Tullamore get going as goals sink depleted Cappincur

Goals in either half from Martin Keogh and Liam Dillane proved decisive as Tullamore saw off an understrength Cappincur at a balmy Glenisk O’Connor Park last Friday evening to register their first win in this year’s Tullamore Court Hotel Offaly Senior ‘B’ Football Championship.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior ‘B’ Football Championship Round 2

Tullamore 2-15

Cappincur 0-14

After losing to Daingean in the opening round, last year’s intermediate champions bounced back in impressive fashion against a Cappincur side who struggled in the absence of the injured Bill and Diarmuid Carroll as well as Bill’s older brother and former county star Eoin Carroll, who played in the Round 1 win over Ballycumber. Cappincur were three points up inside 60 seconds, but could only manage three more points in the first half as the Tullamore second string seized control to take a 1-9 to 0-6 lead into the break.

Brian O’Reilly’s charges extended their advantage to 1-12 to 0-8 after the restart before their near-neighbours got back to within a goal, 0-14 to 1-14, with six minutes of normal time remaining. But Cappincur’s comeback hopes were ended when Liam Dillane raised the town side’s second green flag a minute later.

No fewer than nine Tullamore players, including all six of their starting forwards, got on the scoring sheet. Jack Daly and 2021 All-Ireland U21 winner Oisín Keenan-Martin were excellent in the half back line, while Davin Keegan and Shane Horkan were on top at midfield, with the latter helping himself to three points from play.

Up front, Tom Furlong, Jay Sheerin, Liam Dillane and Shane Dooley all impressed for a youthful Tullamore side who will have a big say in the destination of the Senior ‘B’ Championship on this evidence. The vastly-experienced Ger Treacy top-scored for a battling Cappincur with 0-6, while Bríon Carroll, Adam Galvin and Peter Norris also had their moments.

Galvin gave wind-assisted Cappincur the perfect start with a two-pointer straight from the throw-in before Treacy followed up with a single. But Tullamore refused to panic and reeled off the next five points to lead by 0-5 to 0-3 after nine minutes.

Shane Horkan settled them with a brace of almost identical scores before Jay Sheerin tied up the scoring. Davin Keegan then gave the Blues the lead before Shane Dooley converted a 20-metre free which was awarded for a breach.

Cappincur regained parity with their second two-pointer from Peter Norris in the 10th minute, only for Tullamore to respond with a cheeky Tom Furlong point and Martin Keogh’s second goal in as many games in the 16th minute after Jack Daly and Furlong were involved in the build-up.

Dillane and Sean Graham traded points before a superb Jay Sheerin two-pointer on the stroke of half-time sent the O’Brien Park outfit into their dressing-rooms with their tails up.

Peter Fox became the last of the Tullamore forwards to score just after the restart before points from Treacy and Graham kept Cappincur in touch. Those scores were cancelled out by a Dooley free he won himself and a fine Keenan-Martin effort in the 42nd minute.

Trailing by seven points, the signs looked ominous for Ger Lynam’s men, but they showed steely resolve to score five of the next seven points. Ger Treacy hit a quick brace (one free), while Brian and Peter Norris also split the posts either side of Shane Dooley’s third point for Tullamore.

When a high delivery from Treacy aimed at substitute and target man Jason Gethings bounced over the bar for Cappincur’s third two-pointer, the margin was down to just three points. But from Donncha Keoghan’s kickout, Tullamore counterattacked and it was all over bar the shouting when corner back Shane Enright teed up Liam Dillane for the clinching goal.

The wing forward tagged on a late point to leave seven between the sides in the end. The scoreline was a little harsh on Cappincur, but they never looked like scoring a goal and were also undermined by 11 wides, including some from very scoreable positions when favoured by the wind in the opening half.

MATCH ANALYSIS

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MAN OF THE MATCH

Shane Horkan (Tullamore): The midfielder scored three points from play in an impressive display.

THE SCORERS

Tullamore: Liam Dillane 1-2, Martin Keogh 1-0, Shane Horkan, Jay Sheerin (1x2pt) and Shane Dooley (2fs) 0-3 each, Oisín Keenan-Martin, Davin Keegan, Tom Furlong and Peter Fox 0-1 each. Cappincur: Ger Treacy 0-6 (1x2pt, 1f), Peter Norris 0-3 (1x2pt), Sean Graham and Adam Galvin (1x2pt) 0-2 each, Sean Courtney 0-1.

THE TEAMS

Tullamore: Donncha Keoghan; Jake Moore, Dylan Hensey, Shane Enright; Jack Daly, Oisín Keenan-Martin, Patrick Fahey; Davin Keegan, Shane Horkan; Tom Furlong, Jay Sheerin, Liam Dillane; Peter Fox, Shane Dooley, Martin Keogh. Subs: Ben Connolly for Keogh (51 min), Ryan Sheerin for Fox (51 min), Thomas Grace for Dooley (58 min).

Cappincur: David Graham; Ollie Hayes, Darragh Norris; Sean Flynn; Hubert Healion, Bríon Carroll, Tommy Leavy; Adam Galvin, PJ Daly; Ciaran Farrell, Sean Courtney, Micheál Fitzgerald; Ger Treacy, Sean Graham, Peter Norris. Subs: Brian Norris for Courtney (26 min), Jason Gethings for PJ Daly (44 min), Sean Courtney for Fitzgerald (55 min) and Peter Daly for S Graham (55 min).

Referee – Brian Gavin (Clara).

REFEREE WATCH

Brian Gavin handled proceedings very well in the warm conditions.

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

Liam Dillane’s 55th minute goal put the game to bed after Cappincur had got back to within three points of their local rivals.

VENUE WATCH

The normally pristine O’Connor Park pitch had a few bare patches around the middle and on the stand side after sand was applied just before the dry spell hit. But it’s nothing a drop of rain won’t fix!

WHAT'S NEXT

Cappincur play Tubber and Tullamore have Daingean in round 3.

STATISTICS

Wides: Tullamore 7 (3 in the first half); Cappincur 11 (6 in the first half).

Yellow cards: Tullamore – 1 (Jay Sheerin); Cappincur – 1 (Adam Galvin).

Red cards: 0.