Senior pedigree the key as Tara march on in Regional FC

Tara 1-1-10 (15)

An Tuaisceart 0-1-11 (13)

After maintaining their 100% record Tara were assured of a final spot by virtue of the outcome of the second game in the Regional FC at Devenish Park, Dunganny on Sunday.

Being able to call on so many players from senior clubs probably helped sway the game in favour of Davy Nelson’s side but full credit to An Tuaisceart who put behind them a sluggish start to contribute to a competitive outing.

An Tuaisceart recovered from a five point deficit to lead by two entering the final quarter but the greater experience that players from Dunshaughlin, Skryne and Ratoath brought to the table proved decisive in a closely contested finale.

Tara weren’t always prolific with their finishing, they dropped numerous efforts short of the target and were also wayward at times, but in Aaron Murphy and Adam Quinn they had two players who could hit the target with regularity. Former county player Joey Wallace who didn’t see a lot of action with Ratoath earlier in the year also showed plenty of craft and clipped over two points after coming on as a second half sub.

Tara lost Fursey Blake to injury after just eight minutes but they made a flying start to proceedings and led 0-4 to 0-1 after just 14 minutes and had extended it to 0-6 to 0-1 by the 23rd minute. However for all their early promise they lost their way for a spell approaching half-time and were forced to settle for a 0-6 apiece scoreline at the break.Dunshaughlin’s Aaron Murphy hit three points in that opening half while Adam Quinn (two) and Con Smith were also on target.

An Tuaisceart, who finished the half with five unanswered points in a seven minute spell, had a two-point free from Oisin McDermott while Rian Stafford, Hughie Corcoran, substitute Sean Reilly and Daire Shine also accounted for points.

That half-time break probably came at the wrong time for An Tuaisceart as it broke their momentum briefly and they found themselves in arrears within two minutes of the restart after Conor McEntee blasted to the net from close range following a well executed move.

Rian Stafford replied with a point from a free and then converted two further frees after 'keeper Adam McDermott had been penalised twice in the space of 60 seconds. That trio of points from the Kilmainhamwood marksman left it level and An Tuaisceart led for the first time since the opening minutes after Michael Gavin pointed. Paul Hennessy doubled their lead but the men from north Meath then went 17 minutes without a score as Tara wrestled back control.

An excellent two-pointer from Adam Quinn had it back level on 46 minutes and 'keeper McDermott failed twice from a retaken two-point free before Joey Wallace edged his side ahead on 50 minutes. A couple of efforts to increase that lead fell short of the target before Darragh Campion pointed to leave it 1-10 to 0-11.

Aaron Murphy left three between the sides’ after McDermott made a fine save from a Stafford goal effort. Stafford’s fifth point on the hour mark gave An Tuaisceart a chance but Joey Wallace’s second point pushed it out again before Eoin Briody pointed in the games’ final action.

Tara: Adam McDermott (Dunshaughlin); Fursey Blake (Dunshaughlin), Liam Kelly (Ratoath), Ciaran McCarrick (Dunshaughlin); Cormac Smith (Clann na nGael), Jared Rushe (Dunshaughlin), John Finnerty (Skryne); Evan Coffey (O’Mahonys), Conor McEntee (Walterstown 1-0); Shane Smyth (Skryne), Darragh Campion (Skryne 0-1), Seán Óg Tiernan (Clann na nGael); Con Smith (Bective 0-1 free), Adam Quinn (Walterstown 0-4 one two-pointer), Aaron Murphy (Dunshaughlin 0-4). Subs: Seán Betson (O’Mahonys) for Blake 8m, John McDonagh (Dunshaughlin) for Tiernan half-time, Joey Wallace (Ratoath 0-2) for Con Smith 40m, Harry Smith (Bective) for Cormac Smith 42m, Cormac Nugent (O’Mahonys) for Coffey 50m.

An Tuaisceart: Oisin McDermott (Ballinlough 0-2 two-point free); Dylan Garrigan (Oldcastle), Rian Early (Gaeil Colmcille), Brian O’Reilly (St Michael’s); Michael Flood (St Brigid’s), Michael Gavin (Simonstown 0-1), Jason Scully (Oldcastle); Oran Mulvaney (Oldcastle), Paul Hennessy (Oldcastle 0-1); Conor Óg Ferguson (Gaeil Colmcille), Daire Shine (Ballinlough 0-1), Michael Hoey (Kilmainham); Hughie Corcoran (Drumbaragh 0-1 free), Rian Stafford (Kilmainhamwood 0-5 frees), Oran Meade (Simonstown). Subs: Sean Reilly (Moylagh 0-1) for Corcoran 25m, Darren O’Higgins (Ballinlough) for Hoey, Ciaran Doyle (Kilmainhamwood) for Meade both half-time, Andrew Gormley (Gaeil Colmcille) for Ferguson 47m, Tom Shine (Ballinlough) for Reilly, Eoin Briody (Ballinlough 0-1) for O’Reilly, Gearóid O’Malley (St Michael’s) for D Shine all 59m.

Referee: Robert Purfield (St Patrick’s).