Rockcorry 2-13 Tyholland 0-9

Streamline Coaches Intermediate Football League, Round 6 – Saturday  8th May

Impressive Rock Always In Control Against Tyholland

Team: Jamie Smith, Colin Reily, Damien Matthews, Garry Calvert, Keith Daly, Johnny Reilly, Stephen McGuirk 0-1, Mark Daly 0-3, Niall McKeown 0-1, Keelan Clerkin, Martin Carroll, Noel Carroll 1-1, Mark McGuirk 0-2, Paul McKeown 1-4 and Colin Quinn 0-1.

Subs: Anthony Tate for Keelan Clerkin, Pauric Reilly for Stephen McGuirk.

We played Tyholland in the sixth round of the Streamline Coaches Intermediate league on Saturday 8^th May in Pairc Naomh Mhuire. A sparkling performance from team captain Paul McKeown (1-4) provided the platform for a deserved ten point victory over Tyholland at Pairc Mhuire last Saturday evening.

Played in perfect playing conditions Tyholland were the first out of the blocks when they notched over a fine point from play after only twenty seconds of play. We responded instantly when Mark McGuirk curled over a neat point after a swift move down the field involving Martin Carroll, Mark Daly and Noel Carroll. Good defending by Johnny Reilly allowed us to set up another attack and when Paul McKeown played a one-two with Keelan Clerkin he slotted over a terrific point.

In the fifth minute Mark McGuirk was fouled and Stephen McGuirk took the free kick but his attempt went slightly wide. Noel Carroll extended our lead in the ninth minute when he took on the Tyholland defence with a menacing run shot over the bar a great point. Martin Carroll won the ensuing kick-out but unfortunately he lost possession and Tyholland took advantage and fired over a point to leave the Rockcorry 0-3 Tyholland 0-2.

However, a very determined group of lads in the ‘green and white’ responded most effectively, to score 1-6 without reply during a fifteen minute spell.  Paul McKeown turned provider, in the eleventh minute, when he directed a measured pass into Mark McGuirk who was fouled on the twenty-one metre line and Mark Daly stepped forward to tap over a simple point. A minute or so later, Noel Carroll made good progress down the left wing and he off-loaded to Paul McKeown who sailed over a brilliant point. We had scoring opportunities in the 13^th and 15^th minute but unfortunately on both occasions we kicked wide.

The first of our two goals came in the 17^th minute after good attacking play resulted in Colin Quinn’s shot being saved by the Tyholland keeper but Paul McKeown was quickest to react and sent the rebound shot to the back of the net to open up a six point lead 1-5 to 0-2. Niall McKeown increased our lead to seven points when he won the breaking, after Mark Daly broke it down, and he went on a surging solo run and glided the between the posts from about twenty-five metres to score a wonderful point. Tyholland kicked wide in the 20^th minute, after good defending from Stephen McGuirk. Mark McGuirk extended our lead in the 22^nd minute when his shot went over the bar rather than under the crossbar.

Paul McKeown kicked wide in the 23^rd minute but he did make amends a minute later when great defensive play by Damien Matthews, resulted in a free-kick, which was taken quickly by Johnny Reilly who found Martin Carroll who directed a lovely pass into the path of Mark McGuirk who found Paul McKeown and he skipped past his marker and completed a fine move with a top-class point. In the 25^th minute, Mark Daly used his power and strength to force his way through the Tyholland defence and he was eventually fouled on the 21 metre line and Stephen McGuirk converted the free-kick to establish a commanding 1-9 to 0-2 advantage.

Tyholland are an experienced side and they closed the deficit with two fine points, in the 26^th and 27^th minute . With seconds to the interval a Mark Daly effort untypically, fell short and into the hands of the Tyholland keeper and that concluded play of the first half with the score at the break Rockcorry 1-9 Tyholland 0-4.

On the restart we extended our lead when a lively Paul McKeown continued to cause problems for the Tyholland defence and he slotted over another superb point within the first minute of the second half. Tyholland missed two scoring opportunities in the 2^nd and 3^rd minute, one from a free kick and the other from play. In the 5^th minute Mark Daly, kicked over a neat point after Paul McKeown was fouled on the left wing to open up a ten point lead. Tyholland managed to close the gap when they scored in the 7^th and 9^th minute. However, the killer blow for them came in the 11^th minute when we scored our second goal.

Johnny Reilly picked out Paul McKeown with a superb pass who rounded his opponent brilliantly and off-loaded to the on-rushing Noel Carroll who made no mistake in finding the back of the net when he rifled the ball low. A minute later Noel Carroll, was in the thick of the action again, and was fouled and mark Daly converted the free kick to extend our lead to twelve points.  In the 14^th minute, a Paul McKeown attempt drifted to the right of the goals and was collected by the Tyholland defender and his pass found Coin Quinn, who said thank-you very much, and curled over a neat point.  In the 16^th minute  Niall McKeown kicked another fabulous point and despite both umpires agreeing it was over the bar the referee disagreed and disallowed the score. Tyholland battled on and managed to snatch a couple of late consolation points when they tapped over three points, all from free-kicks, in the 19^th, 22^nd and 23^rd minute to leave the score 2-13 to 0-9.

However, we regrouped and finished the final five minutes the strongest but unfortunately we did not add to our tally, kicking wide on four occasions. The first a long range free-kick by Mark Daly after a reckless tackle on Mark McGuirk. The second when Anthony Tate waltzed through the Tyholland defence but his fisted effort went wide via the upright. The third from a Noel Carroll forty-five that drifted slightly wide and finally another free kick from Mark Daly to leave the final score Rockcorry 2-13 Tyholland 0-9.

While Tyholland were missing a number of the inter-county ‘big-guns’ it was a great win for the team as they once again produced some high quality, high tempo football. Keep up the good work lads.