Ryan to the fore as the Tidy Town claims Junior B title titlevictory

Seamus Dunne

Tyrrellspass secured the Junior B Championship with a ten point victory over Milltownpass in Rochfortbridge on Saturday.

There was just four points between the sides at half time, before Tyrrellspass showed their strength, with an early second half goal proving a key moment.

Milltownpass started the scoring on a cold afternoon in Rochfortbridge, Andy Devine pointing a free, before Tyrrellspass responded with a point from the white boots of Evan Connell.

Mill reclaimed the lead when Liam Gorman drove from midfield and split the posts, before Thomas Ryan successfully coverted a free, making it two points apiece.

Seamus Faulkner raised a white flag with an excellent outside of the boot finish for Milltownpass, before Thomas Ryan got his second point, another well taken free.

Tyrrellspass started to get the upper hand in the midfield battle with four unanswered points.

Jamie Corcoran curled over with his right foot, followed by two frees from Thomas Ryan and an Evan Connell point.

Seamus Faulkner ended the Tyrrellspass purple patch with a well taken point, to put the scoreboard 0-7 to 0-4 in favour of the Tidy Town at the water break.

As play resumed, Tyrrellspass raised the first green flag of the contest, a bad Milltownpass turnover from a line ball was seized upon, Ian Davis assisting Michael Geraghty and he found the net.

Tyrrellspass went seven points up when Evan Connell went on a mazy run before passing to Peter Pierson, who got his first point of the day.

Milltownpass needed scores and they got one back through the trusted boots of Seamus Faulkner, who converted a free for his third score of the day.

Tyrrellspass showed the strength in depth they had at their disposal when former Westmeath star Martin Flanagan came off the bench on 25 minutes, who was subsequently welcomed onto the field with a quick yellow card!

Milltownpass finished the half stronger however, two converted Andy Devine frees left the score at 1-8 to 0-7 at the half time break.

The game's key moment came minutes into the second period.

A long ball in from Jamie Corcoran found Peter Pierson, and he rounded Ruairi Coyne in the Milltownpass goal, and put the ball into the empty net.

A four point gap was now a seven point gap leaving Milltownpass with a mountain to climb, the summit further distanced by a nice left footed point from Thomas Ryan.

Milltownpass continued to battle with three points in a row, Mark Geoghegan twice placing between the posts, followed by an effort from Shane Corcoran.

Tyrrellspass responded through a Cormac Rigney point, preceding two further points from Thomas Ryan frees, leaving an eight point cushion at the second half water break.

Tyrrellspass were now dominating and they added to their lead when Cormac Rigney finished off a good move with a point, before Martin Flanagan made it look easy, effortlessly placing between the posts.

Despite the result now a formality, Milltownpass continued to attack and they won a penalty when Seamus Faulkner was adjudged to be fouled in the square.

Andy Devine stepped up and made no mistake, cutting the lead to seven, 2-14 to 1-10, with about eight mins to play.

Tyrrellspass continued to work the scoreboard operators, Thomas Ryan excellently pointing a '45', before Milltownpass got a consolation point through Mark Geoghegan.

There was still time for Tyrrellspass to get one more goal when substitutes Phelim Brady and Paddy Geraghty combined, with Geraghty fisting to the net, to round off a ten point victory for Tyrrellspass, giving them the Junior B crown.

Tyrrellspass: James Quinn; Kai Harte, Eoghan O’Neill, Sean Deegan; Shane Arthur, Seanie Bagnall, Michael Geraghty; Jamie Corcoran, Cathal Dunne; Ian Davis, Cormac Rigney, Gary Farrell; Peter Pierson, Thomas Ryan, Evan Connell. Subs used: Martin Flanagan for Ian David (24 mins), Phelim Brady for Gary Farrell (2nd half water break), Paddy Geraghty for Evan Connell (50 mins).

Milltownpass: Ruairi Coyne; Jack Gorman, David Manning, Daragh O'Connor; James Nolan, Mark Gorman, David Devine; Conor Flanagan, Liam Gorman; Eoghan Gallagher, Shane Corcoran, Oisin Coogan; Mark Geoghegan, Seamus Faulkner, Andy Devine. Subs used: Fintan O’Reilly for Oisin Coogan (35 mins), Stephen Farrell for James Nolan (42 mins), Gareth O’Connor for Jack Gorman, Wayne Boyce for Ruairi Coyne, (2nd half water break).

Tyrrellspass scorers: Thomas Ryan (1-8, 6f, 1 ‘45’), Peter Pierson (1-1), Michael Geraghty (1-0), Paddy Geraghty (1-0), Evan Connell (0-2), Cormac Rigney (0-2), Jamie Corcoran (0-1), Martin Flanagan (0-1)

Milltownpass scorers: Andy Devine (1-3, 3f) Seamus Faulkner (0-3, 1f), Mark Geoghegan (0-3), Liam Gorman (0-1), Shane Corcoran (0-1)