Permanent TSB Under 19D County Final
Conahy Shamrocks 3-14
Tullogher Rosbercon 2-12
Conahy Shamrocks continued their recent successful run with a fine win in the 2019 Permanent TSB Under 19D County Final against Tullogher Rosbercon in Graiguenamanagh on Saturday last.
In what was an enjoyable game for the good attendance the winners laid the foundation for victory in the first half, but the Southerners will rue numerous missed chances in the opening twelve minutes of the second half when they were the dominant side.
A pointed free from Karl Downey gave Conahy a good start, only for the impressive Brian Walsh to equalise for Tullogher one minute later. Mark Gunner edged Conahy ahead from a free almost immediately when Geoffrey O’Shea was fouled.
The highly talented Danny Glennon scored the first goal of the game for Tullogher on four minutes when he gained possession, ran at the Conahy defence and gave Conahy goalie Harry O’Mahony no chance with his well struck shot.
Straight from the puck-out Conahy went on the attack with Mark Gunner setting up Thomas Rice for his side’s first goal and a lead that the winners would hold to the finish.
The accuracy of Mark Gunner from play and frees was a big factor in Conahy getting on top in the first half, but three pointed frees from Brian Walsh left a point between the sides as the game entered the closing ten minutes of the first half.
Conahy scored their second goal five minutes before the interval when a long delivery from Karl Downey was collected by Mark Gunner who shot to the net. The sides shared four points – Mark Gunner (free) and Thomas Rice for Conahy and Brian Walsh (free) and Mikey Handrick for Tullogher – before referee Eoin Hayes blew for half-time with the winners leading 2-9 to 1-7.
Tullogher dominated the opening twelve minutes of the second half, but remarkably Conahy outscored them in that period by two points to one. The Southerners enjoyed an abundance of possession with Marc McGrath grabbing an early point, but poor accuracy was to prove very costly. While both teams had to contend with a cross-field breeze, Tullogher will be disappointed with the many scorable chances they missed.
Despite enjoying modest possession in the early stages of the second half Conahy had points from Mark Gunner (free) and Eoin Cahill, the latter following a quickly taken Karl Downey free. This saw the winners lead by six points after eleven minutes.
Conahy’s third goal mid-way through the second half from Jack Murphy gave the winners some breathing space, but the response from Tullogher was impressive. Points from Danny Glennon, Frank Murphy and Marc McGrath brought the margin back to five points.
Tullogher needed a goal and they got one from a penalty close to full-time from Brian Walsh, but by that stage Conahy had one hand on the trophy with points from Ciaran Rice and Eoin Cahill after another quickly taken free by Karl Downey.
It was fitting that Conahy’s best player Eoin Cahill should get the last score of the game pointing from midfield after a wayward Tullogher clearance. His move from attack to midfield in the second half was important to Conahy’s victory
Bar a period at the start of the second half, the winners held the upper hand for much this final. In a fine overall team performance Sean O’Dornan, Darren Cuddihy, Frank Gunner, Eoin Cahill, Karl Downey, Thomas Rice and Mark Gunner impressed for the winners, while Niall O’Shea, Colman O’Sullivan, Jamie Power, Marc McGrath, Frank Murphy and Danny Glennon were best for Tullogher Rosbercon.
Conahy Shamrocks
Harry O’Mahony; Kevin Conry; Sean O’Dornan; Cian Harding; Darren Cuddihy; Frank Gunner; Jack Dempsey; John Paul Gamble; Karl Downey (0-2, frees); Ciaran Rice (0-1); Eoin Cahill (0-3); Geoffrey O’Shea; Jack Murphy (1-0); Thomas Rice (1-2); Mark Gunner (1-6, 0-5 frees).
Tullogher Rosbercon
James Banville; Conor Ryan; Niall O’Shea; Luke Walsh; Ben Kennedy; Jamie Power; Frank Murphy (0-1); Colman O’Sullivan; Anthony O’Connor; Simon Kennedy; Marc McGrath (0-3); Brian Walsh (1-6, 1-0 Penalty & 0-5 frees); Danny Glennon (1-1); Dylan Morrissey; Mikey Handrick (0-1)
Referee – Eoin Hayes (Thomastown)
By Mary Morgan Sun 2nd Feb
