Tullamore’s Two-Goal Hero Hensey Blitzes Edenderry
Thursday, 2 February 2012
Tullamore Town 3. Edenderry Town 1.
EDENDERRY Town saw their unbeaten League record go up in smoke in a first half firestorm in Leah Victoria Park last Saturday.
Arsonist in chief was the home sides right winger, Michael James, who teased and tormented them into submission in a hugely impressive first forty five minutes.
He was quickly into the action when he brought a fine near post save from Shane Hayes but with ten minutes on the clock Tullamore hit the front.
Gary Hutchinson played a lovely ball through to Aaron Hensey and the big bustling centre forward drove it unerringly into the back of the net.
They nearly increased their lead when a wonderful exchange of passes between Terry Byrne and James resulted in Hayes tipping Byrne's goal bound header around the post.
As Edenderry hit back Sean Doyle flashed a terrific thirty yard drive inches past the far post while at the other end Byrne and James again combined brilliantly to set up Hensey, but he shot wide from close range.
He made no mistake however on forty minutes when his persistence carried him through two tackles before firing home for a fine individual goal.
Edenderry went close when, following a free kick, Lorcan Pender volleyed narrowly over but they were decidedly lucky minutes later when Gary Hutchinson picked out Matthew Hynes on the right and his pin point cross was headed home by Hensey, but he was denied his hat-trick when the score was ruled out for off-side.
As they continued to press Terry Byrne played in James, but he failed to get enough purchase on his shot and his effort was taken off the line.
With minutes remaining in the first half they increased their lead when Michael James picked the ball up wide on the right and tied two defenders in knots before sliding the ball across the face of the goal to Ted Conway for the easiest of tap ins to leave the score 3-0 in Tullamore's favour at the interval.
The home side appeared to take their foot off the pedal in the second half and the Edenderry boys sensed their opportunity. First Sean Moriarty sent a lovely curling shot inches past the angle of bar and post and then Jim Farrell picked out Lorcan Pender but his excellent drive came back off the post.
As they continued to press, Ryan Lynch broke clear but was denied by a great save from Patrick Dunican in the home goal.
In an effort to shake things up, manager John O'Connor introduced Shane Martino, Macdarragh O'Neill and Dylan Melia, and this nearly paid immediate dividends when Rory Condron and O'Neill combined to send Melia clear, but his attempted chip was comfortably gathered by Shane Hayes.
Tullamore again went close when Aaron Hensey played in Macdarragh O'Neill but Hayes saved bravely at his feet. With ten minutes remaining Edenderry got the goal their second half performance deserved when Mark Nolan picked out Sean Moriarty on the right and Mikie Cleer blasted his cross in off the post for a fine score.
As they tightened their grip on the game Ryan Lynch fired in a great cross that was headed narrowly over by Cleer but, with Ross Kinarney and Diarmuid Carroll outstanding at the back and Patrick Dunican dealing with everything thrown at him, the home side held firm and slowly wrested back control of the game.
They nearly restored their three-goal advantage when Macdarragh O'Neill picked out Dylan Melia who set off on a terrific run through the middle, but he lifted his shot over the bar and then Kinarney played a great ball through to Hensey, but Hayes was quickly off his line to avert the danger.
As they continued to press, Melia knocked the ball down to Shane Martino but he fired wide and then Aaron Hensey brilliantly controlled a long ball from Rory Condron, but again the shot was off target as the referee brought this entertaining game to a conclusion.
For the home side there were excellent contributions from Ross Kinarney, Diarmuid Carroll, Terry Byrne and Michael James with Sean Doyle, Lorcan Pender, Ryan Lynch and Jim Farrell the pick of the visitors, but the man of the match award went to Tullamore's two goal match winner, Aaron Hensey.
Tullamore: Patrick Dunican; Matthew Hynes, Ross Kinarney, Diarmuid Carroll, Rory Condron, Michael James, Gary Hutchinson, Mark Casey, Ted Conway, Terry Byrne, Aaron Hensey. Subs: Shane Martino, Macdarragh O'Neill and Dylan Melia.
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