Club Notes: 29th June 2015

Photo of the Tallow team who played Abbeyside with team mascot Adam Pratt

Written off by some before the ball was even thrown in - there was only going to be one outcome, or was there? Abbeyside opened the scoring and arguably started the better team. This was shortly followed by a quick Thomas Ryan reaction who rattled the net with a superb strike from the ground. This one he certainly got from Mr Power! The sod was obviously good!! Abbeyside responded with 3 points in succession, 2 from placed balls and 1 from play. Four unanswered points from Tallow put them in the drivers seat and things were looking positive. The men in defence were as solid as ever, (maybe one or two lost their calling as men in uniform!) and some wonderful team work would make anyone proud to be part of the Bridesiders. Halftime score Tallow 1-8 Abbeyside 0-6

One minute on the clock in the second half and Ryan struck again with his second goal of the game. This spurred the lads on and gave them an 8 point lead. Sully was cool, calm and collected as ever between the posts and he needed to be when he pulled off a magnificent save from point blank range - I know where id be headed from a shot like that! Further points from Fag, Tommy and Ringo (who reminded me of Ciaran Carey back in the day when he went on his ferocious runs at lightening speed) sealed the deal. A late Abbeyside goal left the full time result Tallow 2.13 Abbeyside 1.11 Tallow now top their group on five points. Great credit must be given to all the lads on an excellent team performance.

Subs: E Sheehan, B McCarthy

Scorers: T Ryan 2.8 (5 frees) P O Brien 0.2 A Kearney J Henley P Kearney 0.1 each

Tallow 1-10 Modeligo 0-15

A combination of work commitments, injuries and players on minor hurling duty saw Tallow travelling to Bushy Park Friday night with a severely depleted squad certainly from a numerical point of view. This was to prove critical as we entered the last quarter. Having lead the game for three quarters of the hour we didn't have men on the bench to give us the added impetus needed to close out the game.

As if we need convincing James Tobin opened the scoring with an exquisite point to prove his Maurice Fitzgerald like effort against Old Parish was no fluke. The first half was a staid enough affair. Points were exchanged in an even contest. Aaron Pratt's goal for Tallow after 25 minutes was telling and we reached half time leading by the minimum with our other points coming from Sean Gleeson, Bear, Mikey(f) and Stefan. Tallow 1-5 Modeligo 0-7.

Showing no ill affects from his kodaline (that's a band not a drug) experience the previous night Paul O Brien clipped over a couple of points to increase our lead to 3 on the restart. Modeligo answered this out with 2 of their own. Mikey converted a free. Both sides had goal chances as well and JP was able for anything fired at him. It was a tenuous lead and with Modeligo showing greater intent we were coming under increasing pressure. As the second half wore on the lads battled gamely but legs were getting weary and Modeligo took full advantage to notch up 4 in a row. That great club stalwart Brian Henley, threw himself into the fray to man the barricades but Modeligo were motoring well and finished strongly to win by 2, deservedly so I must admit.

This may be controversial but my man of the match was Stephen Pratt. He gave it everything.

The foreplay is over and its now down to the serious business of the knock out stages. We have had a mixed campaign but we have seen enough to know that we are a match for anyone on our day. If we are to advance we need more familiarity with the big ball. Without going mad this can be achieved with a few challenge games and or training sessions. Secondly we need all players available for our quarter final game whenever that will be. The junior football management have been more than accommodating by releasing players to our other club teams. We now need to give them the best possible chance to advance.

At this stage of the campaign we would like to thank all of the players and our management team Brian Henley, Denis Tobin and John Paul Grey, our first aid staff Joanne Kearney and Diarmaid Hallahan and of course our indispensable runai Lindsay. From a spectators view its been most enjoyable and more to come.

Tallow: JP Grey, A Curley, A Pratt(1-0), M Tobin, Kevin Henley, Dave "Fada" O Brien, K Fraser, M O Brien, M Curley(0-3f), S Tobin(0-1)E Hickey, P O Brien (0-3)James Tobin(0-1), S Gleeson (0-1), S Pratt(0-1), B Henley.

Final Note: We have been regular visitors at Bushy Park this year and we are getting to like the place. Its a beautiful part of the county. The surrounding countryside is enchanting. The grounds are pristine, meticulously maintained and a credit to the Brickey Rangers club.

Fixtures

Junior Hurling

We will play Lismore in Ballyduff 7.30pm Saturday 11th July and as always your support would be much appreciated.

Club Grounds:

We have had a number of what can only be described as mindless acts of vandalism at our grounds over the last few weeks. Empty bottles have been left around our club grounds but even more serious than that broken bottles have been strewn on the school field. The danger this presents to young children who might be using the field is all too obvious. Gardai have been informed and we would ask members of the public to be vigilant and pass on any information to the Gardaí. It's just a few mindless individuals but it has to be stamped out.