Christopher’s 0-10 Wolfe Tones 1-12
Sunday’s final game of the day saw Wolfe Tones took both
points in a game that would not be described as a spectacular, and had their
opponents taken their chances the result would certainly have been in
doubt. Both teams labored at times and
scores were at a premium. It was the
Tones to had the resources to see the game through to the end, bringing in some
quality players from the line in the second half.
 |
| Shea Tennyson and Robbie Vallejo had a good tussle Sunday. |
In fairness both teams were guilty of a plethora of missed
opportunities in the first half, and if one of them had managed to take better
advantage they would have enjoyed a healthy advantage at the break. The middle part of the half saw the Tones
score six unanswered points and could have blown the game open. Christopher’s were struggling and while the
Tones had plenty of chances, there were several wayward shots from well within
scoring range. Shea Tennyson at corner
forward accounted for three points, while the balance was made up by Thomas
O’Connor, Paddy Keenan, and Mike O’Brien.
Christopher’s played well all through the period, however, like
their counterparts, scoring was not their strong point. After Ruairi Lavelle opened their account
with a long range free, and Niall Hughes added a second, Christophher’s went
through a long barren spell. With the
Tones pulling further away, Andrew Murphy stemmed the tide with a foray forward
from wing back and a point, and Paudie Allen and Mark Ellis made it five points
for Christopher’s, to seven for the Tones, at the break.
 |
| The Tones had the step on their opponents all afternoon. |
Tones opened the second half with three points on the
trot. Kildare men O’Connor and Mark
Hyland, as well as Sean Driscoll made it double scores, five points to ten, and
again Christopher’s needed an injection of something to give them a boost. Danny Neville, who did not start as he was
nursing a knee injury, came into the game as did Paudie Kenneally.
Christopher’s though, couldn’t seem to raise
it a level, although Robbie Vallejo did Trojan work at corner back and hampered
several Tones forays forward. Slowing
the Tones down, however, was not going to be enough unless the forward line
kicked into action.
Neville pointed a free to make it six points to ten, but it
was cancelled out by a Leighton Glynn point, the Wicklow man had entered the
fray as a sub. Christopher’s continued
to spurn opportunities to close the gap but made a late run and points from
Andrew Murphy and Niall Hughes narrowed the gap to a goal with 5 minutes left
to play.
Could Christopher’s muster the
energy for a grandstand finish? Not so however,
as with Christopher’s pushing up the field the Tones struck the killer blow
with a Tennyson goal following a defence opening move. Two hand passess opened up the defence and
the corner forward just had the keeper to beat. The sides traded points to finish the game,
and with little time Christopher’s hopes ended.
The Tones still unbeaten add another 2 points to looking good for an
automatic semi-final place.
Christopher’s: R.
Lavelle, D. Kelliher, R. Vallejo, J. Horgan, A. Murphy, P. Allen, S. Byrne, M.
Ellis, N. Hughes, C. O’Brien, J. Murphy, K. Hodgins, C. Collins. Tones:
L. Molloy, M. O’Grady, R. Driscoll, M. Hyland, K. O’Brien, D. Maguire,
P. Keenan, I. Whelan, M. O’Brien, C. Walsh, G. Troy, T. O’Connor, S. Tennyson.
By Rory O'Donnell
No comments:
Post a Comment