Geoffery Sheridan wins with IT Tralee

Congrats to Geoffry Sheridan and the IT Tralee Freshers team on winning the Division 2 final last week. A match report follows:

Sometimes football can be rewarding, very rewarding. That was the only message that the ITT management could claim of their Football Fresher Charges, who were victorious in the final of their All-Ireland Division 2 league against St. Pats College Dublin. Despite having a strong wind in the first half and a four point advantage at half time, the Tralee side withstood a titanic comeback from the Dublin outfit, before winning by a solitary point.

Played on Thursday last, February 03rd in Templetouhy, Co. Tipperary, I. T. Tralee faced a much-fancied St. Pats outfit. The Tralee men raced into an early three point to one lead, aided by a strong wind, with points for Tralee coming from Jamie Lee, Barry O Hare and Neil Heffernan. Having settled the better after fifteen minutes St. Pats took command of the midfield battle with three quick points to lead (4-3) and with their inside forward line enjoying much possession, a tough day was in store for the boys from the Kingdom. Shane Carroll was full of running in the Tralee half forward line throughout. A rest bite was much needed when I. T. Tralee midfielder Darren Tiernan made an inspirational run and side stepped the Pats keeper for the first major of the day. Tight marking from both sides for the remainder of the half was the order of the day as would be expected in tight championship battles and John Mitchels man John Horgan revelled in this quarter with a free license to roam the middle third of the pitch. The introduction on 22 minutes of Cork U-21 Rory O Connor and Leitrim Senior Aaron Hickey on the left flank opened up a new dimension of play for the Tralee team with quick movement play for the remainder of the game. Gene Casey and especially Barry O Hare were running at the St. Pats half back line and both registered just rewards with a point each. With half time approaching, St. Pats managed to tag on another point.

Half time: IT Tralee 1-06 St. Pats 0-05 I.T. Tralee management team of Jim Morris, Gene O Donnell and Mark Bourke faced the task of lifting their troops at half time facing into a stiff wind and a St. Pats team probably not playing to their full potential in the first half. Having made the positional and personnel changes they deemed necessary, they sent their side out with the half time talk still ringing in their ears. The deployment of Ian Corbett to sit between the full back and the half back created extra assurance, however the unidentified threat of St. pats corner forward was unleashed by a blistering run and penalty award which Paul O Sullivan had no chance. Tralee responded immediately, with a sixty metre run by Rory O Connor and a blistering shot to the roof of the net. Immediately Tralee regained the resultant kick out and corner forward Barry O Hare also went on a solo mission and finished sublimely giving the Pats keeper no chance (3-06, 1-05).

Tralee assumed total control of the contest. Rory Deane was in inspired form, as he added a point following good work from Rory O Connor. Heffernan and O Hare were next to add their names to the score sheet, both getting fine scores from play. Carroll followed suit, with strong-running from the Kerry U-21 man. With the momentum fully behind Tralee, St. Pats, were beginning to feel the game slipping threw the kitchen sink at the Tralee team. Introducing Mayo senior Cian O Connor with fifteen minutes remaining. The Tralee side kept him quite for a period of time but skill and pedigree always shows and he turned the game on its head. Heading into the last nine minutes St. Pats worked the ball to Tralee’s 45 and O Connor almost single handed took on the entire defence and finished with a rasper to the back of the net. The tireless running by Geoffrey Sheridan, Michael Mulcahy and Denis O Regan in the I.T. backline began to show and wave after wave of St. Pats attacks rewarded them with a point and another cracking goal from 20 yards out to leave three between the sides with four minute remaining.

Tralee needed big men to stand up and non-other than Beaver, O Connor, Tirenan, O Carroll and the finish of a fisted pint from Rory Deane ensured a two score game going into injury time. Even with the fresh legs of Anthony Kennedy, the Tralee side could not stop Cian O Connor from turning and scoring their fourth goal with military precision to leave the minimum between the sides. On the kick-out the referee blew his whistle for the final time and the celebrations began for the Tralee Fresher footballers, one to twenty nine plus the management team, can be rightly proud of their achievements this year. Sometimes football can be rewarding, very rewarding. Full time: Tralee IT 3-10, St. Pats Training College 4-06 Man of the Match: Full back and captain David Larkin was an inspiration to anyone who plays football for his skill, agility, pace, commitment and heart to every ball – well done David.

Scorers: Barry O Hare (1-3), Neil Heffernan (0-3), Darren Tiernan (1-0), Rory O Connor (1-0), Rory Deane (0-2), Gene Casey (0-1), Jamie Lee (0-1).

Panel: Paul O Sullivan (Churchill), Michael Mulcahy (Limerick), David Larkin (Wexford), John Horgan (John MItchels), Geoffery Sheridan (Mayo), Denis O Regan (Cork), Stan Lineen (Clare), Rory Deane (Cork), Darren Tiernan (Cavan), Jamie Lee (Limerick), Shane Carroll (Austin Stacks), Gene Casey (Cork), Ian Corbett (Limerick), Neil Heffernan (Meath), Barry O Hare (Louth), Subs: Rory O Connor (Cork), Aaron Hickey (Leitrim), Anthony Kennedy (Listry), Hayden Fitzgerald (John Mitchels), Stephen Roche (Milltown/Castlemaine), John Blake (Beale), Colm Breen (Templenoe), Paul Crowley (Cork), Christopher Flanagan (Roscommon), Aaron Kyles (Donegal), Adam Lee (Kildare), Cillian Murphy (Carlow), Jonathon Parkinson (Wexford), Brian Walsh (Wexford), Frank O Leary (Gneeveguilla).