Dillon goals decisive as determined Milltown secure win

Tubberclair lost their one hundred percent record when they were surprisingly beaten by Milltown in Páirc Chiaráin, Athlone last Sunday afternoon.

In spite of being under pressure for much of the first half, Milltown still carried a four point advantage into the break. The lead eventually stretched to six points by the final whistle as Tubberclair suffered their first defeat of the championship.

Due to lengthy stoppages for injuries, the first half eventually stretched to 40 minutes with just a single score being recorded in the opening quarter. The stop-start nature of the half did not allow either team to settle into a routine. Tubberclair went in front after 14 minutes with an Oisin O’Meara point. They were only to add one more point though to their tally in a disappointing opening half. Daire Hynes fisted Milltown level and Conor Dillon then put the Rathconrath team ahead. It was a lead that Milltown would not surrender.

O’Meara levelled matters with a free from the right but four unanswered points from then until half time had Milltown ahead at the break by 0-6 to 0-2.

As the game headed into the ten additional minutes, two points from Hynes and one apiece from Jack Duncan and Ben McGauran had Tubberclair in trouble. The table toppers did not help their cause with a wide count which eventually went well into double figures. Just a single point from play in the half was also a contributory factor in the surprise defeat. Milltown held the lead but knew there would be a comeback brewing from Tubberclair as they headed off for half time. Manager Martin McCabe must have wondered however how his team did not have more to show for their efforts other than two points.

Tubberclair needed a response when play resumed but instead found themselves further in arrears. Milltown raised the first green flag just three minutes in. A good run from Conor Dillon saw the midfielder fire a shot to the net. A long ball forward had unhinged the Tubberclair defence leaving goalkeeper Kevin Fagan exposed. Neil Kenny pointed for Tubberclair moments later, but Milltown soon stretched their lead to nine points as the third quarter drew to a close.

Hynes, Matthew Gunning and McGauran all popped over points from play. Tom Kelleher recorded a good score to reduce the deficit and first half substitute Matthew Whittaker gave Tubberclair more hope with another point. Milltown though struck again for a goal after 19 minutes as Duncan raised the green flag to leave it 2-9 to 0-5. In spite of being under pressure, Tubberclair refused to be beaten and revived their fortunes with a goal and two points in a good five minute spell.

Kenny grabbed a goal and a point with Tom Kelleher also pointing to leave just five points between the teams heading into the closing stages. There was a let off for Milltown after Kelleher’s score as Rory Delaney fired a shot off the post. Amazingly, Milltown’s next score was again a three pointer as the Tubberclair comeback was halted in spectacular fashion. Conor Dillon again finding the net to leave it 3-9 to 1-7 heading into the last minute. A further point from top scorer Dillon on the stroke of full time gave Milltown more breathing space but it proved to be the eventual winner’s last score of the contest. The lead proved sufficient, though.

Tubberclair needed goals in the five additional minutes but had to settle for three Whittaker points instead. Milltown had built up enough of a lead by this stage to be able to weather any storm. A 3-10 to 1-10 victory will give them confidence heading into the final group fixture with Tubberclair receiving a severe wake up call before the critical knock-out stages of the championship commences.

SCORERS - MILLTOWN: C Dillon 2-2; J Duncan 1-1; D Hynes 0-4; B McGauran 0-2 (0-1 free); M Gunning 0-1.

TUBBERCLAIR: N Kenny 1-2; M Whittaker 0-4; O O’Meara 0-2 (0-1 free); T Kelleher 0-2.

TUBBERCLAIR: Kevin Fagan, Niall Walker, Cathal Tighe, Tom Kelleher, James Madden, Jason McHugh, Charlie Kennedy, David Fagan, Rory Delaney, Gavin Delaney, Neil Kenny, Stephen McGonagle, Fred Kelleher, Oisin O’Meara, Eoghan McCabe. Subs: Matthew Whittaker for F Kelleher (22m); James Clarke and Conor Elliott for Walker and Kennedy (38); Robbie Curley for D Fagan (42); Sean McGrane for Madden (52).

MILLTOWN: Alan Geraghty, Gary Byrne, Bernard Kiernan, Diarmuid Maguire, Sean Somers, Frank McLoughlin, Matthew Gunning, Jack Murtagh, Conor Dillon, Thomas Lynn, Ben McGauran, Luke Gunning, Jack Duncan, Daire Hynes, Sean Dillon. Subs: Nathan Dillon Creagh for McLoughlin (11); Wayne Smith for Dillon Creagh (50); Anders Kieran for M Gunning (59); John Mulvaney for Duncan (60); Damien Byrne for Geraghty (60).

REFEREE: Barry Kelly (Mullingar Shamrocks).