Belmont retain senior status as Tullamore relegated – unless K-K win senior “B”

Missed chances come back to rue Tullamore as Belmont cemented their place at Offaly hurling's top table for 2025: with Kilcormac/Killoughy reaching the senior B final the Blues will be praying hard over the next two weeks that the double K’s can win as it will mean they avoid dropping down.

Molloy Environmental and Precast Senior Hurling Championship Relegation Play-off

Belmont 1-19

Tullamore 1-14

There was plenty of relief from the West Offaly camp after sixty five minutes of action in Clara GAA on Sunday afternoon as their five point victory over Tullamore ensured that they would remain at senior for next year while for Tullamore its a waiting game for the next two weeks: should KK defeat Clodiagh Geals in the final the capital town will avoid dropping back down to Senior B, something that would be a disaster for them.

Both teams came into this clash having not recorded any victories throughout the group stages of the championship, and both camps would certainly have been disappointed not to have taken anything from some of their games.

It was the Belmont side who opened proceedings through their top scorer on the day Adam Egan who made no mistake from a free inside the opening minute of action. 

Ger Crowe done excellent work in his half back line before playing a lovely pass forward to lovely corner forward Dan Fox who pointed well for the Tullamore men to leave things all square after six minutes of action.

Belmont nailed two in a row in the following moments through the Egan brothers, Adam from a free before veteran Colin took off on a solo run before getting a shot away exceptionally well from out the wing. 

Tullamore were back on the scoreboard themselves in the eight minute after Cormac Egan played James Houlihan through and he made no misake in pointing, this was quickly followed by a well taken Niall Furlong effort after brilliant work from Cillian Martin to break out of the ruck. 

The Blues took the lead for the first time on the day in the eleventh minute when Cillian Bourke set Mike Fox up for a lovely effort, this lead quickly doubled when Shane Dooley pointed a free moments later pushing his side five points to three up after thirteen minutes of lively action.

Oisin Kelly and Aaron Leavy exchanged points for their sides in the following moments before the Belmont men upped it a gear scoring five points on the bounce- two from Adam Egan, one of these a placed ball, along with efforts by James Nally from distance, Conor Dunican from play and a fabulous sideline ball from their marksman Oisin Kelly opening the lead to three by the twenty fifth minute mark.

Tullamores worst nightmare came two minutes after a high ball in from the Belmont defence broke to Conor Dunican who dispatched to the back of Paul Kelly’s net doubling their lead at a crucial point in this clash before tagging on three more scores in the opening half through an Adam Egan 65’ Oisin Kelly’s second and another fine efforts from skipper Colin Egan leaving Tullamore chasing a nine point deficit at the break.

Things got worse in the opening ten minutes of the second period for the Blues with the Belmont men tagging on three more scores all from the stick of Adam Egan. Tullamore had their chances here missing two frees and Dan Fox was fierce unlucky when Belmont netminder Damien Egan pulled off a great save to prevent a green flag.

Tullamore got their first score in over twenty five minutes when the ball broke to Cormac Martin who made no mistake in pointing from near the half way line out on the wing, Adam Egan and Shane Dooley exchanged frees in the forty fourth and sixth minute before the Tullamore men found their purple patch with Cillian Martin pointing twice before James Houlihan powered through the Belmont defence getting his shot away and rattling the back of Damien Egan's net getting the gap back to five with six minutes of action remaining.

Cillian Bourke, who had now pushed into the forward line, then climbed high, gathering possession before taking off on a powerful run through the heart of the defence, but saw his effort just go the wrong side of the cross bar in what was a gilt edge goal opportunity for the Tullamore men.

It’s was the Belmont men who outscored their opponents two points to one in the final couple of minutes, Adam Egan with two frees and Dooley with one of his own at the opposite end.

Things almost lost control in injury time as Dylan Hensey and Cathal Flynn got got to know one another off the ball and following a couple of minutes conversation with his umpires Brian Gavin issued Hensey with a straight red before surprisingly only showing Flynn a yellow. 

The Tullamore men will be hoping that Kilcormac/Killoughy can do them a massive favor in two weeks time and ratain the Senior B title which will mean the Blues will avoid the drop which would be an absolute disaster for hurling in the capital town. 

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Adam Egan (Belmont): For the Tullamore men Cillian Martin got through a mountain of work before tiring out in the second half while Cormac Egan and Cillian Bourke were the stand out for the Blues.

For Belmont Colin Egan had a real captains role chipping in with a couple of nice points. Leon Fox was solid at centre back while Conor Dunican and Patrick Taaffe had good moments.

The nod goes to Adam Egan here who was flawless from his placed balls along with scoring three points from play was instrumental in his sides victory. 

THE SCORERS

Belmont: Adam Egan 0-12 (7 frees, 2 65’), Conor Dunican 1-1, Oisin Kelly 0-3, Colin Egan 0-2, James Nally 0-1.

Tullamore: Shane Dooley 0-4frees, James Houlihan 1-1, Cillian Martin 0-2, Dan Fox, Mike Fox, Niall Furlong, Aaron Leavy, Cormac Martin and Cillian Bourke 0-1 each

THE TEANS

Belmont: Damien Egan; Mark Egan, Ciaran Cahill, Jack Egan; Jack Clancy, Leon Fox, Darragh Flynn; Patrick Taaffe, David Kelly; Colin Egan, Oisin Kelly, James Nally; Cathal Flynn, Adam Egan, Conor Dunican. Subs: Ronan McGuire for D.Kelly (40), David Nally for J.Nally (48), Aron McCabe for C.Egan (52), Colin Egan for Dunican (60).

Tullamore: Paul Kelly; Kevin Waters, Niall Houlihan, Dylan Hensey; Cillian Bourke, Ger Crowe, Aaron Leavy; Mike Feeney, Cormac Egan; Cillian Martin, James Houlihan, Niall Furlong; Dan Fox, Shane Dooley, Mike Fox. Subs: Jack Daly for N.Houlihan (halftime), Cormac Martin for Furlong (42), Ger Treacy for Feeney (48), Brian Hogan for D.Fox (50), Tom Furlong for C.Martin (50).

REFEREE WATCH

Brian Gavin looked after proceedings and over all he wasn’t a factor in the outcome.

He knew when to blow for frees or when to allow advantage to proceed.

His only mishap in this clash came in the 60th minute, after a long consultation with his umpires after an off the ball altercation between Tullamore’s Dylan Hensey and Belmont#s Cathal Flynn, Hensey was issued with a straight red card and Flynn getting away with a yellow.

While it ultimately did not have a factor in the outcome of the clash both men should have probably walked here rather than one. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Conor Duncan’s goal in the twenty-sixth minute was overall the moment of the match here, it pushed his side six points clear and it left Tullamore with a huge amount of work to do from here. 

VENUE WATCH

Clara GAA hosted this clash and were very professional in hosts on the day. 

The pitch was in decent order and scoreboard / clock in working order, they had plenty of stewards on duty and plenty of parking available. The hard work that has been going on in recent times was evident and the club were proud to show it off here. Some stewards arrived over a hour before throw in to park cars and were still there an hour after the game making sure all patrons got out safely and the Clara club must be commended on this. 

WHAT'S NEXT

Belmont retain their Senior A status for next year while for Tullamore, they now wait to see who takes home the Senior B title before they will know if they can avoid dropping down to Senior B.

STATISTICS

Wides: Belmont: 8 (4 in first half); Tullamore: 13 (5 in first half)

Yellow cards: Belmont: 1 Cathal Flynn; Tullamore: 0

Red cards: Belmont: 0; Tullamore: 1 Dylan Hensey