Edenderry find that bit extra to see off wasteful Walsh Island in extra time

Edenderry found another gear in the second period of extra-time to overcome a wasteful Walsh Island in an engrossing Tullamore Court Hotel Offaly Intermediate Football Championship quarter-final at Daingean on Friday night.

Tullamore Court Hotel Intermediate Football Championship Quarter-Final

Edenderry 2-19

Walsh Island 2-15

(After extra-time)

Former county player Sean Doyle scored 1-3 off the bench – including the winners’ decisive second goal – to help them to a last-four meeting against either Ferbane or Raheen. Cillian Foran and Jamie O’Leary also chipped in with 0-5 and 1-2 respectively as Walsh Island were left to rue a tally of 16 wides, including nine in the first half alone. On a night when both teams ran themselves to a standstill, Edenderry’s greater strength in depth also told.

The Reds held a slender 1-6 to 1-5 lead at half-time in normal time before surging 1-10 to 1-6 ahead by the end of the third quarter. But two-pointers from Colm Gavin and the impressive Dara Cuddihy helped Walsh Island to regain parity with time running out. Sean Doyle, who was only on the field a matter of minutes, looked to have won it for Edenderry, only for Walsh Island captain Willie Mulhall to tie up the scoring at 1-13 apiece from a free and send the game to extra-time.

Substitute Oisín Murphy’s goal had Walsh Island 2-14 to 1-16 in front at the end of the first period, but they were outscored by 1-3 to 0-1 in the final 10 minutes as Edenderry finally got across the line. The Gaelic Park club endured a disastrous Senior Championship campaign, but the year could yet have a silver lining if their second team can claim intermediate honours.

Having received a walkover from Kilcormac/Killoughey in their last group match, Edenderry had a four-week break which was far from ideal. Another talking point was their line-up which bore no resemblance whatsoever to the team sheet issued to spectators on their way into the well-appointed floodlit venue.

Willie Mulhall had Walsh Island in front after just 36 seconds. Their lead didn’t last long, however, as the concession of a needless sideline in their own half led to Cillian Foran setting up Jamie O’Leary for the opening goal in the second minute.

Mulhall fisted over his second point after John Doyle was denied a goal by Eric Corcoran before a Jamie Dolan free and a Ciaran Breen point from play made it 1-2 to 0-2 in Edenderry’s favour. But a quickfire 1-1 from John Doyle – Thomas Connor set him up for a well-taken goal in the 15th minute – saw the lead change hands for a second time.

Cillian Foran levelled almost immediately before kicking the game’s first two-pointer. The wides were already piling up for Walsh Island before wing back Sean McCloskey showed his forwards how it’s done with a much-needed score. Sean Moriarty and Tommy Brereton traded points to leave the minimum in it at the break.

Reece Cuddihy fisted over the equaliser in the 37th minute after Willie Mulhall had rattled the crossbar just after the restart. Edenderry then hit a purple patch that yielded unanswered points from the rampaging Foran, Moriarty (two) and Jamie O’Leary to put daylight between the sides for the first time.

A Colm Gavin two-pointer that hopped over the crossbar halved the deficit before Foran punched over another Edenderry point in the 52nd minute. Dara Cuddihy brought it back to the minimum again, 1-10 to 1-11, with a superb two-pointer, only for Edenderry to respond again through O’Leary.

But the men in green and white hoops dug in and got the next two points from Mulhall (free) and Dara Cuddihy to regain parity. Amid mounting tension, Alan Mulhall prevented a certain goal from John Foran at the other end before Leslie Nolan teed up Sean Doyle for the lead point in the 61st minute.

But there was still time for Willie Mulhall to level from a last-gasp free after Ciaran Farrell had been penalised for taking too much out of the ball as he tried to burrow his way out of defence.

Doyle (free) and Alan Harte grabbed the first two points of extra-time, but Walsh Island were back in front after Oisín Murphy goaled at the second attempt in the 67th minute and Dara Cuddihy added a point. Another Doyle placed ball left it delicately poised at 1-16 to 2-14 at the second turnaround.

John Doyle put Darren Quinn’s charges two up at the start of the second period, but they wouldn’t score again as Edenderry finished with a flourish. Doyle had them back in front when he rounded Alan Mulhall for a 73rd minute goal after a super delivery from midfield.

Ciaran Farrell then nailed a two-point free before another veteran substitute, Keith McGuinness, completed the scoring to put the result beyond doubt.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Cillian Foran (Edenderry): The midfielder scored 0-5 from play in an all-action display and gets the nod ahead of team-mates Jamie O’Leary, Sean Moriarty and impressive subs Sean Doyle and Alan Harte. Dara Cuddihy and John Doyle were best for Walsh Island.

THE SCORERS

Edenderry: Sean Doyle 1-3 (2fs), Jamie O’Leary 1-2, Cillian Foran (1x2pt) 0-5, Sean Moriarty 0-3, Ciaran Farrell (2ptf) 0-2, Ciaran Breen, Jamie Dolan (f), Alan Harte and Keith McGuinness 0-1 each.

Walsh Island: John Doyle 1-2, Dara Cuddihy (1x2pt) and Willie Mulhall (2fs) 0-4 each, Oisín Murphy 1-0, Colm Gavin 0-2 (2pt), Sean McCloskey, Reece Cuddihy and Tommy Brereton 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

Edenderry: Eric Corcoran; Jake Connolly (captain), Lorcan O’Dwyer, Conor Hynes; John Foran, Peter Butler, Leslie Nolan; Bobby Reynolds, Cillian Foran; Cathal Nolan, Ciaran Farrell, Jamie O’Leary; Ciaran Breen, Jamie Dolan, Sean Moriarty. Subs: Alan Harte for Connolly (41 min), Keith McGuinness for Dolan (45 min), Sean Doyle for Moriarty (56 min), Eoin Tyrrell for Reynolds (59 min), Dolan (reintroduced) for Farrell (64 min), Ross Blong for L Nolan (70 min), Moriarty (reintroduced) for Dolan (77 min).

Walsh Island: Alan Mulhall; Ryan McKenna, Dan O’Keeffe, Evin Galvin; Sean McCloskey, Colm Gavin, Rory Galvin; Thomas Connor, Tommy Brereton; Killian Duffy, Dara Cuddihy, Kieran Murphy; Reece Cuddihy, John Doyle, Willie Mulhall (captain). Subs: James Gallagher for Galvin (5 min), Oisin Murphy for Duffy (54 min).

Referee – Brian Gavin (Clara).

REFEREE WATCH

Brian Gavin handled proceedings well in what was a very sporting and honest game.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Sean Doyle’s goal at the start of the second period of extra-time was a game-changer.

VENUE WATCH

On a perfect night for football with little or no wind about, Daingean was in tip-top shape with a newly-built stand further enhancing the club’s excellent facilities.

WHAT'S NEXT

Edenderry march on to the semi-finals, while it’s the end of the road for Walsh Island.

STATISTICS

Wides: Edenderry 9 (4 in first half, 3 in second half, 2 in extra-time); Walsh Island 16 (9 in first half, 3 in second half, four in extra-time).

Yellow cards: Edenderry – 1 (Cillian Foran); Walsh Island – 1 (Tommy Brereton)

Black cards: none

Red cards: none.