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ACL Div II Clann Eireann v Tir na nOg
Date: 14 Jun 2009 / Category: Football / Views: 134
After the fine away win over Granemore which was followed by the disappointing defeat at home to Madden, Clann Eireann’s next fixture was Tir na nÓg at home. The game at the start had a bit of the déjà vu about it. The home team, as against Madden, took a while to realise that the ball had been thrown in. In fact, the first three points were landed by the visitors as they waltzed through the home defence leaving Clann Eireann trailing in their wake. Ryan eventually scored the first with a 20 metre free after 10 minutes. Tir na nÓg replied with a point to keep three in front before Ryan got his first from play, about 30 metres out. Clann Eireann were now up to speed and although still struggling around the middle, Tir na nÓg seemed to be winning all the loose ball, they were more involved and the visitors were no longer getting it all their own way. The defence had tightened up and Danny Shanks was reading the game well, was constantly in the right spot to intercept and then start an attack. The match at this stage was pretty even with both teams looking to gain the advantage, this was to fall to the homesters. Centre-half forward Conor McKavanagh(Scud) gathered the ball from Declan, on the stand side. He then ran 50 metres, selling a few dummy passes on the way, before he released the ball to Ryan who was coming through the centre and who promptly crashed the ball to the back of the net. Clann Eireann were now in the ascendancy, Ryan pointed another and Scud scored the fourth point before Tir na nÓg replied with a point of their own. The last five minutes of the half belonged to Clann Eireann as Scud’s brother Daniel helped himself to a fine point before Ryan lobbed over a great score from 30 metres out on the left touchline, to leave the score at
Half time: Clann Eireann 1 – 6 Tir na n Óg 0 – 5
The second half began during the remnants of a downpour. Both teams were instantly soaked and both sets of players found it near impossible to get a hold of the ball. Tir na nÓg opened the scoring with a pointed free on 2 minutes and for the next 5 minutes or so the ball skidded around the field until it came to Ryan, way out on the right wing. He looked up and delivered a perfect pass across the front of the visitor’s goal where Conor Mc Kavanagh rose up to dispatch the ball to the net. The Portadown team added another point to their tally which was followed by a well worked point from Michael Shanks, having received a perfect lay off from the Bomber Byrnes. At this point the local boys were working really hard at keeping the scoring chances of the visitors to a minimum. Some clever kick outs from Sean, some excellent tackling from the defenders and some great catches around the middle had up to now provided the platform for the forwards to go on and win the game. However, Tir na nÓg hadn’t given up the ghost just yet and tagged on 2 more minors before Ryan, receiving the ball from James, scored his second and Clann Eireann’s third goal.
Tir na nÓg again hit back with 2 points but the game was slipping away from them and Scud notched up the final score, following a good move which included Conor Bell, Michael McConville and the evergreen James. A much better all round home performance although the slow start is still a cause for concern.
Final Score: Clann Eireann 3 – 8 Tir na nÓg 0 - 11