Intermediate Championship Reports ‘08
Intermediate Championship
Tubberclair
Maryland
1-6
1-7
Tubberclair bowed out of the 2008 Championship at the semi final stage when they
fell by the narrowest of margins to Maryland. Pairc Chiarain, Athlone played host to
the game and the sizeable crowd braved the rain to lend their support to the respective
teams. In truth there was never much between the sides with Tubberclair having a
dream start with a goal from Paul O’Brien after five minutes following great work by
Francis Spollen. Maryland pegged their way back into the game and a goal with ten
minutes left in the half levelled matters. Tubberclair led at the interval though thanks
to a good score just before the break from Fergal Wilson. However, the signs were
ominous as Tubberclair were playing with a stiff breeze in the first half.
Both sides traded points throughout the second half with Callum McCormack
knocking over some great scores for Maryland. A Jeffrey Farrell free late on drew the
side’s level but with only minutes remaining Damien Reynolds pointed what was to
be the winner for Maryland.
At the final whistle, the disappointment of the Tubberclair lads was evident but a
hungry Maryland proved to be the better team on the day. They now go on to compete
in the final v Ballynacargy or Castletown-Finea/ Coole/ Whitehall.
Best on the day for Tubberclair were John Reid, who worked tirelessly and Niall
Walker while David Cassells and Liam Doogan did well when introduced.
Team
Gary Connaughton, Mike Healion, Robbie Buckley, David O’Brien, Niall Walker,
Jimmy Martin, Beano Cassells, Tom Doogan, Jeffrey Farrell (0-2), Rory Walsh, John
Reid, Conor Elliott, Paul O’Brien (0-1), Fergal Wilson (0-3), Francis Spollen (0-1).
Subs used: David Cassells, Liam Doogan, Daniel Sammon.
Tubberclair 1-8 Rosemount 0-10
Tubberclair played Rosemount in the final game of the league stages of the
championship on Friday night last in St Lomans, Mullingar. Having already qualified
for the semi finals, Tubberclair wanted to copper fasten their position at the top of the
group while Rosemount had to win to secure their intermediate status. After a tight
and low scoring game, Tubberclair emerged victorious on the day by a scoreline of 18 to 0-10.
The quarter final line-up was also finalised at the weekend with Maryland facing
Tang while in the other quarter final Ballynacargy play Kilbeggan. Tubberclair and
Castletown Finea await the winners.
Tubberclair
Shandonagh
2-20
2-6
Tubberclair recorded their most comprehensive victory of the year against
Shandonagh in tang on Sunday evening last. Playing some of the most cohesive
football they have produced this year, Tubberclair struggled at times in the first half
and were 2 points down at the break. However, a totally one sided second half saw
Tubberclair outscore their opponents by 2-13 to 1-0 to ease clear and in the process
book their place in this years semi final stages.
Francis Spollen was in top form and he opened Tubberclairs account with a great
score from fully fifty yards. Jeffrey Farrell also got in on the act with a great score
from a similar distance. However, for the most part Tubberclair were scratchy and
lucky not to be further behind at the break as Shandonagh missed a penalty midway
through the half. The score at the break was 1-6 to 0-7.
Paul O’Brien opened the second half in fine fashion and scored three points in the
first ten minutes coupled with three from Francis Spollen to open up a lead.
Tubberclair never looked in trouble after this and the introduction of fergal Wilson
and Ian coffey added further bite up front. When francis Spollen netted with ten
minutes to go, the game was over as a contest and an excellent Ian Coffey goal sealed
the victory. A late consolation goal for Shandonagh made little difference to the
outcome.
Tubberclair can take heart from this performance but also must up their game for the
challenges that lie ahead in the knockout stages. Best on the day were John Reid,
Rory Walsh, Francis Spollen and Paul O’Brien. One more game in the league stage
remains with Rosemount providing the opposition. This game is scheduled for the
weekend of the 5-7th September.
Team
Gary Connaughton, Mike Healion, Enda Dooley, Dobsy O’Brien, Beaon Cassells,
Jimmy martin, Niall walker, Tom Doogan, Jeffrey Farrell (0-2), Rory Walsh, John
Reid, Junior Hopkins (0-1), Paul O’Brien(0-6), Francis Spollen (1-9), Daniel
Sammon. Suns used David Cassells, Liam Doogan, Fergal Wilson(0-1), Ian Coffey
(1-1), Barry Cassells.
Tubberclair
1-11 Ballynacargy
0-11
Tubberclair opened the 2008 Championship with a well earned win over Ballynacargy on
Saturday night last in Tang.
With a strong panel to pick from, the mentors would have had headaches coming up with the
starting fifteen. Ballynacargy opened the brighter though with a huge amount of possession
but they were not translating this into scores and only led by 0-4 to 0-2 midway through the
first half. Two of their four scores came from defenders.
An opportunist Francis Spollen goal gave Tubberclair a boost. Playing some good flowing
football, they upped their game and led by four points at the break with some good scores
from Paul O’Brien and Jeffrey Farrell. Ballynacargy rallied well in the second half and again
won many of the breaks around midfield. They rattled off six points in the first fifteen
minutes of the second half with Tubberclair only scoring a solitary point in this period. An
excellent Francis Spollen point drew the sides level. With the game poised, Tubberclairs
experience and hunger showed and they dug very deep to grind ahead. Scores from Paul
O’Brien, Fergal Wilson, Francis Spollen and the impressive John Reid sealed the victory.
This was a great win for Tubberclair as the game could easily have went either way up to the
end. Both teams played a good brand of football and Ballynacargy should cause problems for
teams over the course of this championship. Tubberclair play Tang next in the next game of
the round robin and this local derby is bound to be a stern test.
Team Gary Connaughton, Dobsy O’Brien, Robert Buckley, Barry Cassells, Rory Walsh,
Jimmy Martin (0-1), Mark Fitzgibbon, Francis Spollen (1-3), Fergal Wilson (0-3), John Reid
(0-1) Beano Cassells, Paul O’Brien (0-2), Jeffrey Farrell (0-1), David Cassells.
Subs used; Mike Healion, Tom Doogan, Stephen Fagan, Daniel Sammon.
Intermediate Championship Round 2
Tubberclair 1-14
Tang
1-8
Tubberclair continued their recent good form with a well earned win over local rivals Tang on
Wednesday last in Pairc Chiarain, Athlone. In a pretty non-eventful first half, Tubberclair just
edged Tang leading by a point at the interval on a scoreline of 0-5 to 0-4. Tubberclair had the
lions share of the possession but found great difficulty converting this into scores in a
congested forward line. Tang on the other hand played on the break and took most of their
chances.
The second half began brightly for Tubberclair with three unanswered points. A well worked
Fergal Wilson score extended the lead. To their credit, Tang closed the deficit to three points
but Jeffrey Farrell pointed two frees to open up the gap with minutes remaining. The most
eventful period of the match ensued when Tang scored a goal to close the gap to two points
but Tubberclair went down the pitch and netted to maintain the status quo. Tubberclair closed
out the game with two further points to lead by six points at the final whistle. The
performance was good from Tubberclair in parts and they deserved their win. The win leaves
Tubberclair with two wins from two games. Best on the day were Beano Cassells, Jeffrey
Farrell and Tom Doogan.
Team Gary connaughton, Michael Healion, Robert Buckley, Dobsy O'Brien,Niall Walker (01), James Martin (0-1), Beaon Cassells, Tom Doogan, Jeffrey Farrell (1-3), Fergal Wilson (06), John Reid, David Cassells, Daniel Sammon, Junior Hopkins (0-1), Francis Spollen (0-2).
Subs used; Paul O'Brien, Enda Dooley.