Rampant Fianna rule roost
Tiarnan O'Hagan breaks free of Moortown's Damien Crozier INTT2512-204JS
There were grey skies over Tobin Park on Saturday evening and the grey skies probably reflected the mood of the hosts following this game, as a rampant Coalisland easily disposed of the home challenge.
The Fianna were superior in almost every facet of the game and demonstrated just why they’ve been the most in form team in the county this year.
The decisive moment in the contest came just before the interval when Moortown had the opportunity to take the lead from the penalty spot only for Philip Muldoon’s effort to be denied by Johnny Curran.
Moortown began the game sharpest with Coalisland struggling to match their intensity early on.
Playing with both the hill and wind advantage in the opening half Moortown needed to make this count in the opening half and for a while it looked like they might.
Corner forward Tony Quinn opened the scoring with a point from distance in the third minute and this was quickly followed up with points from Daniel Kelly and Karl O’Hagan to help the St Malachy’s race into a three point lead.
Coalisland eventually though began to take a stranglehold around midfield with Stephen McNally and Brian Toner becoming increasingly influential.
Another to impress for the Fianna was Patrick McNeice and the county man punished the St Malachy’s from placed balls almost every time he got an opportunity.
He opened Coalisland’s scoring after 10 minutes and followed that point up with another seconds later, both scores coming from the place ball.
Moortown were not going to fold just yet and they regained a two point advantage when Quinn grabbed his second point after Ronan Devlin had broken up a promising Fianna attack.
Brian Toner left Coalisland just one point adrift in the 19th minute when he converted a free he had himself won.
Moments later his brother Gerard put the Fianna into the lead for the first time when he fired past Colm Spiers after Patrick McNeice had picked him out with a sublime pass.
Moortown hit straight back through Colm Campbell but this was immediately cancelled out through Brian Toner who converted another free after a foul on Tiarnan O’Hagan.
Moments later Campbell and Toner again traded scores with Campbell’s point a well taken effort after a quick free kick in the Moortown defence.
An altercation between Philip Muldoon and Peter Donnelly would well have seen the Coalisland full back given his marching orders but referee Stephen Meehan took no action.
Moments later Moortown could have taken the lead when Muldoon was taken down by Donnelly in the large square.
Coalisland were spared however when Johnny Curran produced a fine save from the Moortown full forward Muldoon.
Coalisland extended their two point half time lead immediately after the break with Naill Fox and Plunkett Kane on target for the visitors.
Tony Quinn kept the Moortown men in touch with a free before Gerard Toner grabbed the decisive score of the game.
Toner was able to pounce for his second goal of the game after Kane’s shot had come back of the post, to give the Fianna an unassailable six-point lead.
Coalisland were on very much on top at this stage and reinforced their dominance with 8 point without reply picking Moortown off seemingly at will.
The introduction of Philip Toner to the Coalisland attack gave the Fianna a more clinical edge as Toner, McNeice, Stephen Curran and Tiarnan O’Hagan got their names on the score sheet.
A late Tiarnan O’Hagan goal after the ball had come back of the crossbar put the seal on the win for Coalisland.
There was just time in injury time for Moortown substitute Anthony Devlin to grab a goal for Moortown but in truth it was little consolation.
The St Malachys now find themselves deep in relegation trouble and results elsewhere did them few favours.
Coalisland in comparison sit on top of the Division 1 table with the league programme just passing the half way point. On this evidence they will be hard to depose from the top spot.
Moortown - Colm Spiers, Darren Crozier, Jarlath O’Hagan, David Hanna, Daniel Kelly, Ronan Devlin, Padraig O’Hagan, Peter Devlin, James McLernon, Patrick Quinn, Karl O’Hagan, Martin Crozier, Colm Campbell, Philip Muldoon, Tony Quinn. Subs- Mark Crozier for Peter Devlin, Stephen McNally for Muldoon, Anthony Devlin for Karl O’Hagan
Scorers - Tony Quinn 0-3, Anthony Devlin 1-0, Colum Campbell 0-2, Karl O’Hagan 0-1, Martin Crozier 0-1, Daniel Kelly 0-1
Coalisland - Jonny Curran, Louis O’Neill, Peter Donnelly, Liam Wylie, Jason Carberry, Niall Kerr, Stephen McNally, Plunkett Kane, Stephen Curran, Patrick McNeice, Brian Toner, Dermot Thornton, Niall Fox, Tiarnan O’Hagan, Gerard Toner. Subs - Philip Toner for Thornton, Conor Bayne for Fox, Michael Donnelly for Curran, Thornton for O’Hagan, Daniel Fee for Carberry.
Scorers - Gerard Toner 2-0, Patrick McNeice 0-5, Tiarnan O’Hagan 1-1, Brian Toner 0-2, Stephen Curran 0-2, Philip Toner 0-2, Stephen McNally 0-1, Conor Bayne 0-1, Niall Fox 0-1, Plunkett Kane 0-1.
Referee: Shane Meehan, Glenelly
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Weather for Dungannon
Thursday 20 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 11 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Cloudy
Temperature: 11 C to 16 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: West
