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Tullamore continue their great adventure

Tullamore 1-12 Clonkill 1-9: TULLAMORE QUALIFIED for the final of this year’s Leinster championship with a hard-fought three…

Mon Nov 16 2009 - 00:00

Tullamore 1-12 Clonkill 1-9:TULLAMORE QUALIFIED for the final of this year's Leinster championship with a hard-fought three-point win over a wasteful Clonkill at Cusack Park, Mullingar yesterday.

After waiting 45 years to regain their Offaly crown, this is a remarkable achievement for the team which features former All Star Kevin Martin as its player/ manager. Ironically, Martin will soon be coaching many of yesterday’s opponents, having been recently appointed as Westmeath senior manager.

However, an even more experienced team member, goalkeeper Damian Fox proved to be his side’s hero with a fabulous full-length save from Eoin Price in the dying moments of normal time, as the home side threatened an upset.

Tullamore were the better side in the first half and led 1-5 to 0-7 at the break. Their goal came in the 19th minute, former Galway underage star Francis Kerrigan pouncing on an error by Clonkill full back Adam Price to fire home.

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Shane Dooley proved to be a very consistent free-taker, while Clonkill too often took wrong options in attack.

Tullamore looked to be well in control when they led 1-11 to 0-8 with eight minutes remaining, Clonkill having recorded 13 wides.

However, Brendan Murtagh got lucky when his mishit 45-metre free squirmed past Damian Fox. Clonkill went all out for another goal and Alan Dowdall shot weakly when he looked sure to score.

Then came Fox’s brilliant save from Eoin Price, though his brother Anthony Price pointed in the follow-up. The latter got a straight red card following a melee in injury-time and the ever-reliable Shane Dooley rifled over a long-range free to seal the win.

TULLAMORE: D Fox; A Martin, C Bane, S Egan; N Mannion, B Dagg, H Treacy; J Keane, S Kelly (0-2); E Finnerty, J Duffy, G Treacy; F Kerrigan (1-1), K Martin (0-1), S Dooley (0-8, 0-7 frees, one ‘65). Sub: S Martin (for Finnerty, 50 mins).

CLONKILL: B Murray; S Cleary, A Price, M Scally; E Price (0-1), A Mitchell (0-2, two 65s), S Loughlin, F Fagan, S Power, A Dowdall, B Murtagh (1-1, frees), P Dowdall (0-2), M Heffernan, L Donoghue, L Folan (0-2). Subs: E Loughlin for Heffernan (37 mins), A Price (0-1) for Fagan (39 mins), A McGrath for Power (52 mins), C Austin (for Donoghue (60 mins).

Referee: J Owens (Wexford).

Tullamore meet Ballyhale Shamrocks in the provincial decider on November 29th.