Tullamore in cruise control as Durrow fail to perform in mediocre shootout
TULLAMORE played with customary professionalism as they qualified for the semi-finals of the Senior Football Championship with an easy win over parish neighbours Durrow in O'Connor Park on Saturday afternoon.
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Championship quarter-final
Tullamore 1-14
Durrow 1-3
Once again, they provided limited entertainment for neutrals as they played a lot of cagey football but the only apology Tullamore owe is for shameful and disrespectful behaviour in not informing the public address announcers of their four changes from the listed team before throw in.
They certainly played their part in a very subdued, instantly forgettable game but they once again stuck to their system, played it with great efficiency and never looked like losing – even when they took their foot completely off the pedal in the second quarter and allowed Durrow score their three points.
The champions were in cruise control for all of the second half as they pulled well clear and Durrow did not perform at all on the day. It was a very disappointing display by Durrow and the poverty of it is illustrated by the fact that their only second half score was an injury time goal and that came from the boot of full back Ross Ravenhill, after the Tullamore defence stood off him.
Durrow were not at the races and the loss of one of their key players, Kevin McDermott to a fifth minute injury really undermined their prospects – Ballinamere hurlers will be concerned about the nature of this injury as McDermott has been in outstanding form for them. Durrow would not have won with McDermott still on the field but he was one player who would have been taking on the Tullamore defence.
Tullamore's performance was frustrating to watch at times. They played their best football in the opening quarter but resorted into a defensive shell after that for fifteen minutes or so. They played well to an extent in the second half but any criticism of their style of play will go straight over the heads of their management and the way Tullamore can control and dictated the pace of games is worthy of admiration – even if we would like to see their players given their head more often and them to really attack opponents as they have the potential to be a very exciting side.
Whether Tullamore felt that Durrow would gain some advantage if they did the proper thing and announced their changes, is a matter of conjecture but they did make one big statement at throw in as they dispensed with the experiment of playing John Furlong at centre half forward and restored him to his best position at the heart of the defence. Furlong's foray up front was not a success, though he finished very well there in some games, and he was unspectacularly solid back in defence, doing a lot of very good work. They also moved Cormac Egan into an attacking role and Tullamore remain the title favourites, even though this was not a display to frighten anyone.
Tullamore were in cruise control the whole way through the second half. 1-3 to 0-3 up at half time, two Harry Plunkett points extended the gap to five in the opening eight minutes of the second half and they were never in the slightest of peril from here – though Luke Egan and Harry Plunkett (free) missed straightforward chances to open a bigger gap.
Tullamore were able to ease home from here and this was down to a couple of things. Firstly, the way they controlled the ball, kept possession and then took their scores was impressive but Durrow's lack of fight was a factor in this. Their heads dropped early and as the half wore on, they got worse. Tullamore were 1-8 to 0-3 clear after 45 minutes, with a semi-final berth against Edenderry gift wrapped and they got six further points, two of them after that goal from Ross Ravenhill raised nothing more than polite applause from the Durrow support.
Tullamore presented their good and bad sides in the first half. They made a flying start, attacking Durrow at pace and opening them up. They got three points in the first eleven minutes and it looked like Durrow had not shown up.
They controlled all sectors and built on their good work with a 16th minute goal, Oisin Keenan-Martin finishing well when Tullamore recycled the ball after Dermot Colbert made a fine save from Luke Bourke.
1-3 to no score up, it was set up for Tullamore to pull well clear, especially with McDermott gone and Durrow just waiting for the knockout punch.
Yet, Tullamore lost their way badly in the second quarter. Durrow settled down and began to work harder but Tullamore had only themselves to blame for allowing them back into it. They slowed things down, the work rate of some players noticeably dipped and they got sloppy. They struggled to break the line and didn't manage to score from the 16th minute to half time.
Durrow were only 1-3 to 0-3 behind at the break with Jack O'Brien opening their scoring and McDermott's replacement, Billy Fogarty slotting over two frees.
MATCH ANALYSIS
MAN OF THE MATCH
Cormac Egan (Tullamore): Part of Tullamore's strengths is that they have so many players who perform most days and do the job manager Niall Stack demands of them. Their success is founded on the collective rather than individual brilliance. They were very solid and never really put a foot wrong, apart from that second quarter.
My choice is Cormac Egan. A lot of balls went through his hands and he moved at great pace. He was a bit shy when he did get into attacking positions and seemed afraid to shoot but he used 90% of his ball well, giving some great foot passes to forward moving players.
Aaron Leavy put in a very honest shift at midfield, controlling that sector in an almost understated way while Cillian Bourke also oozed quality at times. Harry Plunkett was the main scoring threat up front. He struggled to find form in the first half but was much better in the second when he popped over four points from play. Niall Furlong did very well when introduced, looking lively and eager for the ball.
Jack O'Brien raided very effectively for Durrow but it was a poor day at the office for them.
THE SCORERS
Tullamore: Harry Plunkett 0-7 (2f and 1 '45'), Oisin Keenan-Martin 1-0, Daire McDaid, Cillian Bourke, Niall Furlong, Luke Egan, Mike Fox, Michael Brazil and Sean McCabe 0-1 each.
Durrow: Ross Ravenhill 1-0, Billy Fogarty 0-2 (2f), Jack O'Brien 0-1.
THE TEAMS
TULLAMORE: Corey White; Daire McDaid, Declan Hogan, Michael Feeney; Luke Bourke, John Furlong, Oisin Keenan-Martin; Aaron Leavy, Arron Hensey; Cillian Bourke, Michael Brazil, Cormac Egan; Dan Fox, Harry Plunkett, Luke Egan. Subs – Ciaran Burns for Luke Bourke (HT), Niall Furlong for Hensey (HT), Mike Fox for Fox (36m), Sean McCabe for Keenan-Martin (54m), Sean Afobali-Joseph for Brazil (55m),
DURROW: Dermot Colbert; Jack O'Brien, Ross Ravenhill, Mark Hughes; Gavin Hand, Ciaran Burke, Sam Bourke; Brian Geraghty, Jack Fogarty; Dan Wyer, Kevin McDermott, David Magne; Mark Troy, Dan Bourke, Steven Doran. Subs – Billy Fogarty for McDermott, inj. (5m), Brian Duignan for Wyer (44m), Niall Geraghty for Troy (44m), Barry O'Rourke for Brian Geraghty (44m), Colin Waters for Sam Bourke (60m),
Referee – Fergal Smyth (Kilclonfert).
REFEREE WATCH
Fergal Smyth was solid and was not a factor in the outcome.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Oisin Keenan-Martin's 16th minute goal gave Tullamore a strong platform. While they lost their way after that, that goal enabled them to go in ahead at half time and they controlled the entire second half.
VENUE WATCH
The O'Connor Park pitch held up well, with a fresh wind helping and there were no issues. The only downside was not down to the hosts with disgraceful behaviour by Tullamore responsible. Spectators were told there was two changes to the Durrow team and none for Tullamore before throw in but four of the listed subs duly lined out for the champions – even when it was clear that Tullamore had made changes, board officials had problems getting the correct information, to announce them. County Board officials were told the team news by Tullamore officials and that is just not on. Tullamore or no one else should be engaging in games of this nature and it is very disrespectful to everyone. It is not Tullamore's first time to do this and the County Board really need to call them out on it.
WHAT'S NEXT
Tullamore go into the semi-finals where they play Edenderry while Durrow are in the relegation play offs.
STATISTICS
Wides: Durrow - 5 (2 in first half); Tullamore - 8 (3 in first half).
Yellow cards: 0
Black cards: 0
Red cards: 0.