Impressive Tyrrellspass through to semi-final

Tyrrellspass 1-14The Downs 1-8Gerry BuckleyDespite only stumbling unimpressively to the quarter-final stage, Tyrrellspass showed that they are still a force in Westmeath senior football when a powerful second-half display enabled them to record a fully deserved win over The Downs in Cusack Park on Sunday evening last.The Tidy Town trailed by a goal at half-time, but with Ger Egan in particular coming to life on the change of ends, Frank Ryan's charges took control in the second moiety to advance to a penultimate round clash with reigning champions Garrycastle.With Egan accounting for 1-2 from play and veteran forward Martin Flanagan showing his prowess as a freetaker from the ground, the men in sky blue and navy ultimately proved way too strong for The Downs and in the end they were full value for their six-point winning margin.A bigger crowd showed up for the second quarter-final than for the curtain-raiser, in anticipation of a ding-dong struggle with a coveted prize of a slot in the last four of the Flanagan Cup.The winners started the better and, after Denis Glennon dropped his first shot short, the Westmeath captain set up his former inter-county colleague Martin Flanagan for a delightful point in the fifth minute.A minute later, Dean McNicholas doubled the Tyrrellspass lead with a very well-taken point from a tight angle, with wing back Philip Sheridan soon adding another from almost 40 metres. However, the men in black and amber settled at this juncture and they proceeded to play terrific football as they raced into a five-point lead by the midpoint of the first half. Centre half back Ciaran Kiely joined the attack to open his side's account in style from 35 metres in the ninth minute and another point followed quickly from ace opportunist Luke Folan.Soon afterwards, Tyrrellspass should have cleared their lines, but The Downs counterattacked and midfielder Greg Crowley rounded off a fine move with a tidy low finish past Darren Quinn from ten metres. Three more points ensued with each member of the half forward line finding the target - John Smyth, Barry Conroy and Luke Folan in that order all pointing with aplomb.By now, the winners' mentors had brought Martin Flanagan back to an unfamiliar defensive role and this proved beneficial when he directed a terrific pass to Dean McNicholas who soloed goalward and duly kicked a classy point. Despite dominating the midfield exchanges, The Downs were wasteful at this juncture, while Ciaran Kiely's 'point' was disallowed for 'steps' in the 23rd minute.Sandwiched between a point apiece from John Corcoran and Denis Glennon (a marvellous score from 40 metres), Barry Conroy struck the upright from what looked like a routine free. On the stroke of 30 minutes, Luke Folan pounced for his third point to leave the scoreboard at the break reading: The Downs 1-6 Tyrrellspass 0-6.The atmosphere had been somewhat subdued in the first moiety but the game came very much to life within 15 seconds of the resumption of play when Ger Egan found the net from point-blank range, after his initial shot was smothered by Ciaran McCormack.The same player soon edged his side ahead with a point and Martin Flanagan doubled the winners' advantage in the 34th minute with a well-judged free from the ground.They should have gone further in front but Flanagan missed a scoreable free and Denis Glennon hit a poor wide from play. However, Ger Egan showed the way again with a fine point to round off a flowing move. Two more converted frees from Martin Flanagan in the 41st and 46th minutes - the second from near the 45-metre line - opened up a five point gap (1-11 to 1-6) and the same player was narrowly wide with an improvised fisted attempt for a goal at the end of Dean McNicholas cross.A trademark scything run from Denis Glennon ended with his shot going over via the upright and when Flanagan converted another free (also via the woodwork) the game was virtually up for The Downs with just seven minutes of normal time remaining.Barry Conroy then kicked the losers' first point of the second half from a 35-metre free and Luke Folan was unlucky to see his angled shot come back into play via the top of the crossbar. A cross from Noel Molloy was directed goalward by the outstretched leg of Greg Crowley but Darren Quinn gathered the ball easily, effectively ending The Downs' challenge. In the time remaining, Barry Conroy and Martin Flanagan traded point from frees, both from around 25 metres, and Conroy rounded off the action with a bad wide from open play.Competition favourites Garrycastle are aiming for a Flanagan Cup hat trick in 2011, but Anthony Cunningham's troops will undoubtedly be wary of a resurgent Tyrrellspass in the September semi-final, when the sides renew their keen rivalry from the heady days of the 'noughties'.Tyrrellspass: Darren Quinn; Eoghan O'Neill, Cathal Daly, Terence O'Brien; Philip Sheridan (0-1), Keith Scally, Jamie Gonoud; Adrian Corcoran, Gavin Hoey; Ger Egan (1-2), Denis Glennon (0-2), Dean McNicholas (0-2); John Corcoran (0-1), Brian Slevin, Martin Flanagan (0-6, 0-5 from frees). Subs: Ger O'Toole (for J.Corcoran, 46 mins), Declan Feery (for Slevin, 60 mins).The Downs: Ciaran McCormack; Jack Hogan, Mark Dalton, Ben Hogan; Declan Lynam, Ciaran Kiely (0-1), Stephen Cleary; Greg Crowley (1-0), Brendan Murtagh; Barry Conroy (0-3, 0-2 from frees), John Smyth (0-1), Luke Folan (0-3); James Conroy, Noel Molloy, Stephen Devine. Subs: David Smyth (for Devine, 44 mins), Tommy Cleary (for J.Conroy, 56 mins).Referee: Damien Maher (Ballynacargy).