Only one team looked the likely winner as the game transpired.
2024 Michael Lyng Motors SFC Relegation Final
Tinryland 0-16, Clonmore 1-5
By Stephen Bambrick
All’s well that ends well from a Tinryland point of view with their best display by a mile in this year’s Senior Football Championship ensuring that like Fenagh last year it’s Clonmore that return to Intermediate ranks for 2025 after just one season at Senior.
Clonmore’s promising group stage performances deserting them in this relegation final game, the 2022/2023 championship runners up Tinryland on the other hand will be delighted after a turbulent season on and off the field to retain their Senior status.
As can be expected with so much on the line it was a nervy start and mostly missed opportunities by both sides, Oisin Doyle dropping an effort short in the 5th minute before a minute later Mark Mullen did open the scoring with his fine point from 30 metres.
Enda McGrath almost diverted a high ball to the Tinryland net in the 7th minute, Conor O’Toole then fed Diarmaid Walshe who found the butt of Jordan Kane’s left hand post. Another minute on the clock and another goal chance came and went, Eoin Connolly clearing Peter Hennessy’s effort off the Clonmore goal line, still only the one score in Jonathan Murphy’s notebook.
Shane Redmond doubled his sides advantage in the 14th minute, though 0-2 to 0-0 it would stay until the 26th minute, Jonah Dunne leaving an effort short, Tom Pollard slipping with possession in an advanced position and a Diarmuid Walshe free sailing wide in between. Tinryland were in the ascendancy everywhere bar the scoreboard with numerous turnovers in their own defence and their pressure on the Clonmore kickout yet to produce rewards.
The remaining minutes of the half (5 extra played due to injuries) did eventually see Tinryland work the umpires with scores in succession from Walshe (like Mullen’s but the on the opposite side), James McGrath and Walshe’s casual outside of the left monster from all of 55 metres showing his growing influence and leadership on the game, 0-5 to 0-0 in the 29th minute.
Clonmore would get their first score with just seconds of normal time in the half left, Rory Maguire cooly slotting before a possible turning point arrived in the 3rd additional minute with a slip on the edge of the Tinryland square giving Oisin Doyle a split second to strike, his effort going out for a 45 which at least Jordan Kane did find the target with and it was fitting that the standout player on view in the half Diarmaid Walshe kicked the final point this time off his right, 0-6 to 0-2 at the interval.
Halftime saw the returning Matt Cullen along with Aaron Kelly enter proceedings for Clonmore, Cormac Walshe likewise for Tinryland, a half that would have the name of James McGrath down as the first scorer, last scorer and scorer of a good few in between.
His first a free with Mullen fouled in the 33rd minute, Aaron Kelly following a foul on Enda McGrath with no advantage coming cancelling this out in the 35th minute, Chris Townsend’s resultant kickout over the top to the on rushing Conor O’Toole ending with Diarmaid Walshe missing a glorious goal chance. Like Clonmore in the first half the 45 courtesy of Peter Hennessy gave some consolation, the same 2 combining with Hennessy this time the culprit though the lead out to 5 in the 38th minute nonetheless.
The imminent green flag did come soon after though, Oisin Doyle turning possession, his run finding Aaron Kelly, 0-8 to 1-3 , could Clonmore build on this? Would Tinryland’s old failings resurface? Time would tell.
The times that tell the answer would be a definitive no where minutes 45 (McGrath free, Regan fouled), 48 seeing Danny Moran from the 45m line, sub Cormac O’Brien on 51, a McGrath pair (one of each) on 52 and 56 saw the concession of the goal more than cancelled out though Rob Bulmer saw a decent Clonmore goal chance miss the target in the 49th minute, 0-13 to 1-3.
With Clonmore shorn some top players from the outset of the championship and just putting the head down and getting on with it giving in was never on the cards. Tom Pollard and Doyle parried over by Chris Townsend) reducing the gap to 0-13 to 1-5 with 58 minutes on the clock.
Though with risks having to be taken it saw Cormac Walshe’s catch from Townsend’s kickout setting McGrath clear for his 6th of the game, Billy Lawlor then getting a black card meaning with his earlier yellow minutes before Clonmore were down to 14 in the 62nd minute with McGrath’s 7th and 8th points, the latter seeing Anthony Kealy McDonald also see black for his pull on O’Brien; 0-16 to 1-5 the final score.
Clonmore following successive promotions now find themselves back in the Intermediate ranks, though no club will be better equipped with a clean bill of health to bounce straight back up given their experience of relegation and promotion for the 4th year in a row. Tinryland on the other hand showing that their county final appearances had stood to them when it mattered most.
Tinryland – Chris Townsend, Danny Moran (c)(0-1), Shane Redmond (0-1), Conor Ryan, Conor O’Toole, Peter Hennessy (0-1,45m), Michael Hosey, Niall Lowry, Diarmaid Walshe (0-3), Mark Mullen (0-1), Paddy Regan, Shane Webb, James McGrath (0-8, 0-5f), Jonah Dunne, Cathal O’Toole.
Subs – Cormac Walshe for Webb (half time), Cormac O’ Brien (0-1) for Hennessy (47 mins),
Mark Lawlor for Regan (59 mins),
Hosey for Moran (62 mins)
Clonmore – Jordan Kane (0-1, 45m), Cormac Connolly, Anthony Kealy McDonald, Rory Maguire (0-1), Paddy Gahan, Billy Lawlor, Shane Murphy (c), David Mulvany, Luke Connolly, Eoin Connolly, Enda McGrath, Jake Hickey, Tom Pollard (0-1), Oisin Doyle (0-1), Rob Bulmer.
Subs – Matt Cullen for C Connolly (half time), Aaron Kelly (1-1, 0-1f) for E Connolly (half time), James Whelan for Gahan (61 mins)
Referee – Jonathan Murphy (Naomh Moling)
Junior Football Wrap Up & Fixtures
Elsewhere Palatine Junior footballers defeated Tinryland on Friday night in the JFC A relegation playoff at NCP by 2-10 to 1-8.
While Naomh Eoin saw off Fenagh in the JFC B relegation playoff on Saturday at NCP by 2-7 to 0-10.
And in the Junior C Football Quarter Finals Palatine played out a classic with Asca on Monday night. Extra time was needed with the sides level at 4-10 apiece initially. Pal prevailed 5-14 to 4-12 in the end. Ballon had a 1-8 to 0-6 win over Grange also.
The Junior C Semi Finals are Saturday in the Training Centre with Ballon facing MLR at 1pm, while Bagenalstown play Palatine at 1.15pm.
For county final video content check out our YouTube page – https://www.youtube.com/@LeftWingBack/videos
