Noreside Celtic 2, Tullamore Rovers 6 23/10/05

OWL LEAGUE – DIVISION 5A 23/10/05

TULLAMORE ROVERS HIT NORESIDE FOR SIX

Noreside Celtic 2, Tullamore Rovers 6.T

ullamore Rovers followed up last weeks victory over Shinrone with a fantastic display of football that helped them to an impressive 6 – 2 victory in Castletown over fellow new boys Noreside Celtic.Noreside Celtic had started the league well but it was Tullamore who dictated the pace of the game and took the lead after 10 minutes. A point blank shot from Derek Dolan was saved well by the Noreside stopper but from the resulting corner Brian Cosgove rose well to head home. Tullamore were looking very solid at this stage and the centre back pairing of captain Ian Harvey and Brain Crosgrove were tidying up anything that Noreside could throw at them. Full backs Jimmy O’Brien and debutant John Healy were also providing the out lets to the rovers midfielders. After 25 minutes David Sweeney put Tullamore two up with a neat finish from 10 yards. As with previous games Tullamore took the foot off the gas and were made to pay when home team converted a free kick 10 minutes before the break. Intent on not loosing another Tullamore up the pace for the final 10 before the break and got their just rewards when Ronan Heffernan slid home from a great through ball from midfield.Manager Lar Byrne gave the orders at half time and Tullamore came back out intent on finishing off the job at hand. It was a ten minutes spell midway through the second half that really finished off Noreside. Rovers playing their best football of the season made it four one after impressive left winger Pat Tyrell chased down a goal kick before converting and five minutes later David Sweeny volleyed home after a after some fine work down the right from Derek Dolan. Five minutes later Dolan played Sweeney in yet again with a fine through ball but this time Sweeny was taken out and left the referee with no choice but to point to the spot, the Noreside defender picking up a yellow card for his troubles. Mick Kilmartin deservedly converted the penalty after a fine display up front for rovers. The Rovers centre midfield pairing of Ronan Heffernan and Phil Evans controlled the rest of the game, and some confident stops by keeper Dave Menton ensured Tullamore stayed well on top. Jessie Morris came on for Pa Tyrell with 10 minutes to go and did well on the wing. Noreside did nip in for one more consolation at the end but the game was over as a contest long before. Man of the match goes to Brian Cosgrove who was a towering figure in the Tullamore defence, Cosgrove also capped his display with a fine taken goal to open Tullamore scoring spree. Tullamore Rovers can now look forward to the coming fixtures with confidence after back to back away wins. Lar Byrne is finally starting to gel this new team together and if they play to the potential now showing they will be a handful for any opposition this year.

Tullamore Rovers:1. Dave Menton, 2. Jimmy O’Brien, 3. John Healy, 4. Ian Harvey (C), 5. Brian Cosgrove (MOM) (goal: 10mins), 6. Derek Dolan, 7. Ronan Heffernan, 8. Phil Evans, 9. Pat Tyrell (goal: 65 mins), 10. Mick Kilmartin (pen: 72 mins), 11. David Sweeney (goals: 25, 69 mins).Subs: David O’Connel, Jessie Morris (for Pat Tyrell 82 mins).Tullamore Rovers would like to thank sponsor – Joe Lees Bar, Church Street, Tullamore.