GAA News from Jason Mahon

Offaly Senior football league, Division 1 Semi-final replay:
Shannonbridge 3-09 Tullamore 1-08

On Saturday afternoon last, Shannonbridge impressively downed senior football champions Tullamore in a very eagerly contested replay at the grounds of Erin rovers in Pullough in front of a sizeable crowd given the time of year.
Shannonbridge were unable to field a number of senior players due to injury, most notable absentees were Karol Kelly, Dermot Turley, Shane Flannery, Niall Price & Paul Deeley whereas Tullamore were almost at full strength albeit they were minus the services of goalkeeper Ken Furlong.

Indeed it was Tullamore who started brightest and led 1-02 to no score after 12 minutes of play, their goal coming from a penalty which was converted by the impressive Paul McConway who was plying his trade at centre forward for the day.

Shannonbridge hit back with points from Fergal McEvoy & Jason Kelly, with a Gearoid O’Grady point sandwiched in between & from then on it was all one way traffic, a well-taken goal by Jason Kelly just before half time bringing the sides level 1-05 apiece at the interval.

The bridge started the Second half just as they ended the first, in complete control and a goal and a point in quick succession from McEvoy & Roger Ryan respectively put the 4 point up and never looked back. A very clever follow-in goal after a clanger from the Tullamore keeper from substitute Cheesy Kelly put the bridge 7 points up and the game was over as a contest from then on.

It was as good a performance seen from a Shannonbridge side in years as they both attacked and defended impressively was a unit. There were also several excellent individual displays, Declan Kelly in Goal, Mel Darcy & Rory O’Connor in defence were very solid, Jason Kelly put in a very hard hours work throughout the park and Roger Ryan(0-02) & Fergal McEvoy excelled in the final third, The latter accumulating an impressive tally of 1-04.
Team: D. Kelly, W. Keena, P. Maloney, M. Darcy, K. Flannery, E. Kelly, R. O’Connor, J. Kelly, P. Egan, J. Egan, R. Ryan, D. Finn, D. Corbett, F. McEvoy & A. Kelly.
Subs: P. Kelly for D. Finn, J. Ryan for P. Egan, E. Egan

They will now meet county kingpins for the last few years Rhode in the final. There was excellent support from Shannonbridge at the game and we hope to see more of the same at the final. It would be very nice to reward them with a piece of long awaited silverware for all their efforts.