Regional FC: Tara hold off Moyfenragh fightback to make winning start

Tara's Shane Smyth with Luke Carolan Moyfenragh during the opening round of the Regional FC at Devenish Park

Tara 3-12 Moyfenragh 1-16

A strong Tara outfit made a winning start to the revamped Regional Football Championship in the opening game of a double-header on Pitch 6 at Devenish Park, Dunganny.

Dunshaughlin’s Jared Rushe got the scoreboard working for the winners, but Moyfenragh dominated the next 15 minutes.

The impressive David Lernihan kicked his first two-pointer, and further scores from Liam Jennings, Lernihan, Niall Smullen, Finn White and Ethan Devine pushed Joey Farrelly’s men 0-7 to 0-2 in front.

Ben Corkery and Aaron Murphy added a brace of points each for Tara before the break as Moyfenragh went to the dressing room leading 0-8 to 0-6.

The team in black extended their advantage in the opening minutes of the second half with a Devine goal.

Walterstown’s Adam Quinn narrowed the gap with two points before a Sean Og Tiernan major left the minimum between the teams.

Lernihan and Tara goalkeeper Adam McDermott exchanged two-pointers before Davy Nelson’s men took control of proceedings.

Goals from John Finnerty and Corkery, along with another point from Quinn, opened up a six-point lead with eight minutes remaining.

Moyfenragh refused to give up. Two-pointers from Josh Harford and another gem from Lernihan, along with a single from Nicky Potterton, narrowed the deficit to one.

Tara were not to be denied, however, and Corkery raised his third white flag to secure a two-point victory for his side.

Tara scorers: Ben Corkery 1-3, Adam Quinn 0-4, Sean Og Tiernan 1-0, John Finnerty 1-0, Aaron Murphy 0-2, Adam McDermott 0-2, Jared Rushe 0-1.

Moyfenragh scorers: David Lernihan 0-7, Ethan Devine 1-1, Liam Jennings 0-2, Josh Harford 0-2, Niall Smullen 0-1, Finn White 0-1, Brendan McKeown 0-1, Nicky Potterton 0-1.

Tara squad: Adam McDermott (Dunshaughlin), Fursey Blake (Dunshaughlin), Liam Kelly (Ratoath), Ciaran McCarrick (Dunshaughlin), Cormac Smith (Clann na nGael), Jared Rushe (Dunshaughlin), John Finnerty (Skryne), Evan Coffey (Navan O’Mahony’s), John O’Regan (Skryne), Shane Smyth (Skryne), Daragh Campion (Skryne), Sean Og Tiernan (Clann na nGael), Ben Corkery (Clann na nGael), Adam Quinn (Walterstown), Aaron Murphy (Dunshaughlin), Joey Wallace (Ratoath), Lorcan O’Connor (Walterstown), Conor McEntee (Walterstown), Sean Betson (Navan O’Mahony’s).

Moyfenragh squad: Sean Muddiman (Summerhill), Dominic Finnegan (Longwood), Ben Moran (Summerhill), Conor Ennis (Ballinabrackey), Sam Jordan (Na Fianna), Adam O’Brien (Ballinabrackey), Brendan McKeown (Ballivor), John Harkin (Dunboyne), Ethan Devine (Na Fianna), Andrew McWeeney (Kilbride), Niall Smullen (Ballinabrackey), Adam Murphy (Moynalvey), Conor Frayne (Summerhill), Josh Harford (Kilbride), Liam Jennings (Blackhall Gaels), Jack Hayes (Dunboyne), Finn White (Kilbride), Michael Brady (Moynalvey), David Lernihan (Trim), Luke Carolan (Dunboyne), Nicky Potterton (Ballivor), Harry Hogan (Longwood), Vinny Walsh (Moynalvey), Daire Lynch (Trim).

Referee: Cormac Reilly.