Round Tower Rovers 1, Tullamore Rovers 1.

Round Tower Rovers 1, Tullamore Rovers 1.

Cosgrove Keeps Rovers in the hunt

Tullamore travelled to Timahoe in Laois on Sunday morning on the back of a great win over table toppers Clonminan Rovers the previous Sunday. A win could have put Rovers top but they were forced to come away with a share of the spoils after an entertaining encounter. The match for many parts was played at fast pace with the Timahoe forwards intent on using their pace to get behind the Tullamore defence. The first 20 minutes of the game seen the Timahoe side edge things but once Tullamore to hold of the game they seen out the half much stronger. The Round Towers forwards were showing some good touches throughout the opening quarter and they were intent on getting behind the Tullamore defence with their speed but Ian Harvey and Jimmy O’Brien were up to challenge managed to shackle the home team to just long range efforts. But on the half hour mark Round Tower took the lead after a through ball caught Rovers and the Round Tower forward gave Jimmy Keenan in the Tullamore goal no chance with a cool finish. Tullamore responded well and started to string passes together much better as the first half closed out. Phil Evans was starting to see more of the ball and he was using possession wisely looking for that killer pass behind the Round Towers defence. With ten minutes to go before the break Brendan Kenny was unlucky not to score he turned well in the box after receiving the ball form the right a his powerful shot was pub behind by the keeper. Moments later Gazdecki fired in a cross from the right a Derek Dolan had his head well saved by the Round Tower keeper who was having a fine game. The pressure was mounting and Rovers were seeing a goal and it came five minutes before the break after Dolan was fouled on the edge of the box. Ian Harvey took the free that was only cleared as far as Brian Cosgrove on the edge of the box who took a great touch to fire a cracking shot into the roof of the net. The second half seen plenty more open football with both teams having their chances although the Rovers defence was tightening up with Billy Harvey having a particularly good game a right full. Harvey found himself the last line of defence on a couple of occasion but he came up trumps with an excellent display of tackling and some very timely interventions. On the other side of defence John Healy must be commended for his last ditch tackle near the end to keep the scores level. Healey also showed a willingness to get forward and support the midfielders also. Jimmy Keenan in goal for Rovers had a good game and his bravery from the any corners seen him commanding the box throughout the game. With that said Round Towers still managed to hit the post twice in the second half but both were form long range efforts as O’Brien and Harvey stood strong in the centre. Tullamore looked lively at the other end also with Mick Kilmartin who came on as a sub showing some nice touches and willingness to run at the Round Towers defenders. Paul McDonald was another who gave the home defence something to think about with his surging runs down the right after he switched with Gazdecki. Czestaw Madalinski and Declan Conroy were brought on in search of a winner but game finished out to a draw and when all things were considered it was probably a fair result. Tullamore Rovers management team of Lar Byrne and Clive Evans were relieved to hear after the match that rivals Abbeyleix had drawn with Clonaslee C, that result keeps Rovers in the hunt at the top of the table.
Tullamore Rovers: Jimmy Keenan, Billy Harvey, Jimmy O’Brien, Ian Harvey, John Healy, Paul McDonald, Derek Dolan, Phil Evans, Brian Cosgrove, Jarek Gazdecki, Brendan Kenny, Declan Conroy, Czestaw Madalinski, Mick Kilmartin.