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Hanley Steers Tullamore Out Of Port

Thursday, 9 February 2012

Adrian Hanley on the charge supported by David Milne. TT068229

Tullamore 21. Westport 8.

A preview of the game in the match programme singled out Adrian Hanley as Tullamore's main man and the author of the preview would have been a happy man on Saturday evening as the Athlone native ruled the roost and powered the 'Tulliers' back into the AIB All Ireland Junior Cup Final which they won back in 2009.
In conditions typical of a wet winters day, both sides must be complimented on the way they preformed. Tullamore were the strong favourites before kick off but were all to aware of the threat posed by the underdogs from the West.
Westport had upset the odds to make the semi final and they treated their preparations for the trip to Tullamore in exemplary fashion. On the day Tullamore were the superior outfit from start to finish. Playing against the wind in the first half, they weathered the Westport storm as the Westerners threw everything at the home side.
They camped in the Tullamore half of the field for large parts of the first half but couldn't break the locks down on a tight Tullamore rearguard marshaled by Hanley in the pack and David Clavin in the centre.
The home side never panicked and hit the Westport men on the break with Colin Draper in super form in the unfamiliar role of full back. It was a super team performance blighted only marginally by their penalty concession count in the second half.
Their squad came into full effect. David O'Neill was due to start but injury forced him to miss out and Rory Deverell took advantage by coming in on the wing and bagging an early try.
'The Tulliers' used their bench to freshen things up, a luxury that has not been afforded to them in recent seasons due to injury and other aspects.
Belmont man Tomas Bennett and Cian Glennon bossed matters in the front row and although sin binned late on, Bennett known affectionately as 'the bear' was just that all evening.
David Milne got a try just before half time but had to retire injured while veteran Ivor Deverell soared in the lineouts. Rob Connor and Adrian Hanley controlled the tempo at the base of the scrum giving Richie Hughes great protection at nine.
Tom Gilligan was super in defence while the bustling David Clavin proved a strong compliment to Gilligan with the Tullamore try line staying in tact up until the last minute of the game.
The back three were excellent and came under pressure in both halves with kicks over the top. Deverell and Colin Hughes took their tries well while Colin Draper at full back ran the line well and his breaks out of his own half were a feature of his play.
Tullamore got off to a dream start against a strong wind. Rory Deverell, Adrian Hanley and Tomas Bennett all broke the gain line before referee Frank Butler awarded a penalty.
Phases were ran through and with Deverell primed on the blindside, the ball came into his path and the winger made no mistake in finishing. Captain Aaron Deverell missed the tricky conversion but the home side were up and running.
Westport responded well with a Ryan Cafferkey penalty on six minutes but what he could do, Aaron Deverell could do better and the Tullamore man kicked a penalty with 10 minutes on the clock to leave the scores 8-3.
Westport began to put serious pressure on the Tullamore defence and won some decent lineout ball on route to the Tullamore 22. Outhalf Eddie Walsh kicked for territory well all day but Tullamore kept the visitors at bay with Colin Draper in fine form at full back.
Deverell kicked another penalty after a Westport knock on and the home side were in total control. Westport kept coming however and threw the kitchen sink but to no avail as the Tullamore defence held strong.
With a minute to go until half time, Tullamore compounded their superiority when they caught the Westport men on the break. Colin Draper originally made a super break out of defence before Hanley, Bennett, Clavin and Eddie Brady all made soaring drives towards the line.
The ball came out from Richie Hughes and as it moved through the hands, David Milne was on had to touch down. Aaron Deverell missed the conversion and Milne picked up an injury but Tullamore headed for the dressing rooms 16-3 ahead.
The second half was a bruising encounter and yielded little on the scoreboard. Tullamore played to their strengths and played the game the way they wanted too restricting Westport to a half break or two.
The home side did commit more infringements than they would have liked and Tomas Bennett was sin binned on 65 minutes. Dave Conway followed soon after for Westport and it looked like a scoreless second half was on the cards.
That was until another piece of Adrian Hanley magic on 70 minutes. In Kyle North fashion he gained possession and shrugged off three tackles as he edged closer to the line. With only one defender to beat and within touching distance of the line, he unselfishly off loaded to Colin Hughes who got the try.
There was time for a Westport consolation and to be fair they deserved it for all their efforts.
JP Walsh was the man who touched down in the 79th minute after the pack had got them to within metres of the line. Walsh took on the ball and barged over for the last score of the game.

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