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Tullamore Show Fighting Spirit

Thursday, 17 February 2011

Tullamore 27. Skerries 20.

TULLAMORE came into last Saturdays evening match as underdogs but showed the spirit and determination they displayed in Boyne a few weeks earlier to secure a good win over a very good Skerries side. Tullamore were short a number of regulars due to injury and coach Andy Melville made some positional changes that saw Kevin Brown start as hooker with Cathal Feighery moving to wing forward and David Milne moving to second row to replace the injured Dave Hanlon in the pack. In the backs there were a number of changes with Ivor Scully returning in the centre and Rory Deverell coming in on the wing to replace the injured duo of Colin Hughes and Niall Geraghty.
Skerries kicked off against a strong wind and started like a whirlwind winning a penalty after two minutes which their outhalf O'Loughlen kicked to give them a 3 - 0 lead. Tullamore settled in the next 10 minutes and took control of the ball and the game and in the 10th minute were rewarded when Skerries were penalised for hands in the ruck ,Mark Whelan was successful with the kick to leave the match 3 - 3. Tullamore continued to attack and put Skerries under pressure only for a loose Tullamore pass deep inside the Skerries 22 to be picked up by the Skerries winger Devitt in the 16th minute and he ran the length of the pitch to score under the posts which was converted to leave Skerries leading10 - 3. Tullamore responded well and Skerries were penalised for holding in the ruck in the 18th minute for Mark Whelan to make the score 10 - 6.
In the 28th minute Skerries were again penalised for holding on and following a quick tap Skerries were futher penalised for not being 10 meters back and Whelan converted the penalty to make the score 10 - 9 for Skerries. In the 35th minute Skerries were penalised for playing the ball on the ground in the ruck and Whelan kicked the penalty to give Tullamore a deserved 12 - 10 lead. In the 39th minute the referees yellow carded the Skerries wing forward for a professional foul and from the penalty Tullamore kicked to the corner. Tullamore won the line out and from the resultant play Keith Scally went scampering in under the posts for a try that Whelan converted to leave Tullamore winning 19 - 10 at half time.
Skerries would not have been unhappy at half time as they would have the aid of a strong wind for the second half. Tullamore started well in the second half and missed a penalty against the wind in the 41st minute. Their pressure was rewarded in the 46th minute when centre Philly Gardiner 's cross kick was spot on into the arms of winger Keith Scally who crossed for his second try which was not converted and left the score 24 - 10 to Tullamore. Tullamore pressure paid dividends in the 50th minute when Whelan kicked another penalty when Skerries were pulled for off side to leave the score 27 - 10 to the home side. Skerries took the game to Tullamore chasing a win but found the home sides defence well organised. In the 65th minute Skerries outhalf O'Loughlen kicked a penalty to bring the score to 27 - 13. In the 78th minute Tullamore wing forward was yellow carded for a professional foul and in the 79th minute Skerries No 8 Roche was red carded for an incident in a ruck. Skerries pressure was finally rewarded when winger Devitt went over for his second try which was converted by outhalf O'Loughlen to earn Skerries a bonus point.
This was a vital win for Tullamore and with 3 league matches remaining their aim of a top 4 finish is in their own hands. On the night Tullamore had good performances in the backs from Richie Hughes and Keith Scally and in the forwards from David Milne, Cathal Feighery and Ger Molloy. Mark Whelan also had a good night with the boot.

Team: Mark Whelan, Rory Deverell, Ivor Scully, Philly Gardiner, Keith Scally, Aaron Deverell, Richie Hughes, Adrian Hanley, Cyril Cornally, Cathal Feighery, David Milne, Ivor Deverell, Ger Molloy, Kevin Browne, Alvin Bracken
Towns Cup Weekend
1st XV
Tullamore open their Provincial Towns Cup campaign next Sunday in Spollanstown with a 3pm KO against Navan. Tullamore beaten finalists in the last 2 years will face into this season campaign with something to prove and their ambition must be to get their hands on the trophy to make up for the disappointments of the last 2 final defeats. In order to get a winning start they will have to bring the type of spirit and determination they displayed against Skerries to Sundays game. Also the club supporters will have to turn out in numbers to show the players that this competition is still close to their hearts. The ambition of the Tullamore first team is to finish in the top 4 in the league and return the Towns Cup to Tullamore.
2nd XV
Tullamore seconds defend the Seconds Cup that they won last season with an away fixture on Saturday next in Clondalkin. This will prove a tricky assignment for Tullamore as they have played only one game since early December and are realistically going to be short on match practice. If Tullamore were to win they would have a home fixture to the winners of the Ashbourne v Edenderry game.
U-17s.
Tullamore the holders of the Culliton Cup set out on the defence of the title with a difficult away match in Birr next Saturday. Birr won the section of the Leinster Premier League that Tullamore were in and this is easily the best team that Birr have fielded in years. A well drilled side lead by Leinster Youth ,Peter Dooley.
Tullamore have most of last seasons forwards but lack the backs with ability of the Fennell twins. The Cup is the type of competition that favours Tullamore and they have already won it four times in recent years,2001,2005,2006 and 2010. Do not be surprised if league form is turned on its head in this match.

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