Winning start for Sean Treacys in West Tipperary Junior A Football Championship
Maria Marron Palmers Hill Stud West Junior A Football Championship
Sean Treacys 1-9 Solohead 2-3
Defending champions Sean Treacys made a winning start to their Maria Marron Palmers Hill Stud West Junior A Football Championship campaign when just getting over the line against Solohead in Solohead on Friday evening.
The early stages of this tie looked to be one way traffic as Sean Treacys seemed to cut a hole through the Solohead defence at will. Sean Treacys kicked three wides in the first five minutes before Stephen Rochford goaled after a short kickout was intercepted. It was the tenth minute before Solohead got off the mark with a Declan Riordan pointed free but Mattie Feehan (free) and Paul Nolan responded with points to see Sean Treacys ahead 1-2 to 0-1 at the end of the first quarter. Sean Treacys could certainly have had a goal or two in this period and probably should have been further ahead. Solohead who struggled to win possession in the full forward line had one goal chance in the opening twenty minutes which they failed to take but got a huge boost in the twenty second minute when a Solohead free dropped short and was finished to the net by Paul Ryan. A James Deegan free just before the interval gave Sean Treacys a 1-4 to 1-1 lead at the interval.
Scores were certainly slow to come in the third quarter with just four scores. Declan Riordan and Mattie Feehan swapped pointed frees in the opening five minutes. By the end of the quarter Sean Treacys still held a three-point advantage 1-6 to 1-3. Solohead were coming more into the game but failed to take a number of scorable chances. Tommy O’Mahony was leading the charge from midfield two minutes into the final quarter he goaled to tie the game. O’Mahony getting on the end of a high ball that was broken down before finishing to the net. The game was now level but Solohead would fail to score for the remainder despite having possession and chances. James Deegan replied immediately with a point for the defending champions and five minutes later Stephen Rochford doubled the lead. Philip Deegan kicked the final point with three minutes to play. The remaining stages were niggly with neither side managing another score while Solohead ending with fourteen men.
Sean Treacys were dominant in a number of positions with Sean Hickey to the fore at full back while their half back line was very solid. Michael Feehan was in charge at midfield especially in the opening thirty minutes. In the forward line Mattie Feehan and James Deegan were always a threat while corner forward Stephen Rochford finished with 1-2.
For Solohead, Brendan Collins was solid at centre back as was Jack Redican at wing back. Tommy Mahony especially in the second half came far more into the game running at the Sean Treacys defence. Christopher Kirby and Tristan Stokes battled hard in the half forward line.
Scorers and Teams:
Sean Treacys: Stephen Rochford (1-2), Mattie Feehan (0-2f), James Deegan (0-2, (0-1f)), Paul Nolan (0-1), Patrick Carey (0-1), Philip Deegan (0-1)
Solohead: Paul Ryan (1-0), Tommy O’Mahoney (1-0), Declan Riordan (0-2f), James Dee (0-1)
Sean Treacys: Cathal Kennedy, Brendan O’Dwyer, Sean Hickey, Brian Nolan, Tom O’Dwyer, Paul Nolan, Donnacha O’Brien, Michael Feehan, Patrick Carey, James Deegan, Mattie Feehan, Brian Carey, Jayden Healey, Ian Fahy, Stephen Rochford
Subs Used: Padraig O’Leary, Seamus Carey, Philip Deegan
Solohead: Paudie Franklin, Christopher O’Connor, Michael O’Connor, Colin Allen, Jack Redican, Brendan Collins, Brian Gavin, James Dee, Tommy O’Mahoney, Christopher Kirby, Paul Ryan, Tristan Stokes, Aaron Ryan, Eoin Riordan, Declan Riordan
Subs Used: Dean Morrissey, Jason Sutton, Aidan Riordan, Stephen Dee, Noel Kennedy
Referee: Paul Carew (Lattin/Cullen)