pass in over the top to Adam Strong, who rattled the net with a super finish.

Suddenly the gap was only four and there was time for an audacious Ballinagar snatch and grab raid. That goal, however, proved to be their last score as Tullamore steadied the ship very impressively. Subs, twins Mike and Dan Fox got the closing two points as they closed out the deal comfortably.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cillian Martin (Tullamore): Peter Fox was the man early on for Tullamore as his scores got them into a winning position. Tullamore had several other players who played well with Dylan Hensey and Pa Robilliard controlling the defence from full and centre half back, Davin Keegan and Luke Bourke winning the midfield battle and Liam Dillane and Ben Connolly lively up front.

The choice is a forward who didn't score but put in a terrific shift, Cillian Martin. He got on a lot of ball, revelled in the physicality and conditions, carried possession forward, turned over ball and moved very well. He had a lot of assists, did a lot of very important simple stuff and made himself available at every opportunity.

Robbie Gallagher was Ballinagar's best player, carrying the ball with real intent in the first half in particular while Adam Strong also worked his socks off and Geordi O'Meara had some very good spells, especially in the first half.

THE SCORERS

Tullamore: Peter Fox 2-1, Liam Dillane 0-4 (3f), Ben Connolly 0-2 (1 mark), Luke Bourke, Mike Fox and Dan Fox (f) 0-1 each.

Ballinagar: Geordi O'Meara 0-3 (2f and 1 '45'), Robbie Gallagher 0-2, Morgan Tynan (f) and Ray Daly 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

TULLAMORE: Shaun Martin; Shane Enright, Dylan Hensey, Devon Henchy; Jack Maher, Pa Robbiliard, Jay Sheerin; Davin Keegan, Luke Bourke; Tom Furlong, Ben Conolly, Peter Fox; Liam Dillane, Shane Dooley, Cillian Martin. Subs - Mike Fox for Dooley , Dan Fox for Furlong, Jack Bracken for Henchy Ben Heffernan for Keegan, Evan Fitzpatrick for Connolly,

BALLINAGAR: Ryan Kinahan; Dean Pierce, Diarmuid Finneran, Jack Gorry; Adam Joyce, Brian Malone, Aaron Gorman; Adam Strong, Geordi O'Meara; Jamie Ballesty, Robbie Gallagher, Jack Sheil; Jacob Beatty, Morgan Tynan, Ray Daly. Subs – Conor McGuinness for Malone, Steven Dwane for Sheil.

Referee – Martin Carty (Walsh Island).

REFEREE WATCH

Martin Carty had a good game, refereeing it fairly and getting most things right. He allowed for the conditions and neither side had any complaints.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Peter Fox's sixth minute goal gave Tullamore an early advantage and they never looked like losing from here. That goal had been coming and Fox added a second four minutes later.

VENUE WATCH

Cappincur had plenty of stewards on duty to manage the fixture and there pitch was in good condition.

WHAT'S NEXT

Tullamore play Ferbane in the quarter-finals while Ballinagar have Kilcormac-Killoughey.

STATISTICS

Wides: Ballinagar – 3 (1 in first half); Tullamore - 9 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: 0

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0