Francis Bags Hat-Trick As Tullamore Trounce Clondalkin
Thursday, 19 January 2012
Brian Francis hit a hat-trick as Tullamore Town trounced Clondalkin. TT31S
Tullamore Town 6. Clondalkin Celtic 0.
TULLAMORE chalked up their biggest win of the season and reignited their title challenge with this fine attacking display in Leah Victoria Park last Friday.
They were quickly into their stride and with only seven minutes gone they nearly opened their account when Brian Francis played the ball through to Ronan Kelly on the edge of the area but Ian Martin brought off a superb save to deny him.
With a quarter of an hour gone they made the breakthrough when Brian Francis found Kevin Duffy on the right and he picked out Ronan Kelly who, showing wonderful composure, controlled the ball before slipping it inside for Francis to place it into the bottom left hand corner of the net.
They doubled their advantage on twenty five minutes when Francis and Duffy again combined down the right and when Martin could only parry the Tullamore captain's effort, the predatory Kelly was on hand to volley the ball into the unguarded net.
Five minutes later they had gone further ahead when Ronan Kelly headed a long clearance from Kevin Duffy into the path of Brian Francis who raced through before firing the ball under the diving Martin and into the net.
As they continued to press great play from Matthew Carragher saw the ball delivered out to Stephen Duffy on the right but his deep cross eluded everyone. The fourth goal duly arrived on thirty five minutes and it was all down to the brilliance of the home side's Nigerian winger, Hafeez Sholola.
Picking the ball up wide on the left he went on a searing run that took him past two defenders before cutting into the area and laying it on a plate for Brian Francis to complete a fine hat-trick.
With minutes remaining in the first half they brought their tally to five when Brian Francis picked out Kevin Duffy on the right and his dangerous cross was headed behind and, from the resultant corner, Ken Doyle swept the ball home at the far post.
They again went close when Matthew Carragher and Kevin Duffy combined to send Ronan Kelly clear but his cut back was just behind the in-rushing Brian Francis as the interval arrived with Tullamore an improbable five goals to the good.
Clondalkin began the second half in determined fashion and should have reduced the arrears when Nicky Kelly's powerful header sent Ciaran Dunne through on goal but he fired his effort past the left post.
They again went close when Brian Grogan raced clear but Martin Cunningham saved superbly at his feet. As Tullamore regained control of the game Ronan Kelly played a lovely ball through to Brian Francis, but he could not get enough purchase on his shot and it was taken off the line.
Kelly again turned provider when he slipped the ball inside to Hafeez Sholola but his effort was brilliantly parried by Ian Martin with Francis firing the rebound home, but the score was ruled out for off-side.
Fergal Gorman and Stephen Francis then combined to send Brian Francis clear on the right but Ronan Kelly just failed to control his cross while at the other end Ciaran Dunne broke free in the inside left channel but his shot was too high.
Kevin Duffy then played a great ball through to Brian Francis but, when well placed, he elected to pass and the chance was gone. With sixty five minutes gone Phillip Hall came on and he was quickly into the action when he played a fine ball out to Brian Francis and then got on the end of his cross, but his shot was charged down.
Tullamore again went close when they won a free on the left and Sholola's low delivery found its way through to Francis but Martin brought off a great point blank save to deny him.
Goal number six arrived on seventy five minutes when Stephen Francis sent Ronan Kelly clear through the middle and he coolly rounded the keeper before placing the ball in the empty net for his second of the game.
As they continued to press Stephen Duffy fired his free kick inches outside the right post and then Adrian Kelly picked out Brian Francis, but his shot was deflected behind as the referee brought this entertaining but somewhat one sided encounter to a conclusion.
This was a welcome return to form for Tullamore following the long winter break that will have delighted manager Jimmy Green.
For the home side there were excellent contributions from Mark Gorman, Stephen Francis, Kevin Duffy, Ronan Kelly and Hafeez Sholola, but the man of the match award went to Tullamore's hat-trick hero, Brian Francis.
Tullamore: Martin Cunningham; Stephen Duffy, Mark Gorman, Ken Doyle, Fergal Gorman, Kevin Duffy, Stephen Francis, Matthew Carragher, Hafeez Sholola, Ronan Kelly and Brian Francis. Subs: Adrian Kelly, Phillip Hall, Jason Pohl, Phillip Coffey and Mark Goodings.
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