Tulsk Lord Edwards defeated Boyle by a single point in the first round of the Roscommon Division 2 Minor Football League at Tulsk today, Sunday, 17 February 2019. Final score: Tulsk 3-10; Boyle 1-15.
The game was played in blustery, sunny conditions. There was a heavy sward on the pitch and this, combined with overnight rain made underfoot conditions heavy.
Tulsk opened the scoring with a point from Dylan Gaughan on 5 minutes. Daire Cregg opened for Boyle with a well-taken goal on a tight angle on 8 minutes. Boyle pushed on with points from Tiernan Henry (2), Daire Cregg (3), Cathal Feely and Oisin Sheerin. Aaron Usher and Timmy Fitzmaurice scored points for Tulsk to leave it Tulsk 0-3, Boyle 1-6 with 25 minutes gone. A strong breeze and good defensive work from Boyle kept Tulsk at bay for long periods of the first half.
In the last five minutes of the first half, points from Tulsk men Sean Martin, Dylan Gaughan, (2), Timmy Fitzmaurice, and a goal from Gaughan helped Tulsk get into the game. During this period, Daire Cregg missed a goal chance, but points from Oisin Sheerin and Tiernan Henry kept Boyle ahead to lead 1-8 to 1-6 at the break.
Cathal Feely for Boyle got the first score after the break with a fine outfield point. Timmy Fitzmaurice pointed for Tulsk in the next play. Shortly after, Boyle were awarded a penalty but Henry’s effort was saved in a good goalkeeping display by Tulsk goalkeeper Kieran Westerberg. Keith Jennings of Tulsk got the best score of the game with a fine long-range point. Boyle kept ahead with two points in quick succession from Cregg and Henry. Tulsk scored a point from a 45 and followed up with a goal from Fitzmaurice to make it level with 48 minutes gone.
Boyle played into the breeze in the second half and were now beginning to come under pressure. Boyle responded with points from Henry (2) and Coyle, but Tulsk pounced late with a fine goal from Daniel Connolly to go one point ahead in the last minute of the game.
All in all this was an excellent game with good skill and pace on display from both teams, with many players from both sides contributing scores.
Referee: G Carmody.
Tulsk: K Westerberg, E Farrell, C Feeney, J Brady, K Jennings (0-1), A Glynn, D Gaughan (1-2), D Connolly (1-1), A Usher (0-1), S Martin (0-2), C Galvin, T Fitzmaurice (1-3), K Crann, A Crann.
Boyle: L McKeon, D Valentine, J Coyle (0-1), S O’Dowd-Hayden, A O’Connor, K Byrne, C McPherson (0-1), T Henry (0-5), C Feely (0-2), S O’Connor, O Sheerin (0-2), D Cregg (1-4), D Duggan.
