Tullamore 0-19 ...... Ballyskenagh 1-10
Ballyskenagh's downward spiral continued when they crossed swords with Tullamore in the relegation play offs in Kinnitty on Sunday morning. This was the third time for the two sides to meet in this year's championship and hopes were high that it would be third time lucky for Skenagh, but it wasn't to be. This defeat means that Skenagh must now play either Shamrocks or Clara (draw to be made) in a must-win match if they want to maintain senior status in 2007.
A long range Alan Middleton free opened the scoring for Skenagh inside the first minute but Tullamore soon equalised. Eoghan Franks pointed a '65, but Tullamore again drew level with a free in the 8th minute. Two further points from '65s from Franks gave Skenagh a two point lead which was stretched to three when a quick free from Alan Middleton was pointed by Morgan Lalor. Tullamore pointed again before Derek Middleton restored the three point lead with a point from play. Tullamore pointed in the 23rd and 25th minutes to bring the gap back to just one, before an injury time '65 from Eoghan Franks gave Skenagh a two point lead at half time, 0-7 to 0-5.
Tullamore had the gap back to the minimum after just thirty seconds of the second half before an Eoghan Franks free restored the two point margin. Having scored a free in the 5th minute, Tullamore drew level in the 7th minute and went on to take a two point lead with twelve minutes gone on the clock. Tadhg Maher reduced the margin to the minimum but Tullamore scored four unanswered points to give them a five point cushion with 19 minutes remaining. However Skenagh weren't giving up just yet and with just over ten minutes to go on the clock, Tadhg Maher raised the green flag to bring the margin back to just two. However, Ballyskenagh failed to impress any further, as Tullamore's superior fitness and hunger saw them pull away in the following five minutes, scoring four points without reply to give them a 0-18 to 1-9 lead. Tadhg Maher, battling hard, scored Skenagh's final score of the game in the 28th minute and Tullamore added one more just before full time to leave the final score at 0-19 to 1-10
Team and Scorers: Alan Franks; Padraic Kennedy, Cathal Murphy, Mark Kirwan;
Timmy Hennessy, Alan Middleton (0-1 free), David McLoughlin; Tadhg Maher (1-2),
Derek Middleton (0-1); Eoghan Franks (0-5, 0-1 free, 0-4 '65s), Brendan Murphy,
Morgan Lalor (0-1); John Dooley, David Carney, Noel Murphy
Subs: Daryl Carney for John Dooley, Ciaran Kirwan for David McLoughlin
Ref: Tony Carroll
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