Goals prove crucial as Tullaroan taste under-21 success over Dicksboro

Having lost last year’s under-21 Roinn D final to Graignamanagh after extra-time, it was success for the North Kilkenny side from Tullaroan on this occasion, with a six-point victory over Dicksboro B.

This was a well contested contest, played in sticky conditions, at a windy Canon Kearns Park on Saturday.

Dicksboro had made the better start to this contest, aided by the strong wind, were 0-3 to 0-1 ahead after 12 minutes. All three scores came from Billy Fitzpatrick, two from play and a pointed free.

Ciallin Brennan had opened the Tullaroan scoring, and points from the same player, along with a Gearoid Dunne score, helped level things at 0-3 each by the 17th minute.

By the 23rd minute it was still Dicksboro clear (0-7 to 0-4_, but before the interval Tullaroan took charge with two quick goals in a three-minute spell between the 27th and 29th minutes.

Both were the result of goalkeeping difficulties in the tricky windy conditions, the finishes by Paul Mulligan and Gearoid Dunne.

At half-time Tullaroan led Dicksboro by 2-4 to 0-9.

Gearoid Dunne extended the Tullaroan lead early in the new half, a score replied to by a Billy Fitzpatrick free for Dicksboro.

The next three scores were all for Tullaroan as they stretched out their lead by the 47th minute, thanks to two points from Gearoid Dunne from a 65 and play, and a score from substitute Liam Walsh.

By the 55th minute Tullaroan led by three points, 2-9 to 0-12 and then came the match-clinching third goal, finished by Cathal Russell.

Both sides had goal chances in the second half, but on this afternoon Tullaroan had better forwards, and outscored the ’Boro 1-5 to 0-3 in the second half to emerge as under 21 C champions.

This was a deserved victory for Tullaroan. Goalkeeper Niall Holland performed well when called upon. Elsewhere in defence Bill Coogan and Billy Walton performed well.

Further afield Aaron Russell, Ciallin Brennan and Gearoid Dunne starred.

Dicksboro could not add to last week’s victory in the under-21 Roinn A grade. Mick Carroll, Louis Raggett Billy Fitzpatrick and Patrick Lacey battled hard throughout.

Teams and Scorers

Tullaroan - Niall Holland; Tom Dillon, Eamonn Holland (joint captain), Matthew Mulligan; Bill Coogan, Bill Walton (joint captain, 0-1), Charlie Cleere; Aaron Russell, Padraig O’Mahoney; Cathal Russell (1-0), Ciallin Brennan (0-2), Gearoid Dunne (1-5, 0-2 frees, 0-1 65); Paul Mulligan (1-0), Josh Tallis, Billy Keogh.

Subs: Liam Walsh (0-1) for Billy Kehoe, 38 min; Johnny Leahy for Padraig O’Mahoney, 47 mins.

Dicksboro - Ciaran Power; James Cleere, Mick Carroll, Enda Kavanagh; David Fitzpatrick, Andrew Brennan Smyth (0-1, captain), Louis Raggett; Bill O’Shea, James Brennan Smyth; Billy Fitzpatrick (0-9, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65), Rory O’Connor, Patrick Lacey (0-1); Peter Conroy, Luke Kerwick, Anthony Clifford (0-1).

Sub: Conor Kavanagh for David Fitzpatrick, h/t.

Referee - Patrick O’Reilly (Barrow Rangers).