IT Sligo
2-5, Tipperary Inst 1-10
ON a wind-swept surface, IT Sligo’s Ryan
Cup chances were blown away last Saturday afternoon.
It was
ironic that for most of this entertaining Ryan Cup first round
fixture, against Tipperary’s Institute, the Ballinode-based students
performed adequately.
Indeed, IT Sligo foraged sufficiently
during the first-half to lead at half-time (1-4 to 0-6).
Their
first goal came in the 20th minute via Seamus Carroll’s razor-like
finish after a clever flick from the team’s other corner-forward,
Richard O’Kelly, had been blocked.
Sterling defensive work from
Liam Murphy and Kieran O’Flaherty was noticeable.
Wing-forwards
Benny Lawless and Seán Chaplin were, at times, extremely
creative.
Tipperary Institute were stretched, but not
exposed.
Centre-forward Michael Hasset, the TI captain, clipped
his side’s opening point with the style of an accurate
free-taker.
An overall tally of eight points (all frees)
reflected Hasset’s ability.
Seamus Butler, wearing No. 10, began
to trouble the home side’s defence for much of the second
period.
His superb left-wing point brought equality to the
scoreboard (0-7 to 1-4) in the eighth minute of the second
period.
IT Sligo responded in the second-half but their
determination only yielded two scores in 33 minutes: a huge point
from industrious midfielder James Durkin and Seamus Carroll’s
scrambled goal (his second of the afternoon).
Carroll’s goal came
60 seconds after Durkin’s inspirational point; this vital score,
with 12 minutes of normal time remaining, pushed IT Sligo in front
(2-5 to 0-9).
But this lead proved fragile - within a minute the
visitors were a point ahead (1-9 to 2-5) when Shane Walsh’s fine
shot whizzed past IT Sligo goalkeeper David Casey.
Michael
Hasset’s eighth pointed free extended the margin to two points (1-10
to 2-5).
For the remaining 10 minutes there were no further
scores from either team although IT Sligo exerted the greater
pressure.
Kieran Flaherty and Michael Finn attempted to rally
their colleagues but the home side’s attacks, however frantic, were
fruitless.
IT Sligo’s Benny Lawless will rue several point
attempts that were close (the losers hit 13 wides).
At the other
end the upright denied certain goal chances from Michael Hasset and
Richard Crowe.
Player of the Match Michael Hasset
Institute of Technology, Sligo David Casey, Ray Richardson, Liam
Murphy, PJ Moloney, David Collery, Kieran Flaherty (0-1, 1f), Ger
O’Connor, James Durkin (0-1), Jeffrey Molloy, Seán Chaplin (0-3,
3f), Michael Finn (c), Benny Lawless, Seamus Carroll (1-0), Kenneth
Robinson, Richard O’Kelly
Subs used Ian Murphy, Eoghan
Mannion
Tipperary Institute Austin Cooney, JJ Delaney, Seamus
O’Keefe, William Carroll, Niall Dunne, Michael Costello, Derek
Breen, Louis Everard, Eamon Tuohy, Seamus Butler (0-1), Michael
Hasset (c) (0-8, 8f), Paul Ryan, Richard Crowe, Nicky Murphy (0-1),
Shane Walsh (1-0)
Sub used Aidan Dalton
Referee Pat Maguire
(Sligo)
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