Monday, June 3, 2013

June 2 - Senior Football: Wolfe Tones v Christopher's

Wolfe Tones 2-11 Christopher's 3-10

There was a twist at the end of a very exciting game with Christopher's overturning 50 minutes of great work by the Wolfe Tones in the space of the final 10 minutes.  The Tones played with a purpose and got some great performances from Danny Egan and Cormac Joyce-Power, as well as Jamie Ginou in the half back line, but Christopher's dug deep in the final 10 minutes.  After two goals, one somewhat fortunate, the men in red and black saw the chance to steal the game and steal it they did with a Chris Brady injury time goal.

The meat in the sandwich:  The Tones were undone by a late
Christopher's push to deny the South Boston men
their first points of the season.
The Tones forward line was buzzing in the first half and netted twice thanks to some hard work and support play.  At center forward Danny Egan had plenty of options.  The first goal came after the Kildare man was shoved from behind in the penalty box.  Egan took the penalty himself and hit the back of the net with authority.  The second came when Marty Farrell was found on the overlap and the Down man hit the far corner of the net.  Though they looked a little short on ideas going forward, Christopher's picked away at the points with what chances they had.  Michael Quinlivan accounted for three, Dan Kenneally, Mark Delaney, and substitute Paddy Manning one each.  While the Tones added four points to their two goals there were some missed opportunities to make their advantage count.  At the break it was 2-4 to 0-6 in the Tones favour.

Marty Farrell nets the Tones second goal late in the first half.
The Tones took the game by the scruff of the neck shortly after the restart.  The big players stepped up, Danny Egan at center forward was full of running and Cormac Joyce-Power looked strong in the middle of the field.  The Tones outscored Christopher's five points to two and with 15 minutes left held a commanding seven point lead.  Christopher's looked dead on their feet and it appeared that the heat had taken its toll on some key players.  They stuck with it however, and tried to turn the tide with a couple of switches.  Paudie Kenneally was taken out of goals to the forward line for GervaseToner, Toner was moved to goalkeeping duties.  Older brother Dan moved from corner forward to a more central position in the middle of the field.  The Tones pulled Dan McCabe, a surprising move since the Down man was very involved in the game.  

Shortly thereafter, the complexion of the game changed, and all in space of a minute.  Goals from Gary O'Leary and another from Chris Brady a minute later erased almost all of the Tones good work.  O'Leary scored after being played through by Quinlivan, and Brady pulled on a ball after a defensive lapse.  With 10 minutes left it was a one point game, and the spectators were now on the edge of their seats for a possible unlikely finish.  Danny Egan put a free over, but then Christopher's leveled the game with a point from O'Leary and another from Brady on 30 minutes.  It looked as though Egan had put the matter to bed with a well taken point, but it was Christopher's who had the final say with a third goal 2 minutes into injury time.  Chris Murphy made a big run from his own full back line and went unchallenged for half the length of the field.  The ball ended up with Brady through Quinlivan.  Brady made no mistake with his low shot.  As it billowed the back of the net it was disbelief from the men in blue.  Two points for Christopher's to bring their tally to three points from 2 games, and the Tones still looking to get off the mark.


Tones:  C. Hynes, S. O'Hagan, B. McShea, C. Boyle (0-1), S. Higgins, J. Ginoud (0-1), C. Joyce-Power (0-1), J. Kelly, M. Farrell (1-0), D. Egan (1-7), M. O'Brien, D. McCabe (0-1), M. Kelly.  Christopher's:  P. Kenneally, C. Murphy, C. Lordan, C. Davies, M. Mennis, E. O'Neill, M. Delaney (0-1), G. O'Leary (1-1), C. Brady (2-1), G. Toner, J. Horgan, M. Quinlivan (0-5), D. Kenneally (0-1).  Sub: P. Manning (0-1).

By Rory O'Donnell

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