2009/10 Leinster Senior League Match Reports

LSL Sunday Major 1

Tullamore Town 1 Peamount Utd 1

Tullamore played out a very entertaining draw with Dublin side Peamount last Friday in Leah Victoria Park and following a spirited second half performance were unlucky not to emerge with all three points. They were first to threaten when on ten minutes Simon Keegan picked out Mark Goodings but Alan Curtis brought off a fine save. The visitors threatened when Ken Burke got on the end of a through ball but his dipping shot sailed outside the far post and he again went close minutes later but was denied by a great relieving tackle by Stuart Kavanagh. As Tullamore hit back Kieran Conroy found Keegan but his long range effort was too high and then good play between Trevor Moylan and Goodings ended with Moylan bringing a fine save from Curtis from twenty yards. With thirty five minutes on the clock Peamount hit the front when Brian Murphy picked the ball up on the edge of the area and expertly floated it over the advancing keeper and into the net. Town were unlucky not to equalise on the stroke of half time when Keegan’s low cross was volleyed inches wide by Mark Goodings.

Five minutes into the second half Peamount again went close when Ken Burke broke clear but Joe Mooney kept his side in the game with a great save and five minutes later Tullamore were back in the game. Simon Keegan picked the ball up in midfield and surged through the heart of the visitors defence, played a one-two with Mark Goodings, and fired past the advancing Curtis for a superb goal. As Peamount looked to restore their advantage Ken Millington found Blain Curtis on the right but Mooney got down to deny him. With the introduction of Michael Hoey on the hour the game shifted inexorably in Tullamore’s favour as he began to dictate proceedings. His impact was immediate as he won the ball in midfield and played a great ball through to Goodings who rounded the keeper but he was unable to find the net from the tightest of angles. Hoey then picked out Trevor Moylan but his effort flew outside the far post and minutes later he played a great sixty yard through ball to Goodings but he fired over. Moylan again threatened when he combined with Goodings but Curtis was quickly out to deny him and Hoey again created danger when he got on the end of a kick-out and curled a lovely ball into Goodings but he just failed to control it. As Peamount hit back Brian Murphy played a clever ball inside to Ken Millington but his shot rolled agonisingly past the far post and then Ray O’Toole picked out Burke but his fine thirty five yard effort flew narrowly over. With Brian Francis coming on Tullamore pressed for a winner and they went close when Stephen Duffy sent Goodings clear on the right and his probing cross just missed out the inrushing Hoey. Duffy and Goodings again combined to pick out Fergal Gorman on the right but his fine cross flew across the face of the goal. With play swinging from end to end the visitors twice went close but were denied by two superb point blank saves from Joe Mooney and with minutes remaining Town nearly snatched all three points. Jason Pohl found Michael Hoey on the left and he cut past his marker before pulling the ball back to Brian Francis, but at full stretch his shot drifted inches outside the right post as both these fine sides had to settle for a share of the points.

Tullamore : Joe Mooney, Fergal Gorman, Stuart Kavanagh, Wayne Power Michael Kenaney, Simon Keegan, Trevor Moylan, Stephen Duffy, Jason Pohl, Mark Goodings and Kieran Conroy.

Subs : Michael Hoey, Brian Francis, Terry Hilliard and Niall McKenna.

LSL Sunday Major1

Tullamore Town 0 Maynooth Town 3

With most of his players on first team duty, manager Kevin O’Connor cobbled together a side drawn from the club’s Youth and Veteran teams for this encounter against high flying Maynooth Town in Leah Victoria Park last Sunday. Playing with great composure they more than held their own in the early stages but were lucky not to go behind on twenty minutes when the ball broke back to Danny Byrne in the area but with the goal at his mercy he fired over. Minutes later Sean Sinclair cut in from the left but Chris O’Toole got down to brilliantly turn his shot around the post. With twenty five minutes on the clock Michael Whelan got on the end of a great through ball from Danny Byrne and fired home from close range. As Tullamore looked to hit back Alan Kelly played a lovely ball through to Niall McKenna but Eamonn Gallagher was quickly off his line to clear and then Justin Tyrell fired over from thirty yards. With thirty five minutes gone Maynooth again went close when Ned Bright crashed a tremendous long range effort off the underside of the crossbar while at the other end McKenna laid the ball back to Kelly on the edge of the area but his shot was charged down. On the stroke of half time great play by Martin Holleran on the left saw his dangerous cross knocked behind as the referee brought the first half to a close.

Maynooth began the second half brightly with Sean Sinclair putting through Danny Byrne but David Gorman got across to clear the danger while at the other end Martin Holleran sent Jason Tyrell clear on the left and when his cross was fumbled by the keeper it was scrambled to safety. Michael Whelan then picked out Sean Sinclair but Stuart Kavanagh blocked his goal bound effort. With an hour gone the visitors increased their lead when Danny Byrne broke into the area and Chris O’Toole did well to deflect his shot out for a corner but from the resultant kick Darren Wrafter rose above the defence to head home. Minutes later Tullamore were unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when Terry Hilliard played a short corner to Aaron Murtagh and his curling cross came back off the crossbar. With seventy minutes gone Maynooth won a free on the edge of the area and Sinclair’s swerving effort was superbly turned around the post by O’Toole and then Wayne Power did well to get back to deny the dangerous Byrne. Tullamore nearly reduced the arrears on eighty minutes when Roddy McGowan played in Alan Kelly but Eamon Gallagher brilliantly turned his shot around the post. McGowan again turned provider when he put Shane Mooney through but Gallagher was quickly out to avert the danger. With five minutes remaining the visitors went further ahead when Karl Mahon picked out Danny Byrne and he drilled his shot into the far corner. Tullamore nearly got a consolation score when Alan Kelly played a clever ball behind the defence for Henry Cutler but his cross was knocked behind as the visitors ran out deserving winners.

For the home side there were excellent contributions from Chris O’Toole, Wayne Power, David Gorman and Stuart Kavanagh with Eamon Gallagher, Paul Byrne, Ned Bright and Danny Byrne the pick of the visitors but the man of the match award went to Tullamore’s outstanding midfielder, Alan Kelly.

Tullamore : Chris O’Toole, Aaron Murtagh, Wayne Power, David Gorman, Jason Tyrell, Alan Kelly, Stuart Kavanagh, Terry Hilliard, Martin Holleran, Thomas Fleming and Niall McKenna.

Subs : Shane Mooney, Roddy McGowan, Henry Cutler and Brian Kane

Leinster Senior League

Tullamore Town 0 Leicester Celtic 4

With a number of his players unavailable due to injury and first team commitments, manager Kevin O’Connor was forced to field a bold mix of youth and experience that unfortunately failed to coalesce on the night, as they were outplayed by a very skilful Leicester Celtic side in Leah Victoria Park last Friday. As early as the fifth minute they found themselves in arrears when Ross Dawson pounced on a loose ball in the area to send a low angled drive under Dean Molloy and into the back of the net. Minutes later the home side were unlucky not to be back on level terms when Keith O’Connor was taken down twenty yards out and dead ball expert Trevor Francis sent a tremendous swerving shot crashing off the angle of post and upright and as the ball rebounded back into play Mark Lew made a wonderful point blank save from Aidan Nicholson. As Tullamore continued to press, a lovely sweeping move involving Jason Pohl and Stephen Duffy ended with Alan Murray laying the ball back to Fergal Gorman, but his fine thirty yard drive was well held by Lew down to his right while at the other end the dangerous Dawson flashed a great effort inches outside the far post. He again threatened when he broke clear on the right and his excellent cross was met by Alan O’Donnell but Molloy kept his diving header out and then a tremendous surging run by Pohl nearly produced an equaliser but Murray just failed to get on the end of his low cross. Molloy was again called into action when O’Donnell cut the ball back to Dawson but he managed to tip his clever chip shot over the bar. On the half hour the visitors increased their lead when Ross Dawson got on the end of a long clearance and raced through the defence before planting the ball in the far corner for a fine individual score. Alan Murray tried to get his team back in the game with a well executed volley from the edge of the area but it was mostly one way traffic as Molloy did well to keep out a thirty yard effort from O’Donnell and then a great right wing cross from Eoghan Keegan was headed against the crossbar. With half time approaching Keith O’Connor did well to hook a dangerous O’Donnell cross clear as the interval arrived with the visitors two goals to the good.

With Mark Hayes coming on for the injured Fergal Gorman he was straight into the action when he raced onto a Jason Pohl pass and steered his shot past the advancing Mark Lew but the ball was taken off the line. Tullamore again went close when Trevor Francis got on the end of an Alan Murray cross but his header was deflected out for a corner. They were fortunate not to fall further behind when Alan O’Donnell picked out Niall Walsh in the area but he fluffed his shot with the goal at his mercy and then Murray did well to get back to cut out the danger as Walsh broke clear on the left. The woodwork again came to the visitors rescue when Keith O’Connor was fouled out wide on the left and Stephen Duffy’s angled free kick eluded everyone and came back off the far post with Stuart Kavanagh just failing to get the final touch. As Tullamore tried to step up their game Pohl cut in from the right and brought a fine save from Lew but minutes later they fell further in arrears when Alan O’Donnell got on the end of a through ball and, with the Tullamore defence appealing for off-side, he coolly lobbed the ball over the stranded Molloy and into the net. With five minutes remaining Leicester Celtic finished the game off in style when Eoghan Keegan played a lovely ball out to Niall Walsh and his superb cross was headed home by the inrushing Alan O’Donnell to set the seal on a fine victory.

Tullamore : Dean Molloy, Stuart Kavanagh, Thomas Fleming, David Gorman, Keith O’Connor, Jason Pohl, Fergal Gorman, Stephen Duffy, Aidan Nicholson, Alan Murray and Trevor Francis.

Subs : Mark Hayes and Derek Houlihan.

 

LSL Sunday Major 1

Tullamore Town  3   Manortown Utd  0

 In what was a hugely entertaining game Tullamore emerged with all three points against their Dublin opponents in Leah Victoria Park last Friday. They were first to threaten when Alan Murray latched on to a through ball but was denied by a great relieving tackle from Gavin O’Beirne while at the other end Brian Francis had to be alert to knock a dangerous right wing cross out for a corner. With half an hour gone Aaron Murtagh, Trevor Moylan and Fergal Gorman  combined to send Keith O’Connor clear on the right and his swerving cross just drifted outside the far post. Murtagh was again in the thick of the action five minutes later when he picked out Moylan on the right whose cross was deflected out for a corner and from the resultant kick Murray saw his fine header handled on the line with the referee immediately pointing to the spot. Dead ball expert Trevor Moylan duly despatched the penalty into the top right hand corner to give his side a deserved lead. Minutes later the visitors were nearly back in the game when a deep right wing cross from Daniel Mullins deceived Martin Cunningham in the Town goal and landed on top of his crossbar while at the other end lovely play by Keith O’Connor released Moylan but Joey Slevin was quickly off his line to deny the inrushing Trevor Francis. Manortown again threatened when Mullins and Gerry Lee combined down the left but Michael Kenaney managed to get back to clear the danger but they were hit with a hammer blow on the stroke of half time. Tullamore won a free out wide on the left and when Moylan whipped the ball in Alan Murray rose above the defence to send a superb glancing header into the far corner of the net to leave the score 2-0 at the interval.

Manortown were quickly into the attack on the resumption with Gavin O’Brien firing a vicious cross shot inches past the angle of bar and post but they were nearly undone when Stuart Kavanagh played a wonderful ball through to Trevor Francis but as he attempted to round the keeper, Joey Slevin managed to scoop the ball away to safety. As the game continued to ebb and flow the visitors again went close when Ian Burke sent a fine effort whizzing past the near post and then great play by Trevor Francis released Alan Murray but he was crowded out. With Gerry Lee, Daniel Mullins and Gary Seery driving them on from midfield, Manortown began to dominate but could make little impression on a well organised home defence. With sixty five minutes gone Trevor Moylan played a short corner to Aaron Murtagh who picked out Alan Murray in the area and when the keeper could only parry his curling shot Ross Whittaker lifted the rebound over. Murtagh was again the provider when he played a lovely ball through to Jason Pohl but he fired wide when well placed and then fine play by Pohl saw his dangerous left wing cross scrambled out for a corner. With minutes remaining Fergal Gorman played a clever ball down the left and when the defender tried to knock it back to his keeper, Pohl pounced on the loose ball ahead of the advancing Slevin to leave Jason Pohl with a simple tap in to copper fasten a comprehensive win.

In what was a very impressive performance there were excellent contributions from Trevor Moylan, Stephen Francis, Fergal Gorman, Trevor Francis and Alan Murray with Gavin O’Beirne, Gerry Lee, Daniel Mullins and Gary Seery the pick of the visitors, but the man of the match award went to Tullamore’s outstanding young defender Aaron Murtagh.

Tullamore : Martin Cunningham, Aaron Murtagh, Stuart Kavanagh, Brian Francis, Michael Kenaney, Keith O’Connor, Trevor Moylan, Fergal Gorman, Ross Whittaker, Trevor Francis and Alan Murray.

Subs : Stephen Francis, Jason Pohl and Colm McKenna.

Polikoff Cup 1st Round

Tullamore Town  2   Blackrock College 1 (aet)

Tullamore advanced to the 2nd Round of the Polikoff Cup with this hard earned win over

Blackrock College last Friday in Leah Victoria Park. Despite dominating proceedings for long periods they had to wait until extra time to secure their place in the next stage. Starting with a very experienced side which saw the welcome return of Trevor Moylan after a six month absence they were quickly into the attack with Jason Pohl and Trevor Francis looking particularly dangerous in the opening period. With the impressive College defence holding firm the home side were rocked back on their heels in the twenty fifth minute when their centre forward picked the ball up thirty yards out and crashed a superb drive into the back of the net. Tullamore continued to play measured football but half time arrived with the score remaining 1-0 in the visitors favour.

Early in the second half manager Kevin O’Connor began to ring the changes with Enda Carroll and Gary Buckley coming on as Tullamore tightened their grip on the game. The equaliser duly arrived on sixty five minutes when Ken Doyle received the ball on the edge of the area and clipped a lovely pass into the path of Keith O’Connor who controlled it before sweeping the ball into the bottom left hand corner for a fine goal. With the home side now rampant Gary Buckley saw his effort come back off the crossbar as the College keeper was forced into a number of fine saves to keep his side in the game. With five minutes remaining Tullamore found themselves reduced to ten men with the dismissal of Jason Pohl as the game drifted into extra time. Despite their numerical disadvantage they continued to pile forward and seven minutes into extra time they hit the front for the first time, and it was worth the wait. Full back David Gorman picked the ball up in his own half and went on a surging run that carried him through the Blackrock defence before drilling his shot into the back of the net from the edge of the area for a memorable goal. Tullamore nearly increased their lead when Enda Carroll played a great ball through to Gary Buckley but his fine effort came back off the post and was cleared as the home side ran out deserving winners.

Tullamore : Martin Cunningham, David Gorman, Ken Doyle, Shane Colsh, Stuart Kavanagh, Terry Hilliard, Trevor Moylan, Keith O’Connor, Fergal Gorman, Trevor Francis and Jason Pohl. Subs : , Enda Carroll and Gary Buckley.

 

 

Leinster Senior League

Tullamore Town 2 Alpine Express 1

Tullamore’s Jekyll and Hyde season continued on its merry way in Leah Victoria Park last Friday evening. Thankfully it was the good doctor who was in evidence as they bounced back from successive defeats to produce a superb attacking performance to edge out a tough tackling Alpine side. Within five minutes of the start they had taken the lead with a wonderful sweeping move involving no less than six players. David Gorman gathered the ball from a Martin Cunningham throw out and exchanged passes with Keith O’Connor before playing it down the left wing to Jason Pohl who cut inside and picked out Gary Buckley who laid it back for Trevor Francis who rifled it into the top right hand corner for a wonderful goal. Building on this great start lovely play by Buckley nearly played in Pohl and then Terry Hilliard picked out Aaron Murtagh but Mataizu Bella parried his fine effort and as the ball broke free Murtagh delivered a fine ball into Pohl but his effort was too high. Pohl then turned provider when following good play the ball broke to Francis on the edge of the area with Bella doing well to block his stinging shot. With the youthful partnership of Gary Buckley and Enda Carroll pulling the strings in midfield Tullamore began to dictate the pace of the game but with forty minutes on the clock the visitors had good reason to feel aggrieved when Cunningham misjudged a spinning ball and as it bounced over him it appeared to cross the line before he managed to scoop it clear with the referee waving play on. As so often happens in these situations Town went straight down the other end of the pitch and scored when Trevor Francis got on the end of a great cross ball from Jason Pohl and as the keeper advanced he guided a lovely shot around him and into the far corner of the net. They again threatened when Keith O’Connor put Gary Buckley through but Patrick Gilsenan got back to knock the ball out for a corner and from the resultant kick Buckley flashed his shot inches outside the far post. David Gorman then played a great ball through to Francis but he was crowded out. With minutes remaining in the first half Martin Cunningham had to be smartly down to his right to tip a blistering free kick from Aaron Burdis around the post and when the corner was swung over Dan O’Reilly fired home from close range to leave the score 2-1 at the interval.

Tullamore began the second half brightly with Enda Carroll bursting through before losing control of the ball and he again threatened when he got on the end of a fine through ball from Shane Colsh but Mataizu Bella was quickly off his line to clear. As they continued to press good play on the right by Jason Pohl sent Aaron Murtagh clear with his goal bound effort being deflected for a corner and Murtagh then turned provider when he picked out Trevor Francis but his twenty yard effort was too high. Francis then played in Pohl but again the keeper was quickly out to clear while at the other end Martin Cunninham did well to gather a through ball from Stephen Kavanagh with Dan O’Reilly bearing down on him. Pohl was again in the thick of the action when he played a clever ball through to O’Connor with Patrick Gilsenan getting back to knock the ball out for a corner. With seventy five minutes on the clock Alpine nearly equalised when the home defence failed to deal with a high cross from the right with the ball coming back off the upright while at the other end Tullamore repeated the trick when Buckley and Pohl exchanged passes before Buckley crashed his effort off the angle of bar and post. They nearly increased their lead when a tremendous left wing run by Keith O’Connor carried him past three tackles before being taken down on the edge of the area and then Buckley sent Pohl clear only for Martin Gouldsbury to fling himself in the path of his goal bound effort to prevent a certain score as the home side ran out narrow but deserving winners.

With a back four that qualify for free travel and a midfield that have yet to be given the key to the front door, manager Kevin O’Connor has skilfully cobbled together a highly effective mix of youth and experience that should stand them in good stead over the coming months..

For the home side there were outstanding performances from Trevor Francis, Gary Buckley, Jason Pohl and Aaron Murtagh with Patrick Gilsenan, Stephen Kavanagh and Aaron Burdis the pick of the visitors but the man of the match award went to Tullamore’s precocious midfielder Enda Carroll.

Tullamore : Martin Cunningham, Stuart Kavanagh, Terry Hilliard, Shane Colsh, David Gorman, Aaron Murtagh, Gary Buckley, Enda Carroll, Keith O’Connor, Jason Pohl and Trevor Francis.

Subs : Michael Galvin, Cian McMahon, Niall McKenna, Justin O’Brien and Leon Dunne.

 

Leinster Senior League

Quay Celtic 6 Tullamore Town 1

Following on their great start to the season high flying Tullamore were brought crashing down to earth last Sunday when they made the long trip to Dundalk. Playing against a young talented side they started brightly with Martin Lowry firing inches wide but with five minutes gone they found themselves a goal down. Lowry nearly equalised minutes later but the Quay Celtic keeper did well to keep his shot out and within another five minutes the home side had increased their lead. Things got progressively worse when on the quarter hour Shane Colsh was adjudged to have been the last man back when he fouled the Celtic centre forward and was red carded. With manager Kevin O’Connor regrouping his forces they held out until the thirtieth minute when they fell further behind with the score remaining at 3-0 up to the interval.

Showing tremendous resolve Town fought their way back into the game and were rewarded on the hour when Jason Pohl crossed from the right and Trevor Francis got between the two centre backs to send a great header into the back of the net. As they continued to press Pohl went close when he broke through the middle but was crowded out and with a quarter of an hour remaining the home side put the game beyond reach with a fine goal. As the visitors ran out of steam Celtic added two more goals in the last ten minutes to run out comfortable winners.

Tullamore will be hoping for an early return of their prolific centre forward Francis Kerrigan who is currently sidelined through injury as they look to rebuild confidence after this comprehensive defeat.

Tullamore : Martin Cunningham, Stuart Kavanagh, Shane Colsh, Ken Doyle, David Gorman, Keith O’Connor, Anthony Heffernan, Jason Pohl, Jason Tyrell, Martin Lowry and Trevor Francis.

Subs : Seamus McEvoy and Martin Ward (both used).

Leinster Senior League

Tullamore Town 6 Rosemount Mulvey 1

Tullamore made it ten goals in their opening two games with another swash buckling performance as they swept aside their Dublin opponents in Leah Victoria Park last Friday. They started brightly playing a lovely brand of football that saw them on top in the first fifteen minutes without managing to create any clear cut chances. Indeed the visitors were first to threaten and were only prevented from taking the lead following a free kick by a wonderful double save from Martin Cunningham. Town then took complete control of the game with an amazing five minute hat-trick from in form striker Francis Kerrigan. The first came on twenty minutes when he got on the end of a great Trevor Francis through ball to blast past the Rosemount keeper and while the crowd were still celebrating he added to his tally with a superb volley from the edge of the area with Francis again the provider. Within minutes he had completed his hat-trick when he outpaced the defence to send a lovely lob over the advancing keeper to put his side three up. With forty minutes on the clock Kerrigan again went close but was denied by a fine save from the Rosemount keeper and then on the stroke of half time the visitors had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for off-side as the first half ended with the home side three goals to the good.

On the resumption Rosemount tried manfully to get back in the game but on fifty five minutes whatever hope they had evaporated when they were reduced to ten men following a striking incident. With Enda Carroll and David McMahon being introduced Tullamore continued to press and went further ahead when, following a fine jinking run by McMahon, Carroll confidently swept the ball past the keeper for goal number four. Jason Pohl then sent a fine effort inches wide but with seventy minutes on the clock the prolific Francis Kerrigan broke clear in the inside right channel before rifling the ball into the far corner for his fourth goal of the game and his sixth in two matches. To their great credit Rosemount never gave up on the game and were rewarded with a consolation score in the eighty second minute when a cross from the right eluded the defence and nestled in the far corner of the net. But Town were to have the last word when with minutes remaining Enda Carroll made it six with a fine individual goal when he picked the ball up on the edge of the area and cleverly beat his marker before firing home.

In what was a fine team performance there were outstanding contributions from Shane Colsh, Jason Pohl and Enda Carroll but the man of the match award went to Town’s four goal centre forward Francis Kerrigan.

Despite his team’s sensational start to the season manager Kevin O’Connor will be mindful of the fact that there will be tougher games ahead, but for the moment it is very much a case of so far so good.

Tullamore : Martin Cunningham, Stuart Kavanagh, Shane Colsh, Ken Doyle, David Gorman, Stephen Murray, Keith O’Connor, Jason Pohl, Trevor Francis, Jason Tyrell and Francis Kerrigan.

Subs : Enda Carroll, David McMahon, Anthony Heffernan, Martin Ward, Seamus McEvoy, Pat McCarthy and and Seun Akinboda.

Leinster Senior League

 

Tullamore Town 4 Bath Markievicz 1

Tullamore got their season underway with this hugely impressive performance against Dublin side Bath Markievicz in Leah Victoria Park last Friday. While the result was not a surprise the manner in which it was achieved certainly was as they displayed an inventiveness and attacking flair that would have done the first team proud. From the start the game ebbed and flowed with Town the first to threaten when Jason Pohl sent Francis Kerrigan clear on the left and his dangerous cross just missed out Keith O’Connor at the far post while at the other end Paul Plummer headed narrowly wide from a free kick. With ten minutes on the clock the home side nearly went ahead when a Jason Tyrell cross was knocked out to Trevor Francis and from fully forty yards he volleyed the ball inches wide with the keeper stranded. Bath had a real chance to open their account minutes later when Plummer picked the ball up in the area but he screwed his shot outside the far post and then Jason Pohl played a great ball inside to O’Connor but his fine cross eluded everyone. With Shane Colsh marshalling his defence to great effect chances were at a premium for the visitors and as Tullamore continued to press Trevor Francis got on the end of a back pass but the keeper was quickly off his line to clear. Minutes later Pohl picked out Kerrigan in the area but he failed to get enough power on his header and they again went close when Stephen Murray played a great ball through to Kerrigan whose vicious cross shot was superbly saved. Kerrigan then turned provider as he sent O’Connor clear on the right and his cross picked out Tyrell but his glancing header went wide and minutes later Kerrigan bustled his way through the visitors defence before firing past the far post. They should have taken the lead on forty minutes when Keith O’Connor intercepted a back pass but with only the keeper to beat he delayed his shot and the danger was cleared. Stuart Kavanagh then sent Murray clear on the right and his dangerous cross was knocked out for a corner and from the resultant kick Kerrigan brought a fine save from the keeper. With minutes remaining in the first half Trevor Francis picked out O’Connor at the far post but his shot was taken off the line as a frustrated Town and a relieved Bath headed for the dressing rooms.

With Enda Carroll and Martin Ward being introduced at half time Tullamore looked to pick up where they had left off but they were nearly knocked back on their heels when the ball was laid back to Daniel McGarry and his fine shot was brilliantly saved by Martin Cunningham down low to his right while at the other end Carroll nearly made an immediate impact when he intercepted a back pass but the keeper saved well. The break through finally arrived on fifty five minutes when Keith O’Connor pounced on a defensive mix up to expertly place the ball in the right hand corner of the net. As they looked to build on their lead Francis Kerrigan sent Jason Tyrell clear on the left and he picked out O’Connor at the far post but his header was well saved and then David Gorman played a great ball through to Jason Pohl but again the keeper saved. With sixty five minutes gone the home side increased their lead in spectacular fashion when following a corner Ken Doyle saw his effort cleared off the line and as the ball was hacked clear Jason Pohl sent a thirty yard rocket into the left hand corner of the net for a superb goal. As Bath looked to get back in the game Shane Staines broke clear on the right but his effort was too high while at the other end Martin Ward went close when he lifted his shot over the keeper but the ball just drifted outside the far post. The visitors again threatened when Daniel McGarry picked out James Meirs on the right but his searching cross was cut out by Cunningham. With Seamus McEvoy coming on Town continued to pile forward and with sixty five minutes on the clock they went further ahead when Enda Carroll played a wonderful ball through to Francis Kerrigan in the inside right channel and the big bustling centre forward took it in his stride before blasting it into the bottom left hand corner. Keith O’Connor then brought a fine save from the keeper before Kerrigan topped off a great individual performance when he got on the end of a lovely flick on from Martin Ward and crashed the ball into the roof of the net. With minutes remaining the visitors got on the score sheet when referee Columba McDermott spotted an infringement in the area and awarded a penalty and David Marron drove the spot kick into the bottom left hand corner to leave the final score 4-1 in the home sides favour.

This was the start that manager Kevin O’Connor and coach Tony Albin would have been hoping for and while the forwards will take all the plaudits it was founded on the defensive qualities of their very experienced back four. With so many fine contributions it is difficult to single anyone out but the performances of Francis Kerrigan and Jason Pohl are worthy of special mention.

Tullamore : Martin Cunningham, Stuart Kavanagh, Shane Colsh, Ken Doyle, David Gorman, Keith O’Connor, Stephen Murray, Jason Pohl, Jason Tyrell, Trevor Francis and Francis Kerrigan.

Subs : Enda Carroll, Martin Ward, Seamus McEvoy, Seun Akinboda, Pat McCarthy and David McMahon.