This article is from page 62 of the 2011-03-22 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 62 JPG
Rock Rovers 2 – 3 Tulla United at Lees Road, Ennis
THESE are heady days for Tulla United. Back in the bigtime of the Premier Division after a number of years in the lower divisions and now in the Clare Cup quarter-final thanks to this thrilling win over former champions Rock Rovers.
Indeed, taking down Rock was a huge achievement for a Tulla side that’s more than holding its own in the top flight of the league thanks to their current standing of third place.
Rock were favourites given their sterling cup exploits in recent years – apart from being winners in 2008 they were quarter-finalists the following year and semi-finalists last year where they were shocked by Bridge United B.
And the Ennis side had things their own way early on, forcing the pace before breaking the deadlock after 20 minutes when Eoin Glynn’s cross from the right wing was volleyed to the net by David Ryan.
However, from there until half-time it went horribly wrong for Rock as they leaked two goals to a cock-ahoop Tulla side. Indeed, it only took four minutes – the equaliser came on 23 minutes when Stephen Loftus failed to gather a cross from the left and Mike McDermott gleefully tapped home to the net.
A minute later a free kick was floated into the Rock area from the right, with centre-forward Niall Whelan rising highest at the far post to head to the net.
Rock did have chances to equalise in the second half, but David Ryan and Marty McLoughlin both missed great chances early in the half. Opportunity knocked for McLoughlin again on 56 minutes, but his free header flashed over the bar from close range.
These misses came back to haunt Rock on 75 minutes when Tulla struck for a third on the break. A shot from left hit the cross bar and bounced down to Keith Lenihan who slammed the ball to the net from range.
Rock did give themselves a lifeline on 86 minutes when from a cross by Eoin Glynn, sub Stephen Hickey volleyed to the net from a yard out, but try as they might in the closing stages, the equaliser that would have brought the game to extra time never came as Tulla marched on.
Rock Rovers
Stephen Loftus, Michael Dinan (Ashley Glynn), Ciarán Russell, JasonWhite, Shane Daniels, Dean Gardiner, Eoin Glynn, Francis Daniels (Ronan Judge), David Ryan, Barry Woods, Marty McLoughlin (Stephen Hickey)
Tulla United
Shane Collins, PaudgeVaughan, Gearóid Doherty (Tommy McKeon), Dennis Murphy, Darragh Corry (Brian Hehir), Mike McDermott, Padraic O’Malley, Shane Mason, Niall Whelan,Alan Brigdale, Keith Lenihan.
Man of the Match
Darragh Corry (Tulla United) Referee Martin Monaghan