01-05-2016
Knocknagoshel
1-12
Tousist
1-11
It may have been the
first day of summer, but as the rain bucketed down here prior to throw in, one
could be forgiven for wondering what season had arrived. Credit then to both sides for serving up a
wholehearted encounter, which may have lacked quality at times, but was in the
balance right to the end.
Knocknagoshel’s James Walsh
would finish the game with a personal tally of 1-06 and was the go to man at
all times for the home side. Midfielder
Flor O’Sullivan and full forward Michael Tim O’Sullivan were to the fore for
the visitors with the latter in particular causing numerous problems for the home
defence and finishing with an impressive haul himself of 1-08.
Walsh and O’Sullivan
exchanged points in the early stages before Knocknagoshel were awarded a
penalty when wing forward Niall Barrett was hauled back. Walsh converted despite the best efforts of
keeper Peter Healy and the home side led by three with eight minutes on the
clock.
Tousist’s wide tally was
beginning to mount before O’Sullivan and wing forward Marcus McNally slotted
over and the visitor’s were now settling to the task at hand. Knock wing back Denis Collins, helping out his
attack, pointed before O’Sullivan again showed his quality, showing, dummying
and slotting over to leave the minimum between the sides after 21 minutes.
Barrett again
responded for Knocknagoshel before Tousist hit a purple patch and scored four
unanswered points through wing back Ryan Fitzpatrick, Flor O’Sullivan and two
from full forward O’Sullivan to leave the away side two points to the good at
the half time break, 1-04 to 0-09.
Tousist started the
second half on the front foot and dangerman O’Sullivan had them three points up
by the 35th minute. But then
Knocknagoshel seemed to awake from their slumber. Driven on by Walsh, who was by now operating
around the middle, and ably assisted by his younger brother Michael, they
slowly began to gain the upper hand as the Tousist challenge seemed to run out
of steam.
Corner forward John O’Keeffe
and Walsh reduced the gap to the minimum before Tousist had Michael Pat
O’Sullivan black carded for a high challenge as their frustrations grew. Michael Walsh levelled and then brother James
again and wing back Collins extended the lead to two by the 46th
minute and Knocknagoshel seemed to be driving for home.
Or so we thought. O’Sullivan as ever was cool as ice to slot
the ball home from a rare Tousist attack and now they led by one with ten
minutes to go.
Knocknagoshel now
needed leaders to stand up and credit to Walsh who showed continuously, and
after tying up the game in the 52nd minute, it was fitting that he
had the final say when kicking what turned out to be the winner in the 56th
minute as they kept Tousist at bay in the final moments.
Knocknagoshel manager
Pat O’Shea was high in his praise after “it was a big turnaround, we were
beaten by them in County League recently, we changed the team around and got a
performance today”
.
Man of the Match: James Walsh, Knocknagoshel
Teams & Scorers:
Knocknagoshel: Aidan Walsh, Mike Murphy, John Brosnan, Denis
Collins, Padraig Reidy (0-2), Michael Walsh (0-1), Cillian O’Connor, Darragh
O’Connell, Mike Brosnan (c), Darragh O’Connell, James Walsh (1-06, 1f, 1 pen),
Niall Barrett (0-2), John O’Keefe (0-1), Conor Sheehan, David O’Donoghue
Substitutes: Richie Cotter for D. O’Connell, 56 Daniel Leahy for D. O’Donoghue, 58
Tousist: Peter Healy, Conor Harrington, Morgan O’Sullivan, Michael Healy, Dan
Hawker, Liam O’Shea, Ryan Fitzpatrick (0-1), Flor O’Sullivan (0-1), Peter
O’Shea, Marcus McNally (0-1), Daniel O’Shea, Colm Brosnan, Sean Healy, Michael
Tim O’Sullivan (c) (1-8, 5f), Michael Pat O’Sullivan
Substitutes: Sean Daly for M.P. O’Sullivan, 41 Danny O’Shea for S. Healy, 45
Referee: James O’Sullivan, Firies
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