Late Tierney goal seals victory for Daingean as Ballycumber fight hard

IN a feisty second half affair, Daingean did enough to hold off a strong second half comeback from Ballycumber to seal a place in this years Senior B Semi finals with a 3-11 to 1-11 win in Durrow on Saturday afternoon.

Tullamore Court Hotel Senior B Football Championship quarter-final

Daingean 3-11

Ballycumber 1-11

With just two point separating the two minutes from the end, a goal and a point from Shane Tierney confirmed victory and fully deserved it as well. They were made for it, after Gary Larkin spiced things up with a goal on 43 minutes and a good amount of scores taken by Joe Lowry, but Daingean managed to control their emotions and kept their composure when needed in front of goal to cap off a good match in the end. 

Nothing major separated the two sides in the opening 20 minutes, with the scoreline reading 0-2 - 0-1 in favour of Daingean. Jamie Hayes with the only score from play up to that stage, to add to frees taken either side by Cormac Quinn and Charlie Hayes respectively. The game had yet reached a real sparkling point, with a lot of soft enough frees the major story of the match thus far. That was until the 21st minute when Cian O’Reilly sent across a ball and found Odhran Connolly and he blasted the ball into the roof of the net, and the game suddenly became more alive with Cian Bracken, Shane Tierney and Charlie Hayes adding scores from play, with Gary Larkin sending over points from tricky angles to add to Keith Lawler’s 30th minute point. 

Daingean held the advantage at the break and were looking that small bit sharper heading into the second period as they held a 1-6 to 0-4 lead. 

Daingean looked to have all but finished the game when Connolly this time turned provider when he slipped in Charlie Hayes before he coolly rounded keeper Oisin Carroll and looked like he killed the game, with Hayes and Danny Mangan adding further scores soon afterwards. 

However, Ballycumber suddenly kicked into an entirely new gear as three outstanding kicks from corner forward Joe Lowry kept them afloat, before Keith Lawler found Gary Larkin in space and he made no mistake in finding the net as well as adding a free alongside Cormac Quinn and Larkin further adding scores to leave it at just a point in it with just under 10 to play. 

A quick bit of link up play between Lowry and Quinn resulted in a nicely taken point to bring the game to just a single score. Daingean did restore a two point advantage from a Charlie Hayes close range free, and with their backs firmly against the wall coming into the final five minutes. Daingean though showed their character and a quick turnover won by Odhran Connolly resulted in him finding Charlie Hayes and he had passed across to Shane Tierney who made no mistake in burying his effort and all but confirming the win for his side. He also kicked one last point when holding off two markers and Daingean held on to record a six point win and their hopes of securing this year's Senior B Championship still intact.  

MATCH ANALYSIS

MAN OF THE MATCH

Odhran Connolly (Daingean): Charlie Hayes and Ciaran McEvoy had very positive showings, while Cian Bracken was strong at centre forward, and Shane Tierney making massive contributions throughout. 

Gary Larkin put in a real captain's performance for Ballycumber with his goal, and Joe Lowry was fantastic in the second half, kicking three outstanding points from awkward angles.

Odhran Connolly was the major reason why Daingean won. Turnovers, scores and creativity on a day when it was needed and he’ll be crucial for Daingean going forward in this year’s championship hunt. 

THE SCORERS

Daingean: Charlie Hayes 1-4 (3 frees); Shane Tierney 1-2; Odhran Connolly 1-0; Jamie Hayes 0-2 (1free); Cian Bracken and Danny Mangan 0-1 each.

Ballycumber:Gary Larkin 1-4 (2 frees); Joe Lowry and Cormac Quinn (1 free) 0-3 each;  Keith Lawler 0-1. 

THE TEAMS

Daingean: Conor Curley; Cathal McKnight; Adam Bolger; James Kelly; Ciaran McEvoy; Ryan Conway; Casey Evans; Danny Mangan; Jamie Hayes; Cian O’Reilly; Cian Bracken; Shane Tierney; Charlie Hayes; Scott Milne; Odhran Connolly. Subs– Sam Wright for Hayes (37m); Cathal Ryan for O’Reilly (39m); Colm Brophy for McKnight (46m); Shane Marsden for Mangan (50m); David Walsh for Milne (60m).

Ballycumber: Oisin Carroll; Alan Flanagan; Cathal Guinan; Harry Champ; Jack Daly; Clive Keena; Marcus Keena; John Egan; Ethan Keena; Adam Daly; Cormac Quinn; Gary Larkin; Keith Lawler; Nigel Grennan; Joe Lowry. Subs- Dylan Daly for Lawler (11m; blood sub); Shaun Creevy for Egan (38m); Dylan Daly for Grennan (38m); Sean Hackett for Lawler (61m). 

Referee Eamon O'Connor (Ballycommon).

REFEREE WATCH

Eamon O’Connor never had any major issues with the game, allowed it to flow as best he could and the game was generally clean throughout the 60 minutes. 

MOMENT OF THE MATCH

The final minute goal from Shane Tierney was expertly worked from the midfield area where Connolly won possession back and he calmly dispatched his effort to seal victory for Dainegan.

VENUE WATCH

Durrow hosted the game and there was plenty of parking around the grounds, especially with the Astro turf pitch built beside the main field, supporters still found space to park and enjoy the game this afternoon. 

WHAT'S NEXT

Daingean will compete in the semi finals, while Ballycumber will head for the relegation battle. 

STATISTICS

Wides: Daingean – 6  (5  in first half,  1 in 2nd half); Ballycumber – 2 (1 in first half, 1 in 2nd half).

Yellow cards: Daingean - (3) Jamie Hayes, Ciaran McEvoy and Cian O’Reilly; Ballycumber – (2) Shaun Creevy and Marcus Keena

Black cards: 0.

Red cards: 0.