Stuttering Edenderry end lethargic Tullamore's league winning streak with injury time goal

EDENDERRY ended Tullamore's four year winning streak in the Division 1 Football League when they snatched victory from the jaws of defeat in a disappointing final in O'Connor Park on Sunday afternoon.

Division 1 Football League final

Edenderry 3-5

Tullamore 1-10

In a game that never really sprang to life and was played at a pedestrian pace for most of it, sub Kaelem Bryan proved to be Edenderry's hero as he struck for 1-1 in injury time.

He scored a point in the 60^th minute after Tullamore had spurned a golden opportunity to put a safe four points in it at the other end – Liam Dillane, who had scored a nice point minutes earlier, took too much out of the ball and was penalised for over carrying.

After Bryan's point, Edenderry won Corey White's kickout in the middle of the park and they swept into attack with Bryan blasting home a great winning goal.

With three minutes of injury time to be played, Tullamore still had time to rescue it but having played with an unusual level of lethargy for most of the afternoon, they didn't create a chance as Edenderry held on for a very sweet win.

Edenderry will be delighted with the win and it certainly means a lot more to them than Tullamore, who were trying to complete five in a row but in terms of the forthcoming championship, it signifies almost nothing.

A lot of the league finals at the weekend produced championship like intensity but this wasn't one of them and both sides were equally guilty in this regard. In particular both sets of forwards found the going tough: Edenderry missed too much and 3-5, 1-3 with the wind on their backs, just won't cut it under the new rules in general while Tullamore misfired, rarely breaking the line, playing too safe and simply not getting enough shots off – and their safety play wasn't that secure as they were regularly caught in traffic or turned over up front.

The win will be a definite help to Edenderry and their manager Richie Dalton, they did very well to take the victory but it comes with a big caveat - they were near full strength while Tullamore were down a handful of key first team players – emerging star Cillian Bourke was on holidays, Daire McDaid and Harry Plunkett are in America on playing sanctions and Diarmuid Egan is injured, along with the veteran Declan Hogan and Michael Brazil.

With all them missing, Tullamore were very vulnerable but even with that, their energy levels, general execution of the basics and efficiency were well below their normal standards. They were very much sitting ducks in terms of the way they played and it was important for Edenderry that they took them. A defeat would have been dispiriting but the manner of their win won't be lost on any of their management – they almost fell across the line, winning in spite of themselves and this performance won't win the Dowling Cup.

Their three goals were the difference and two of them came against the wind in the first half. Aaron Murphy punched a fourth minute goal as they led by 1-2 to 0-1 after nine minutes. Tullamore finally found some form and four points in a row, Mike Fox and Niall Furlong scoring from play, gave them a 0-6 to 1-2 lead after 18 minutes.

Edenderry opened up the Tullamore defence for their second goal from Sean Doyle in the 20^th minute and that enabled them to lead by 2-2 to 0-7 at the break.

With the wind in their favour in the second half, it was there to be won for Edenderry but they struggled badly for long periods. Niall Furlong's 35^th minute goal saw Tullamore go 1-9 to 2-2 clear. Defender Adam Mahon got Edenderry's first second half point in the 36^th minute but there was no further score until Kaelem Bryan's 51^st point.

Both sides frustrated in that long scoreless spell. Edenderry had plenty of ball but kicked poor wides and their shot selection was often questionable, taking on a couple of two point attempts that were not on.

Tullamore mopped up a lot of play in the middle third but were content to hold onto the ball, only occasionally going at the Edenderry defence at pace. Niall Furlong almost got a match clinching goal in the 43^rd minute, just missing full contact with a Nigel Bracken ball.

Bryan's point made it a two point game and Liam Dillane, working hard after coming on, got Tullamore's first score in 22 minutes in the 57^th minute. A three point lead looked like a winning one but Tullamore didn't put them away and Bryan rode spectacularly to Edenderry's rescue in injury time.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Lee Pearson (Edenderry): It was a strange game with a lot of players operating in a comfort zone. Aaron Leavy and John Furlong were very good for Tullamore and the primary reason they almost won it while Niall Furlong had very good moments in a misfiring attack.

A lot of the Edenderry team were solid without being special. The choice is Lee Pearson, who defended very well, cutting out a lot of good ball and getting up the field regularly. The Edenderry defence were very steady as a unit and ensured that Tullamore didn't make much headway. Kaelem Bryan made a terrific impact off the bench and was the match winner at the other end of the field.

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THE SCORERS

Edenderry: Kaelem Bryan 1-2, Sean Doyle 1-0, Cian Farrell (1f) 0-2, Adam Mahon 0-1.

Tullamore: Niall Furlong 1-1, Mike Fox (2f) and Corey White (1 x 2pf and 1 '45') 0-3 each, John Furlong, Dan Fox and Liam Dillane 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

TULLAMORE: Corey White; Jack Daly, Pa Robillard, Ben Heffernan; Oisin Keenan-Martin, John Furlong, Luke Bourke; Nigel Bracken, Aaron Leavy; Dan Fox, Cormac Egan, Niall Furlong; Peter Fox, Luke Plunkett, Mike Fox. Subs – Tom Furlong for Peter Fox (44m), Liam Dillane for Plunkett (53m), Jay Sheeran for Mike Fox (58m),

EDENDERRY: Cormac Hurley; Adam Mahon, Eoin Dunne, Harry Goulding; Mason Farrell, Rory Egan, Lee Pearson; David Maloney, Jordan Hayes; Cian Murphy, Cillian Foran; Cillian Lowry; Cian Farrell, Aaron Murphy, Sean Doyle. Subs – Kaelem Bryan for Lowry (34m), Mark Abbott for Foran (34m), Colm Byrne for Cian Murphy (44m), Sean Moriarty for Goulding (58m),

Referee – Marius Stones, Clara.

REFEREE WATCH

Marius Stones got most things right, though there were some frees not given. He applied the advantage rule consistently and also penalised players for off the ball fouls, which is good to see – he also showed a yellow card to Aaron Murphy just before the start of the second half for his part in a brief flare up just after the half time whistle.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Kaelem Bryan's match winning goal was the big moment here.

VENUE WATCH

The O'Connor Park pitch looked good and there were no issues.

WHAT'S NEXT

The championship is next up for both teams.

STATISTICS

Wides: Tullamore – 6 (5 in first half); Edenderry – 11 (4 in first half).

Yellow cards: Edenderry – 2 (Lee Pearson and Aaron Murphy), Tullamore – 0.

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0