Rejuvenated Tubber qualify on merit as Tullamore scrape through back door

BOTH sides ended up “winning” but only Tubber were celebrating after showing terrific fighting qualities to grind out a teak tough win over Tullamore in a heart warmingly honest, fiercely fought Offaly Senior “B” Football Championship tussle in Pullough on Friday evening.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior “B” Football Championship Round 5

Tubber 2-14

Tullamore 1-16

Living on their wits for a significant portion of the second half, Tubber were full of heart and qualify for the semi-finals on merit while Tullamore scrape in thanks to Ballinagar's win over Cappincur – if Cappincur won that, Tullamore would have been out but the likelihood of a Ballinagar win providing a get out of jail card to the losers loomed large over this fixture from the start.

That duly happened but both sides went at this in the only way they could, treating it as knockout football and the result was a very entertaining evening'. It could have swung any way and no result would have been unjust, a Tubber or Tullamore win or a draw and all three of these were very much on the table at different stages.

An injury time point from impressive sub Patrick Farrell won the day for Tubber, leaving Tullamore with an anxious few minutes wait before the news came through from Geashill that Ballinagar had defeated their near neighbours.

Tubber deserve huge credit for the way they have turned their season around. They were awful in an early mauling by Daingean and anyone in Tubber that evening would not have wasted a penny on them making the semi-final. A win over Cappincur turned their season around and they followed up by beating Ballycumber, leaving their fate in their own hands for this closing round shootout.

Tullamore were many people's fancy to win this championship before the start but haven't got going. They can't be ruled out and still have a lot of very good footballers but they go into the semi-finals on the back of three defeats, depending on a favour from elsewhere and that is not championship winning form – however, they are there and no one will be ruling them out, including table toppers and favourites Daingean who now face them in the semi-final.

Unfortunately for Tullamore, their semi-final prospects were badly damaged when hard working midfielder Cillian Martin was shown a red card by referee Eamon O'Connor for comments after the final whistle and is likely to be suspended – not long back from America, Martin is a very physical, effective footballer who would have improved with more training.

Tubber made a terrible start in their win over Ballycumber in the last game but this was a role reversal here as they hit the ground running, storming into a 1-8 to 0-2 lead after fifteen minutes. Everything they touched turned to gold in this opening quarter with Ciaran McGuinness firing home the goal in the 11th minute after a great Conor Fox ball in.

Tullamore were at nothing in this period and ultimately this start is the reason they lost. They were excellent in the second quarter with Martin Keogh getting them going with a goal against the run of play in the 18th minute. They then had a great run of five points in a row and were very much in the hunt at half time, trailing by 1-10 to 1-7.

The second half made gripping viewing with the tension increasing by the minute. Tullamore had it back to a point, 1-12 to 1-11 by the 40th minute but a punched goal by Adam Fox after a great Ciaran McGuinness ball forward a minute later handed them back the initiative.

It was heart attack stuff by Tubber from here to the final whistle and at times, it looked like they might beat themselves. Their error count crept to dangerous levels as players slipped when the ball was there to be won, some possession was kicked away, short frees taken to players who weren't expecting it and were overturned, balls ballooned wide.

Ryan Sheerin, Martin Keogh and Tom Furlong got three points in three minutes to bring it back to a point game as it entered the last ten minutes, Tubber were out on their feet and threw 50 year old former county star Ciaran McManus into the fray and he helped shore up the middle third. Tubber still lived on their wits as several players went into the red, their football occasionally calamitious and Tullamore's play was more composed but pure heart and guts shone through for the Westmeath border side. Players emptied the tank and threw their bodies at the ball to make crucial blocks.

They defended tenaciously and didn't panic when Shane Dooley's free levelled it up at 1-16 to 2-13 with two minutes left. Three minutes of injury time were played and it could have swung any way but somehow, Tubber found a way to win it, Patrick Farrell getting that last gasp winner.

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Enda McLoughlin (Tubber): A tough call between Enda McLoughlin and Ciaran McGuinness. McGuinness did a mountain of good work. In addition to scoring 1-1, he blocked and worked hard and sent in some top quality balls into the inside forwards.

Enda McLoughlin gets the nod for the way he marshalled the Tubber full back line. He did his marking duty very well, cut out a lot of ball and also halted raiders from the corners and wings. A lot of his play was in the “unseen category” but he gave a master class of very efficient defensive work.

Sean Farrell and Conor Fox were also excellent for Tubber who lost Padraig McLoughlin to an early injury and were also down Pauric Robbins.

Tullamore had a good few players who played well. Ryan Sheerin, Patrick Fahey and Kevin O'Brien were excellent carrying the ball forward, Shane Horkan oozed quality at times in midfield, Jay Sheerin did a lot of good work at centre half forward and Peter Fox threatened to be a match winner – Fox's brother Dan make a very welcome second half return after a lengthy lay off as he battled a health issue. Dan has been a very lively senior forward in recent years and even if he has to wait a year before returning to that level, it is just great to see this very dedicated player back on the playing fields earlier than many expected.

THE SCORERS

Tubber: Bernard Allen 0-5 (1 x 2p, 2f), Ciaran McGuinness 1-1, Conor Fox 0-4 (1 x 2p, 1f), Adam Fox 1-0, Patrick Farrell 0-2, Eoin Murphy and Lee Colgan 0-1 each.

Tullamore: Martin Keogh 1-1, Shane Dooley (3f) and Peter Fox 0-3 each, Jay Sheerin, Patrick Fahey, Shane Horkan 0-2 each, Tom Furlong, Ben Connolly, Ryan Sheerin 0-1 each.

THE TEAMS

TUBBER: James Langan; Nigel Farrell, Enda McLoughlin, Hugh Murphy; Ciaran Allen, Lee Colgan, Sean Farrell; Eoin Murphy, Padraig McLoughlin; Adam Fox, Conor Fox, Ronan Farrell; Brian Kelly, Bernard Allen, Ciaran McGuinness. Subs – Patrick Farrell for Padraig McLoughlin, inj. (12m), David Fallon for Kelly (21m), Ciaran McManus for Nigel Farrell (47m), Ciaran Kinahan for Murphy (54m).

TULLAMORE: Donncha Keoghan; Jake Moore, Shane Enright, Daire Foley; Kevin O'Brien, Patrick Fahey, Ryan Sheerin; Cillian Martin, Shane Horkan; Tom Furlong, Jay Sheerin, Peter Fox; Martin Keogh Shane Dooley, Ben Connolly. Subs – Sean Afolabi Joseph for Connolly (36m), Dan Fox for Keogh (52m).

Referee – Eamon O'Connor, Ballycommon.

REFEREE WATCH

In a very physical, hard fought game, Eamon O'Connor had a busy game and did well overall. Both sides complained at some decisions and may have had a case with some but these very much balanced out. There were a couple of times when he could have given Tullamore advantage and Cillian Martin certainly should have got that when he gained possession in front of goal a few minutes from the end and was pulling the trigger when O'Connor blew for an earlier foul. Tubber's Eoin Murphy could have got a black card and not a yellow for a block on a Tullamore player in the second half while Tubber were very fortunate not to be punished for a three man breach midway during the second half. Linesman Jackie Longworth called the referee but he was ignored – it was a blatant breach as the guilty player was gone well beyond the margin for error but Longworth is a Tullamore member, that factor placed O'Connor between a rock and a hard place and Tubber got away with that.

There was also a linesman from the Shinrone club at an U20 hurling semi-final involving them on Thursday evening and it would be much better to have neutral officials for games of this importance – sometimes the personnel just isn't available but it does leave referees with a small bit of a dilemma when big calls are made by a linesman from one of the clubs, even if he is an official referee. Longworth was very fair here and the refereeing by O'Connor, the way he left things flow, all added to the enjoyment.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Adam Fox's 41st minute goal came at a stage when Tubber were on the back foot. It gave them a four point lead and without it, they would probably have been beaten.

VENUE WATCH

Erin Rovers have excellent facilities in Pullough and hosted the game very well. They had loads of stewards who gave a real tradtional, hearty Pullough welcome to all visitors. The only downside was not their fault – the Tullamore team did not line out as numbered in the programme with Martin Keogh and Ben Connolly wearing 23 and 25 instead of the listed 12 and 15 while Sean Afobali Joseph was listed as 21 but wore 29 and Dan Fox wasn't named among the subs.

WHAT'S NEXT

Tubber play Ballinagar in the semi-finals while Tullamore have Daingean.

STATISTICS

Wides: Tullamore – 5 (2 in first half); Tubber – 8 (3 in first half).

Yellow cards: Tubber – 1 (Eoin Murphy); Tullamore – 2 (Patrick Fahey and Cillian Martin).

Black cards: 0

Red cards: Tullamore - 1 (Cillian Martin); Tubber - 0