Loughcrew 2-00-11 (17) An Tuisceart 1-01-12 (17)

Loughcrew and An Tuisceart met in a top of the table clash in an unusually dry and mild Dunganny on Sunday afternoon with both sides aiming for the win to top the group.

An Tuisceart opened the scoring with two points from play for Sean Meade and wing back Killian Price before they had a fine goal chance that just went narrowly wide in the fifth minute.

A change of goal keeper for Loughcrew just ahead of throw in saw Rian Mulvaney get his first start of the competition and he did ever so well to deny An Tuisceart another goal chance a moment later.

Loughcrew started the game slow but soon kicked into action when Shane Gibney burst forward before combining with Jason Scully, and he played a lovely ball across the face of the goal where Colin Hawdon was on hand to dive and palm the ball to the net in the tenth minute to give Loughcrew a one point lead.

That score was followed up by Loughcrews second goal in as many minutes as a ball in from Sean Reilly found Cian Blake and he directed the ball past the keeper and into the net in the 12th minute to leave Loughcrew leading by four.

A free for An Tuiscearts Rian McConnell narrowed the gap, and not for the first time Loughcrew were to be thankful for the defensive efforts of Shane Gibney and Bobby Masterson as they put on a master class of defending this afternoon.

A free around midfield for Loughcrew in the 15th minute was brought forward as the defender failed to allow Jason Scully his four steps, resulting in Daire Shine tapping over from close range before Seanie Reilly put five points between the sides.

Another bit of Bobby brilliance in the 18th minute saw Masterson get out in front of his man before playing the ball forward where Daire Shine collected possession before letting it into Pearse Sheridan who fired over for Loughcrew, Sheridans name will go on the score sheet but this score came all the way from Bobby Masterson in the Loughcrew rearguard.

A point from play for Rian McConnell kept An Tuisceart ticking over but Loughcrew hit back with a point from Cian Blake in the 20th minute.

The next two scores for Loughcrew came from Daire Shine as he fired over in the 21st minute before sending a lovely point over on his perceived weaker left foot… anyone who knows the Ballinlough Baller will know Daire doesn’t have a weak foot !!

A point for An Tuiscearts Darren Finney in the 28th minute lowered the gap and they were to take the last score of the half as Kilmainhamwoods Rian Stafford sent over a lovely two point score from play, the only two pointer of the game. So when Referee Robbie Barrett blew the half time whistle Loughcrew led on a scoreline of 2-06 to An Tuiscearts 0-07.

Upon the restart Loughcrew had a fine goal chance but Cian Blake couldn’t make it count and An Tuisceart came away with the ball and down the field where once again Shane Gibney and Bobby Masterson either side of Dylan Garrigan provided an impenetrable wall for Loughcrew.

Daire Shine kicked off the scoring in the second half with a pointed free in the 36th minute before Rian McConnell was accurate for An Tuisceart again a moment later.

On the rare occasions that the Loughcrew rearguard was breached Goal-Keeper Rian Mulvaney was on hand to deny any chances and he was called into action in the 39th minute to pull off a fine save for Loughcrew.

A point for An Tuiscearts Adam Matthews in the 40th minute reduced the deficit back to four points but Loughcrew will rue the goal chance they carved out a moment later when Jason Scully was unable to convert for his side and kept An Tuisceart right in it.

From that chance An Tuisceart came bounding up the field with the ball and Castletowns Killian Price was on hand to fire over two quick points in a row, one of which was a super effort from distance, before Adam Matthews added his second in the 43rd minute to leave just a point between the sides.

Loughcrew needed to just settle themselves after letting the game get away from themselves abit and substitute Cormac Browne provided some calm as he sent over a nice score from out on the wing in the 44th minute, before the ever dependable Daire Shine worked hard to attain possession and without taking a beat fired over another point for Loughcrew to put three between the sides again.

An Tuisceart weren’t done yet though and hit back with points for Darragh Kelly and  Sean Meade by the 48th minute to leave it a one point game again.

With An Tuisceart getting forward with more ease in the latter stages of this game, it was imperative Loughcrew held firm and once again Shane Gibney came up trumps as he intercepted and cleared the ball from danger in the 55th minute.

Another Loughcrew free a moment later provided Daire Shine with the opportunity to put two between the sides again which he converted with ease and Loughcrew might have felt that was that but there was more to come!

Right on the stroke of 60 minutes Referee Robbie Barrett awarded An Tuisceart what looked a harsh penalty, his Umpire actually indicated a 45’ but the Referee pointed to the spot and Rian Stafford stepped up to fire past Oisin McDermott, who was now in the Loughcrew net, to give An Tuisceart a one point lead.

With the resulting kick-out going out over the sideline Loughcrew might have felt they missed their chance but a quick turnover in defence saw possession secured and the ball was worked swiftly up the field, Manager Davy Nelson urging his players to get forward sensing there was one more chance in this game.

Cool heads prevailed for Loughcrew as they didn’t rush the ball but worked it at pace forward until they were in a shooting position and while there was some confusion over the kicker I think it was substitute Darragh Tuite who fired over from a tight angle in the 62nd minute to level the sides.

That was to be the last action of the game as Referee Robbie Barrett blew the full time whistle the sides finishing all square on a score line of Loughcrew 2-11 to An Tuiscearts 1-14. That result means both sides progress with Loughcrew taking top spot on score difference and will face Moyfenragh in the Semi-Final, while An Tuisceart will face off against Boyne Valley, with both games taking place in Pairc Tailteann next Sunday afternoon!!

Loughcrew Team: Rian Mulvanney, Bobby Masterson, Dylan Garrigan, Shane Gibney, Luke Blake, Oisin McDermott, Lee Healy, Oran Mulvaney, Sean Reilly(0-01), Pearse Sheridan(0-01), Daire Shine(0-06(3f)), Jason Scully, CJ Healy, Colin Hawdon(1-00), Cian Blake(1-01)

Subs: Harry Ryan for Pearse Sheridan 37’, Cormac Browne(0-01) for CJ Healy 40’, Sean Geraghty for Oisin McDermott 42’, Oisin McDermott for Rian Mulvaney 48’, Darragh Tuite(0-01) for Daire Shine 60’

Unused Subs: Ryan Kevin, Keith Connell, Dylan Scully

An Tuisceart Team: Dary Hutchinson, Daire Dillon, Evan Hoey, Michael Cearnaigh, Graham Gartland, Killian Russell, Killian Price(0-03), Niall Farrell, Sean Claire, Brian Cassidy, Rian McConnell(0-03(2f)), Adam Matthews(0-02), Rian Stafford(1-02(one pen, one 2pt)), Ben Blakemore, Sean Meade(0-02)

Scoring subs: Darragh Kelly (0-01) Darren Finney (0-01)

Referee: Robbie Barrett

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