Goal threat lacking as Glenmore suffer second loss
TULLAROAN POSSESSED the one quality that Glenmore lacked more than anything else in sun-baked Clara on Saturday, and ultimately it made all the difference.
Their knack for creating and taking goal chances shone through in this St. Canice’s Credit Union Senior hurling league championship Group A clash, with the tone set as quickly as 90 seconds in when they rattled the net for the first time.
Glenmore, in contrast, struggled to unlock a tight back line that didn’t appear to miss Tommy Walsh’s huge influence, and they are still awaiting a first green flag of the campaign following their first round hammering by Bennettsbridge (2-23 to 0-13). It goes without saying that Ger Aylward will be a big help in that aspect of the game when he returns, but for now Glenmore are languishing at the foot of the table, below James Stephens on score difference.
And with tests against Dicksboro, Thomastown and James Stephens to come, it’s certainly not going to get any easier for the Maurice Aylward-managed side.
The promising Gearóid Dunne was on song for Tullaroan from the off on Saturday as they looked to build on an impressive 3-16 to 1-19 win over Dicksboro in round one.
He tapped over an early free before the influential Dylan Simpson popped a handpass into his path just 40 seconds later, and netminder Mikey Kirwan was beaten for the first time.
Glenmore managed to respond as free-taker Ian Byrne, Billy Reid and Dean Croke picked off points, but they were rocked once more in the twelfth minute when Tullaroan pounced again.
A long delivery broke off Jim Moore into the path of Simpson, and he stitched the ball in the net for a 2-2 to 0-3 advantage. While Byrne continued to chip away from frees, the leaders added a third goal in the 23rd minute despite the best efforts of Mikey Kirwan.
Glenmore’s custodian made a good save to deny Martin Keoghan, but Ciallin Brennan was on hand to sweep the rebound to the net (3-4 to 0-5).
Kirwan kept out another attempt from Gearóid Dunne at the expense of a ’65 that the latter pointed, and there was an ominous nine-point gap after 28 minutes.
Picking off the last three points of the half – via Darragh Vereker, Charlie Phelan and free-taker Byrne – might have suggested that all was not lost, with Glenmore left trailing by 3-7 to 0-10 at the break.
However, they needed goals and they never looked like getting them, with nothing concrete created in the way of chances apart from a speculative early effort from Billy Reid that Paul Buggy was behind all the way.
Ian Byrne (free), Thomas Mullally and Darragh Vereker hit third-quarter points in reply to five from the leaders. Then Tullaroan netted twice in 50 seconds but only one goal was awarded, with confusion over whether it was Ciallan Brennan’s or Martin Keoghan’s finish that counted (4-12 to 0-13).
Billy Reid struck one fine point from distance, and the second-half finished similarly to the first as the final three consolation scores were registered by the losers, with Cathal Beirne, Charlie Phelan and Ian Byrne (free) obliging.
The need for goals will be high on the agenda when Glenmore travel to Dr. Tierney Park in Graiguenamanagh to face Dicksboro in round three on Sunday, August 25 (12 noon).
They will then meet Thomastown in Piltown six days later at the same time, before concluding the group against
James Stephens in Hugginstown on Saturday, September 7 (2 p.m.).
Glenmore: Mikey Kirwan; Shane Duhig, Eoin Murphy, Eoin Aylward (capt.); Ciarán Vereker, Shane Murphy, Richie Hennessy; Billy Reid (0-2), Darragh Vereker (0-2); Cathal Beirne (0-1), Alan Murphy (0-1), Thomas Mullally (0-1); Charlie Phelan (0-2), Ian Byrne (0-10, 9 frees), Dean Croke (0-1). Subs. – Jack Ryan for C. Vereker (49), Shane Doherty for Croke (49), Colm Roche for Hennessy (51), Ethan Phelan for D. Vereker (55).
Tullaroan: Paul Buggy; Joe Coughlan, Mark Simpson, Martin Walsh; Tomás Dunne, Pádraig Walsh (joint-capt.), Charlie Cleere; Bill Walton (0-1), Jack Keoghan; Bill Gaffney, Martin Keoghan (1-2), Gearóid Dunne (1-6, 0-2 frees, 0-2 ’65s); Ciallan Brennan (1-0), Jim Moore (0-1), Dylan Simpson (1-4). Subs. – Shane Walsh (0-1) for Gaffney (42), Peter Walsh for Walton (46), Josh Moore (jointcapt.) for M. Walsh (52), Josh Tallis (0-1) for D. Simpson (53).
Referee: Patrick O’Reilly (Barrow Rangers).