In-form Daingean coast to easy win over stricken Tubber

DAINGEAN took a giant step towards the semi-finals with a second win in the Offaly Senior “B” Football Championship in Tubber on Thursday evening.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior “B” Football Championship Round 2

Daingean 4-17

Tubber 0-11

With a win over a fancied Tullamore side under their belt from the first round, Daingean have started very well and are now odds on favourites to take one of the four semi-final berths on offer from this six team championship.

This was very comfortable for them with Tubber badly stuck for numbers and showing some of the hallmarks of a club in bother. Daingean had a big panel of 32 named, Tubber had just 19 togged out with emigration, injuries and other absentees all contributing to this – the losers were like the walking wounded in ways and did well to manage 11 points on the evening with Daingean completely dominant apart from a spell before half time.

County hurler Donal Shirley was watching on as he recovers from a cruciate injury while former county football stalwart, Ciaran McManus was among the unavailable players here – 50 year old McManus came on as a sub in their opening round loss to Ballinagar.

With few players emerging out of underage ranks at the moment, Tubber could not sustain these losses and on the basis of their opening two games, they are prime relegation contenders – they will fight with everything they have to avoid that but a step back may not be the worse thing for them at the moment.

Credit to Tubber who dug deep here after a dreadful opening quarter when Daingean struck for 1-9 without reply and could very easily have ran in another couple of goals.

Cormac Whittle got them going with an instant two pointer and Odhran Connolly punched their goal in the fifth minute as Daingean opened them up with remarkable and concerning ease.

Tubber did well to only concede one point in the second quarter as Daingean led by 1-10 to 0-6 at half time. Daingean stopped playing and became quite sloppy, over carrying the ball on a couple of occasions and also being punished for a throw ball by county star Shane Tierney.

It would be stretching things to suggest that Tubber were back in it at half time. They weren't and everyone at the venue knew at half time that Daingean's winning margin would be a substantial one but Tubber showed good spirit in that second quarter with former county player Bernard Allen primarily responsible for them arresting the decline.

Allen got five of their six first half points, three of them from play, he oozed class and Daingean were not one bit comfortable any time the ball went in his vicinity.

It was obvious, however, that Allen would be unable to win it on his own and the second half was a bit of a non event. Daingean outscored them by 4-7 to 0-5 and had the points wrapped up by the 42nd minute when Shane Tierney's goal put them 2-14 to 0-9 ahead. It all drifted out very harmlessly from here with Cormac Whittle and Aaron Longworth adding to their goals tally.

If anything, it was nearly too easy for Daingean and in a one sided game like this, bad habits could very easilyy sneak in. They certainly did in the second quarter but overall manager Barry Weldon will be very pleased with most of what he saw and the efficient way in which Daingean controlled the game for the vast majority of the evening.

MATCH ANALYSIS

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MAN OF THE MATCH

Cormac Whittle (Daingean): There is a strong case to be made for Bernard Allen who was the primary reason Tubber reached double figures and achieved some measure of respectability – other players also worked hard and contributed and all Tubber can do is take things on the chin at the moment and try and turn the tide. Already their focus is on avoiding relegation and the team that played on Thursday certainly can't win a championship.

Under many of the criteria, Allen was the best player on the field but it would be wrong not to give it to a Daingean man. Ryan Conway did great work from full back and Sam Wright and Scott Milne were excellent at midfield, doing most things right and carrying the ball well. Shane Tierney orchestrated things in the attack, dictating the flow of play and showing real leadership as he told players where to go and when to give it. He oozed quality and it was a pleasure to watch him and Bernard Allen in action.

Cathal Ryan was immense for them, running the game for much of the way before he was called ashore in the 48th minute when Daingean were assured of the win. The choice is wing back Cormac Whittle. He got them going with an early two pointer and attacked very well from wing back. He defended well, tackled well and made himself available, even when it was unlikely the ball would be worked out to him. He ended up with 1-3 and was one of several Daingean players who went very well.

THE SCORERS

Daingeean: Shane Tierney 1-5 (2f), Cormac Whittle 1-3 (1 x 2p), Odhran Connolly 1-2, Aaron Longworth 1-0, Aran Byrne and Jamie Hayes (1f) 0-2 each, Ryan Conway, Charlie Burns, Shane Marsden 0-1 each.

Tubber: Bernard Allen 0-8 (5f), Padraig McLoughlin, Ciaran McGuinness, Colm Donnellan 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

DAINGEAN: Conan Curley; Cathal McKnight, Ryan Conway, Casey Evans; Steven Joyce, Adam Bolger, Cormac Whittle; Sam Wright, Scott Milne; Charlie Burns, Aran Byrne, Cathal Ryan; Shane Marsden, Odhran Connolly, Shane Tierney. Subs – Aaron Longworth for Ryan (48m), Jamie Hayes for Marsden (52m), Finn McGuinness for Connolly (53m).

TUBBER: James Lamgan;' David Fallon, Nigel Farrell, Hugh Murphy; Ciaran Allen, Adam Fox;, Padraig McLoughlin; Enda McLoughlin, Ciaran Kinahan; Eoin Murphy, Sean Farrell, Ciaran McGuinness; Patrick Farrell, Bernard Allen, Colm Donnellan. Subs – Ronan Farrell for Patrick Farrell, inj. (29m), Pauric Robbins for Donnellan (33m), Ciaran Murphy for Sean Farrell (47m).

Referee – Chris Dwyer, Clara.

REFEREE WATCH

Chris Dwyer handled it well, applying the rules consistently and fairly. Tubber did appear to get a couple of soft frees in the second quarter but these balanced out over the hour.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Odhran Connolly was very lively in the Daingean attack and his fifth minute goal put them 1-3 to no score ahead and the result was more or less a foregone conclusion.

VENUE WATCH

Tubber's ground was in great order on a splendid summer's evening and they managed this home fixture very well.

WHAT'S NEXT

Tubber play Cappincur and Daingean meet Ballinagar in round 3.

STATISTICS

Wides: Daingean – 14 (5 in first half); Tubber – 6 (2 in first half).

Yellow cards: Daingean – 1 (Odhran Connolly); Tubber – 2 (Nigel Farrell, Ciaran Allen).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: 0