Club Notes: 22nd September 2020

Junior Football : Tallow 1-14 Ballyduff 1-13.

The sultriness of the day one won't have been disillusioned in thinking that the game was played in the Mediterranean rather than in the Cappoquin venue. While I and the elder statesmen of our club where struggling to adapt to the humid conditions of the day it is a credit to both set of players that they played in such warmth. The day started brightly and with Paul O'Brien fouled in the corner , Ryan pointed our first score of the day from a free after less than a minute. Ballyduff answered in kind a minute later with a point of their own. Kieran Geary did another slicer kick that guided between the left hand post for us to regain the lead after four minutes. A long delivery by Jake Beecher found Ryan Grey thirty yards from goals with his back to goal . Nice interplay with Paul O'Brien had Ryan back in possession and he arrowed the ball to the net for a great goal. A period of Ballyduff dominance over the next seven minutes saw our neighbours score four points on the bounce. We were under serve pressure in this period but Kieran Geary yet again stood up when needed. He claimed a great mark from center field and kicked into space to the on rushing evergreen Paul O'Brien . Paul cut inside and curled over a delightful point to end eight barren minutes for the Tallowmen without a score. Ryan Grey was fouled on the fifteen minute and any foul play was punished by our calm free taker. We held a two point advantage at the water break and it was safe to say at this stage there was nothing between the two teams. Any transgressions were punished by Ryan Grey who had his radar clocked on points all day. Any misdemeanors on our big beardy free taker saw him split the posts on nearly all occasions and he kept the scoreboard ticking over with another free just before half time. As the whistle blew we lead 1-6 to 7 points. It was a tough game and the searing sun had to take a lot out of the bodies. What was also noticeable was the tally of yellow cards on both sides. A lot were on the soft verify and would have a big impact in the second half .

The second half started like the first in that Paul O'Brien was fouled and Ryan Grey was unwavering in his free taking and we went a goal ahead inside a minute of the second half. We had a chaotic next ten minutes. Ballyduff were reduced to fourteen men after a second yellow card was dished out. Ryan tried an outside of boot curler which nine times out of ten he would miss but today wasn't a day that that was happening. In the next five minutes Ballyduff got the next two points and their second dismissal. Two extra men for us but we seemed totally at sea in what to do with those bodies and with a Ballyduff man upended for a penalty, they goaled and we found ourselves two points down on the water break. We needed cool heads at this stage but we seemed a little panicked. Paul O'Brien earned a hard won free, Ryan cut the gap to the minimum .and the same man levelled the game for the first time since the twelfth minute with seven minutes remaining. With three minutes to go Ballyduff had extended their lead to two points and the most pessimistic of Tallowmen or Tallowwomen won't have thought we could have scrapped something out of this. Kieran did well to win a free after some great hard work to get it . Our big man put it straight between the posts. A point in it with two minutes to go. The tension was unbearable and it was a long time since I have seen such excitement . We had to score to draw the game . There was some fierce hits going on and Jordan was fouled about 25 metres near the bank touchline. A tough free at the best of times , a very tough free at that time. Grey was undaunted and he managed to curl over a beauty to tie the game with time nearly up. The story wasn't over yet. Ballyduff won a free and thirty five yards from their goal. They played the ball back and a brilliant interception from Robbie Geary saw him gather the ball and head towards goals, his pass to Jordan who seemed to be swarmed but saw him pass to the on rushing Jake Neville and in what was one of the most dramatic endings ever Jake fisted the ball over the bar for the lead point. The whistle blew and we ended up winning .

The beauty of the win was engrained in young and old and they hollered and danced on the line at such a miraculous triumph . No one man can win a game but Tallow in Ryan Grey had a man who's dominance in a game can not be overstated.

Team: Michael Curley, Alan Curley, Robbie Geary, Jake Neville(0-1) Kevin Henley, Jake Beecher, Dean Beecher, Ian Beecher , Kieran Geary(0-1), Darragh Mulcahy, Bob McCarthy, Jordan Henley, Paul O'Brien(0-1), Ryan Grey (1-11, 10f), Shaun O'Sullivan. Subs Darah Buckley for Shaun O'Sullivan, Eoin McGrath for Bob McCarthy, Donnchadh Mulcahy for Alan Curley.

We meet the Shamrocks in the Western football final at 2pm in Fraher Field next .

Cois Bhride: Well done to the Cois Bhríde U15 hurlers who had a great victory in the county final versus Tramore.

Deise Super Draw: Congratulations to Michael Geary the Square on his jackpot win in the Deise Draw. This is the second year in the row that someone supporting The Tallow GAA deise draw has won the top prize. We hope you enjoy it Michael.

Injury: We will like to wish Robbie Beecher the best of luck as he is getting surgery on his knee this week.

Painting: I'd like to thank the two Tom's, Colin, Stuart, young Liam and all those who helped with painting the railings. It has made a big improvement to the field.