Tullamore on top after win over Maynooth

The temperatures may be falling but the sun continues to shine on Tullamore’s season as, following this important win, they find themselves sitting proudly on top of the Leinster Senior League.

Leinster Senior League

Tullamore Town 1

Maynooth Town 0

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A priceless first half goal from their captain, Scott Delaney, was enough to extend their unbeaten run to five games in what was a hugely entertaining match.

They began brightly with Delaney playing a great ball through to Trevor Moylan who saw his effort deflected wide and, from the resultant corner, Moylan fired inches past the left post. Maynooth nearly jumped into the lead on ten minutes when, following a free kick, the home defence misjudged the flight of the ball and Alan O’Connell had to be at his most alert to tip it over the bar.

Tullamore were unlucky on fifteen minutes when lovely play from Macdarragh O’Neill saw him lift the ball over his marker only for his volley to be knocked behind and from the corner Delaney flashed his header narrowly wide.

They again went perilously close when Rory Condron’s free kick picked out O’Neill who crashed his effort off the crossbar and, as the ball broke back into play, Scott Delaney saw his diving header taken off the line.

With twenty five minutes on the clock they hit the front when O’Neill was hauled down and, when Shane Nolan could only parry Moylan’s blistering free kick, Delaney pounced on the loose ball to drive it into the back of the net. Maynooth went in search of an equaliser with Thomas Donnelly playing in Dan Reynolds, but he fired over when well placed and Donnelly again created danger when his low cross just failed to pick out Reynolds at the far post.

As Tullamore hit back, a fine move involving Andy Quinn and Trevor Moylan released James Carthy through the middle, but Nolan was quickly off his line to avert the danger. With their back four giving nothing away they again went close on thirty five minutes. Macdarragh O’Neill’s glancing header sent Stephen Francis clear on the right and, when he played the ball into the area, O’Neill’s fine header was brilliantly tipped around the post by Shane Nolan.

As they continued to press, Scott Delaney won possession in midfield and played a great ball through to O’Neill, but he was denied by another superb save from Nolan. With the clock ticking down the visitors nearly got back in the game when James Airey got on the end of Adam Knop’s left wing cross, but his header was scrambled clear as the referee brought the first half to a conclusion with Tullamore one goal to the good.

On the resumption Maynooth went on the offensive with Ben Reynolds racing clear on the right, but Ross Kinnarney cut out the danger with a great sliding tackle. The game shifted inexorably in the visitors favour on the back of two events early in the second half.

First, Tullamore’s danger man, Macdarragh O’Neill, was forced out through injury and secondly, Maynooth introduced Francis Ilunga and David Folan into the fray. Ilunga immediately asserted himself in midfield while Folan’s distribution from the right was a constant threat to the home rearguard. Tullamore manager Patrick Ruane rang the changes by bringing on Arron Hensey and Mark Casey as they struggled to contain the revitalised visitors but, with Ken Doyle and Ross Kinnarney outstanding at the heart of the defence, they held firm.

A fine break on the right by Daniel Burke was cut out by Scott Delaney while at the other end Declan Banbrick did well to head clear Trevor Moylan’s dangerous free kick. With seventy five minutes on the clock Maynooth nearly equalised when Dan Reynolds played in James Airey, but Alan O’Connell saved superbly with his feet.

With Jonathan Smith coming on up front, Tullamore went back on the attack with Arron Hensey cutting the ball back to Scott Delaney but his effort was too high. As the game continued to ebb and flow Thomas Donnelly sent David Folan clear on the right and collected his return pass before firing wide and Folan then picked out Adam Knop in the middle but he volleyed over.

With five minutes remaining Knop sent in a great cross from the left but Donnelly’s header was well held by O’Connell while, at the other end, Rory Condron’s free kick just drifted outside the far post as the referee brought this white knuckle encounter to a conclusion.

For Tullamore there were excellent contributions from Ken Doyle, Ross Kinnarney, Rory Condron and Macdarragh O’Neill with Shane Nolan, Daniel Burke, Francis Ilunga and David Folan the pick of the visitors, but the man of the match award went to the home sides captain and match winner, Scott Delaney.

Tullamore: Alan O’Connell, Trevor Moylan, Ross Kinnarney, Ken Doyle, Rory Condron, Andy Quinn, Scott Delaney, Stephen Francis, Stephen Duffy, Macdarragh O’Neill and James Carthy. Subs: Arron Hensey, Mark Casey, Jonathan Smith, Mattie Hines and Chris Bracken.

Tullamore face a severe test to their title ambitions next Saturday when they travel to Dublin to take on second placed St John Bosco.