BLACKWATER…1-13
AN TUAISCEART…0-13
Brian O’Reilly from the St Michael’s club underlined just why he is considered to be one of the brightest prospects in the county when producing a top drawer performance to inspire Blackwater to their first ever win in the Regional Football Championship in Moynalty last night.
There was never much between the sides, with Dylan Morgan and Freddie Newman (both Kilmainham GFC) both prominent in attack for those who derive their name from a river while converted custodian Dominic Yorke, his Meath Hill colleague Gary Breslin and Nobber’s Niall Farrell buzzed in attack for Seamus Kenny’s selection. All of which meant the latter led by 0-08 to 0-06 at the change of ends.
By all accounts, the river men began the second stanza with the words of boss David Nolan ringing in their ears and it evidently had the desired effect as early scores from Morgan (free) and Liam Ward of Drumbaragh Emmets had manufactured stalemate fairly rapidly after the restart. Mind you, I always think a team is a mirror of their manager and that couldn’t be more the case than with An Tuaisceart.
Their dogged determination and never-say-die attitude was every inch Seamie Kenny during his stellar playing career as scores from Farrell, Paddy McDermott (Carnaross) and Castletown’s Seamus Doherty edged that combination ahead (0-12 to 0-11) with ten minutes of normal time remaining.
And, with Dary Hutchinson of Nobber in inspired form between the posts, it was going to take something special to swing matters in Blackwater’s way. But boy did they get it. Team captain O’Reilly gathering possession deep in his own territory before rapidly exchanging passes with McDermott and going on to rocket the pigskin to the right hand corner of Hutchinson’s onion bag.
Thus guaranteeing his team a historic victory and delivering a timely reminder to those who matter of what he has to offer.
Blackwater – Conor Gilsenan (St Michael’s); Ronan Lynch (Moynalty), Ciaran O’Reilly (St Michael’s), Harry Dunne (St Michael’s); James McGovern (Drumbaragh), James Cassidy (Moynalty), Luke Fagan (Drumbaragh); Brian O’Reilly (St Michael’s 1-1), Liam Ward (Drumbaragh 0-1); Freddie Newman (Kilmainham 0-1), Paddy McDermott (Carnaross 0-1), Conor Lynch (Drumbaragh 0-1); Dylan Morgan (Kilmainham 0-7 frees), Daragh O’Reilly (Carnaross), Daniel Murphy (St Michael’s). Subs – Jack Roche (Carnaross) for McGovern 23 mins, Joey Gilsenan (Moynalty) for Roche 30m, Kian Lynch (Moynalty 0-1) for Newman 48m, Newman for O’Reilly 54m, O’Reilly for R Lynch 63m.
An Tuascairt – Dary Hutchinson (Nobber); Barry Cassidy (Nobber), Thomas Carolan (Meath Hill), Barry Bradley (Nobber); Killian Price (Castletown 0-1), James Mooney (Meath Hill), Brian Cassidy (Kilmainhamwood); Thomas Murtagh (Nobber 0-1 mark), Ryan Owens (Meath Hill); Seamus Doherty (Castletown 0-2), Gary Breslin (Meath Hill 0-3 two frees), Niall Conlon (Kilmainhamwood); Dean Halpin (Nobber 0-1), Dominic Yorke (Meath Hill 0-1), Niall Farrell (Nobber 0-4 frees). Subs – Daniel Byrne (Drumconrath) for Yorke 41 mins, Tomas Conlon (Drumconrath) for Halpin 41m, Oran Brady (Drumconrath) for Bradley 41m Sean Murray (Drumconrath) for Price 49m, Jamie O’Neill (Drumconrath) for Carolan 51m, Conor Marry (Meath Hill) for Owens 54m, Jack McMahon (Meath Hill) for Conlon 59m.
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