Tullamore knock second big hoodoo on head with first Leinster club win since 1977

HAVING retained their first Offaly senior football title since 1926, Tullamore knocked another major hoodoo on its head with a first Leinster club win since 1977 with a hard earned but richly deserved one over Wicklow champions, Tinahely in Aughrim on Sunday.

AIB Leinster Club Senior Football Championship quarter-final

Tullamore 2-10

Tinahely 1-7

It was only their second win in Leinster club fare in all and their failure to win one since they ended a long famine in 2000 was a real blemish on their record, every bit as bad as their long time inability to retain a championship. They did it the hard way but were the better side by a distance here and showed terrific composure to get over the line here in the closing quarter.

They were full value for their win and a defeat would have been a disaster for them. For a while, that defeat loomed large but there was something very impressive about the way Tullamore closed out the deal late on. They got on top in all sectors in the second half and a scrambled 60^th minute goal from sub Mike Fox eased their late nerves.

The sight of Tullamore supporters on the field clapping the players off showed what this win meant to them and as they enter another golden era, it was one they needed to achieve – it wasn't a performance that will cause their semi-final opponents Cuala any sleepless nights, but the win was everything. With Tinahely facing them and having celebrated well after winning their first Wicklow title in forty years, Tullamore's chances of doing do were excellent but the game still had to be won and they were the better team the whole day, even if they left the door open for the home side with several missed chances.

Tullamore's only win in the Leinster Club championship came in a replay against Newtowncashel of Longford in 1977. They had escaped with a draw from O'Connor Park in a drawn game that went down in Offaly GAA folklore for one very big reason: It led to the recall of Martin Furlong in goals by Offaly manager, Eugene McGee, and fortune certainly smiled on everyone that day.

One of McGee's first acts when appointed in late 1976 had been to drop Furlong as he began the process of building a new team and deciding which of the 1971/1972 All-Ireland champions to be retained. Furlong was a high profile casualty but Offaly shipped four goals in a calamitous 1977 defeat by Wexford, three of them in the first half with the goalie replaced at half time.

Furlong played out the field for Tullamore for most of his career, generally at centre half forward, and was in that position as they completed a famous senior, U-21 and minor treble in 1977. However, an injury to goalkeeper Nick Whelan resulted in Furlong going back between the posts for the Newtowncashel game, he had a stormer in Tullamore and the rest was history as he was footballer of the year in 1982 when Offaly won one of the most famous All-Ireland titles of all time.

Apart from that Tullamore have endured a shocking tale of woe in provincial fare. They lost to St Joseph's of Laois in 1977 and were beaten by Clonguish of Longford in 1973. After '77, they endured a long 23 year famine and when they won again in 2000, the final was only finished in December because of Kevin Martin playing for Offaly senior hurlers as they went to the All-Ireland final. Rhode were nominated that year and since then Tullamore have won regular titles but failed in Leinster, losing to Louth's Mattock Rangers in 2002, Carlow's Eire Og in 2007, Louth's Newtown Blues in 2013, Kildare's Naas in 2021 and Meath's Sumnmerhill in 2023.

Martin Furlong's grandson John Furlong was centre half back and the left footed free taker for Tullamore here while another, John's younger brother Niall came on as a sub. Both played as big a part in their own way as their legendary grandfather had 47 years ago. John was immense at centre half back, really coming into the game in the second half while Niall made a huge impact off the bench, winning crucial ball and using it well.

From an early stage, it was clear that Tullamore had the measure of their opponents but the big question was would it translate into a win. They dominated the early exchanges but four wides from four attacks suggested it could go wrong for them. However, an excellent sixth minute goal nullified those misses with Diarmuid Egan, a late call up for Luke Egan, turning over the ball in midfield and winning a free. Harry Plunkett lofted that into open space for Egan, who bore down on goals and off loaded to Dan Fox, whose finish was sublime.

Tinahely settled after that and were 1-1 to 0-3 behind after fifteen minutes. They were level at 0-5 to 1-2 after 19 minutes and Tullamore almost got in for a goal three minutes later when Diarmuid Egan was taken out of it. He was very close to the penalty area but a free was given that John Furlong tapped over for the lead. Oisin Keenan-Martin almost got in for a 24^th minute goal but was forced off balance and blazed wide. However, Harry Plunkett's point gave Tullamore a 1-4 to 0-5 interval lead and with the slight wind to come, it was theirs to lose.

Tinahely grabbed the lead with a punched goal from Rory Stokes seven minutes into the second half when Corey White came for but didn't make an Eoin Darcy ball. Crucially Tullamore got the next score, an excellent Harry Plunkett free. Eoin Darcy's 43^rd minute free put Tinahely back in front for the last time and Tullamore's dominance grew by the minute from here on.

The hard working Michael Brazil levelled it up and they should have got a 50^th minute goal as John Furlong's punch was comfortably gathered by Alan Nolan. Furlong had the time and space to catch it and kick to the net but a free in was given for an earlier foul and Harry Plunkett gave Tullamore the lead.

Plunkett and John Furlong got frees and a spectacular Cillian Bourke point put Tullamore 1-10 to 1-6 ahead with three minutes left. Thomas Kelly reduced it to a goal but Mike Fox's 60^th minute goal clinched it and Tinahely finished with fourteen when Paddy O'Rourke picked up a second yellow card.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cillian Bourke (Tullamore): Cillian Bourke was pivotal to Tullamore's win. A Leaving Certificate student, he has been such an addition to Tullamore this year and had another excellent game here. His ability to win high ball allowed Tullamore to press up on Tinahely kickouts and he made some spectacular catches. His tackling and work rate was immense, his movement breathtaking and his use of the ball superb.

John Furlong was a contender with a customary excellent display while Oisin Keenan-Martin had arguably his best game of the year in defence and Harry Plunkett went well in their attack. Diarmuid Egan also did well in his first start of the year, taking heavy punishment before being replaced in the second half while midfielder Arron Hensey certainly emptied the tank, working hard and doing the simple thing effectively.

THE SCORERS

Tullamore: Harry Plunkett 0-5 (3f), Dan Fox 1-1, Mike Fox 1-0, John Furlong 0-2 (2f), Michael Brazil and Cillian Bourke 0-1 each.

Tinahely: Eoiun Darcy 0-4 (2f and 1 mark), Rory Stokes 1-0, Matthew Ging, Thomas Kelly and Eoghan Byrne 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

TULLAMORE: Corey White; Paul McConway, Declan Hogan, Daire McDaid; Nigel Bracken, John Furlong, Oisin Keenan-Martin; Aaron Leavy, Arron Hensey; Cormac Egan, Michael Brazil, Cillian Bourke; Diarmuid Egan, Dan Fox, Harry Plunkett. Subs – Luke Egan for Leavy (HT), Mike Fox for Dan Fox (50m), Niall Furlong for Diarmuid Egan (50m),

TINAHELY: Alan Nolan; Kevin Mulhall, Michael Byrne, Bradley Hickey; James Hedderman, Noel Mulhall, Cillian McDonald; Eoghan Byrne, Daniel Hedderman; Larry Kinsella, Eoin Darcy, Paddy O'Rourke; Matthew Ging, Rory Stokes, Jason Cush. Subs – Thomas Kelly for Cush (47m), Shane Hogan for Kinsella (50m), Brian Walsh for James Hedderman (53m), Curtis Keating for Hickey (59m),

Referee – Alan Coyne (Westmeath).

REFEREE WATCH

Alan Coyne had a good game. He penalised over carrying a few times and some looked debatable but he was consistent and not a factor in the result.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Cillian Bourke's 57^th minute point was a terrific score as well as giving Tullamore a crucial four point lead.

VENUE WATCH

Aughrim is a lovely rural venue and the Wicklow County Board hosted the fixture well. Their traffic management worked well and their pitch was in good condition.

WHAT'S NEXT

Tullamore go into the semi-finals against Cuala on November 23/24..

STATISTICS

Wides: Tullamore – 10 (7 in first half); Tinahely - 3 (2 in first half).

Yellow cards: Tullamore – 1 (Arron Hensey); Tinahely – 3 (Cillian McDonald, Paddy O'Rourke 2),

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: Tullamore – 0; Tinahely – 1 (Paddy O'Rourke, 2 yellows).