Battling Mullinavat go down in Leinster intermediate football opener

Despite a battling performance for most of the match, Kilkenny Senior Football champions Mullinavat were beaten by Westmeath Intermediate winners Tubberclair in a competitive contest at The Downs GAA Grounds on Sunday last.

The final margin of eleven points was hard on the Vegas lads, as two late goals from Fred Kelleher and Matthew Whittaker gave Tubberclair a strong victory margin.

Mullinavat opened the scoring with a Michael Malone effort after just 15 seconds.

Tubberclair showed their goal scoring prowess in the 4th minute when their captain Fred Kelleher finished a move involving half forward colleague Tom Bourke.

Eoghan McCabe from a free made it 1-1 to 0-1 two minutes later.

Three successive Mullinavat points from Ian Duggan, Michael Malone and Conor Duggan left things all square by the 10th minute.

Matthews Whittaker put the Westmeath side ahead with a point, to which Liam Fennelly answered after a good Vegas passing move (0-5 to 1-2).

In the 17th minute Mullinavat went a goal clear when Ger Malone burst through from 40 metres, through the home defence, to raise a green flag.

Tubberclair answered this well with a string of points from Fred Kelleher, Matthew Whittaker, Tom Bourke and Tom Kelleher by the 26th minute.

Ger Malone put Mullinavat back on terms, before Eoghan McCabe restored the home sides lead with a pointed free in the added minute.

Points from Eoghan McGee (free) and two from Daire O’Connor left Tubberclair three points ahead, 1-10 to 1-7 in the 36th minute.

Mullinavat won a penalty in the 40th minute, successfully finished to the net by their captain James Culleton, to level matters again 2-7 to 1-10.

From here on though the Westmeath side took charge. Tubberclair outscored the Kilkenny side 2-7 to 0-2 in the closing 20 minutes.

Michael Malone got a Mullinavat point on 43 minutes, but either side of this score were two excellent two pointers from Eoghan McCabe, which opened a 1-15 to 2-8 margin. Padraig Dempsey was the only other Vegas scorer in the final quarter as Tubberclair impressively took over as the finish line approached.

The Westmeath side advance to the Leinster quarter final versus St. Martin’s of Wexford again with home advantage.

Teams and Scorers

Tubberclair: Matthew Whittaker (1-5), Eoghan McCabe (0-7, 2tp), Fred Kelleher (2-1), Daire O’Connor (0-2), Tom Kelleher, Tom Bourke (0-1 each).

Mullinavat: Ger Malone (1-1), Michael Malone (0-3), James Culleton (1-0 peno), Ian Duggan (0-2), Conor Duggan, Liam Fennelly, Padraig Dempsey (0-1 each).

Tubberclair: Kevin Fagan, Stephen McGonagle, Cathal Tighe, Tayloe Slevin, James Madden, Tom Kelleher, Matthew Whittaker, Sean Claffey, Eoghan McCabe, Paul Keegan, Fred Kelleher, Tom Bourke, Gavin Delaney, Kealen Connell, Daire O’Connor.

Mullinavat: Jack Walsh, Simon Aylward, Joe Fennelly, Sean Fitzpatrick, Padraig Dempsey, Ger Malone, John Walsh, Michael Malone, Thomas Aylward, James Culleton, Paudie Gahan, Conor Walsh, Ian Duggan, Liam Fennelly, Conor Duggan.

Referee: Lar Murphy (Carlow)