EDENDERRY 2.11 DOON 2.6

black and red exile · Post by **black and red exile** » Sun Sep 23, 2007 6:03 pm

EDENDERRY SCORERS. Sean kelly 0.6[ 1, 45]3,frees][0.2 from play.].
Basil malone0.3[1,free][1,45][0.1from play]
Sean OG Farrell[1.0]
Keith McGuinness[1.0], Robbie Glennon[0.1]
James Merrick[0.1]
DOON SCORERS. Trevor Phelan[ 0.3]James Coughlan[0.2]Damien Hunt[0.1]Matthew Boland [1.0]Donal Ryan[1.0].
WIDES, EDENDERRY,7 WIDES[1FIRST HALF,6SECOND HALF]DOON 10WIDES,][ 6 FIRST HALF, 4 SECOND HALF].
A game of 2 halves, the first half Doon were definetly the better team and should have went in more than a goal to the good, 1.5to 0.5, the goal coming from a mis-hit shot from James Coughlan that dropped into the hands of Colin McNamara who failed to hold on to the ball, with Matthew Boland the first to react to blast home to the roof of the net.
The Reds certainly came out a different team in the second half and were level before long and it looked like they could run away with it, but it was Doon who struck the next blow with a superb goal from centre half back Donal Ryan to put the underdogs 2.5to 0.8 in front after about 13 mins. Edenderry hit back very quickly and within 2 mins netted their first goal to draw level again of which Im ashamed to say I missed because I was texting LS and BORD NA MONA MAN the updates, but after I heard the roar I was informed it was Sean OG Farrell who finished to the net. Trevor Phelan then put Doon back in front before Edenderry took over for the remainder of the game to notch another 1.3 without reply. The Reds second goal was nearly as comical as Doon's first with keeper Niall Hennessy and full back Fintan Ryan getting their wires crossed in which one or the other should have called to taken control of a simple hopping ball and with both of them being asleep Keith McGuinness stole in to slip the leather home to put the final nail in the Doon coffin.
Edenderry were really too strong for this grade and will only come up stronger for the experience, I believe last year was a bit of a fluke and the Finbar Cullen situation really knocked the stuffing out of them. As for Doon, they will probably start as favourites to win the Intermediate next year and they certainly played well for long spells in this game until they ran out of steam half way through the second half.
By the way I spotted our football boss Mr Roe coming out of O Connor Park yesterday evening after the game.

DD · Post by DD » Mon Sep 24, 2007 1:03 pm

Great to bounce back to Senior straight away, if we had not got back up this year we could have languished at Intermediate for a while.

Edenderry did start the game fairly well and led 3 pts to 1 before Adrian Mahon picked up a bad injury and had to be stretchered off. This definitely unsettled Edenderry and Doon took over with Trevor Phelan in particular playing quite well. Although the goal was fortunate, Doon fully deserved their half time lead.
At the break Richie Dalton was moved to midfield and Johnny Hurst back to centre back and from the throw in Edenderry took over with Shane Connell to fore winning most of the kickouts. The reds got back level despite missing a string of chances and looked as if they were ready to go and win it but then in virtually Doon's first attack of the 2nd half, Donie Ryan thundered home a great goal to move back into a 3 point lead.
Edenderry replied almost instantly when forma quickly taken free Sean Og found himself unmarked inside the Doon fullback line and he rounded the keeper to sidefoot the ball to the net.
Doon went a point up with what turned out to be their last score before Edenderry levelled again.
The pressure finally told a few minute later when Martin Keogh on as a sub won a great ball on the 14 and when he let the ball inside for Keith McGuiness the doon keeper charging out got it all wrong and McGuiness ended up with simple task of tapping the ball into the gaping goal.
Doon came up the field a couple of times but never really threatened the goal and Edenderry were able to break and 2 points (one from a 45) from Basil Malone sealed the win.
Edenderry's best performers were Adrian Murphy & Stephen Murphy in the backs with Shane Connell MOTM at midfield and Basil and Keith MCGuinness the pick of the forwards. That said all 15 performed well in the 2nd half and although the scoreline was a little harsh on Doon, they fully deserved the win.
Doon's best players were their main men Coughlan, Hunt, Phelan & Donie Ryan but all faded in the second half when Edenderry took over at midfield.

One other thing, it was great to see the dozens of youngsters from Edenderry at the game and also on the pitch at half time. A good piece of PR work by the club by going around the schools with "free" tickets for the match. It was free in for U-14's anyway but a good piece of work by the club nevertheless..

Hyper · Post by **Hyper** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 9:45 pm

Doon had a great chance to go in front when the sides were 2.6 to 1.9 but Hunt went for an impossible shot on goal when a tap over the bar was the easier option!

Square Cab · Post by **Square Cab** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 8:50 am

Just wondering how ye think Edenderry will do in the senior champ next year? Is Finbar staying on as manager? As much as it pains me to say it but its good to see ye back, Offaly football needs the major town teams to be doing well.

Square Cab · Post by **Square Cab** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 8:51 am

Just wondering how ye think Edenderry will do in the senior champ next year? Is Finbar staying on as manager? As much as it pains me to say it but its good to see ye back, Offaly football needs the major town teams to be doing well.

The Magpie · Post by **The Magpie** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 2:00 pm

I never thought I'd say it either, particularly given the mid-to-late 90s (:(), but it's good to see Edenderry back in the Senior ranks.

I can't see them winning championships in the near future, but if they can keep the old faces around that returned this year, they'll be no push-over.

Lone Shark · Post by **Lone Shark** » Fri Sep 28, 2007 5:47 pm

I hope True Red is sitting down reading this, I wouldn't want to shock him too much...

I'm genuinely delighted for Edenderry to be back up in senior ranks. Edenderry coasting was no good for Offaly football, neither was the biggest town in East Offaly becoming a soccer town. Around three years ago I first reckoned one of the biggest problems facing Offaly football was the stagnation of Edenderry, Ferbane and Shannonbridge. For three clubs of that stature not to be contributing a single Offaly starter was a serious problem, and you could see the rot setting in in each club. Ferbane corrected things a little by themselves - there's not much star quality in the club but things are improving, the setback against Tubber notwithstanding. Shannonbridge are still drifting, while Edenderry were getting worse and worse until relegation finally stirred them into action.

I honestly believe that they will be twice the team in 2008 that they would have been if they had avoided the drop last Autumn.

I do feel sorry for Doon, my grá for all things Doon is well known, but there won't be any rivals in intermediate next year of the calibre of the Reds, so they should make a good run to get back up. Hopefully David Larkin will continue to develop into a midfielder and they certainly have a serious array of forwards, good enough to score on anyone at that grade. Walsh Island will no doubt feel the same, (maybe Edenderry posters, having been able to compare both clubs, could give an inkling which of the two clubs they make antepost favourite?) but I'd be slightly confident Doon can come back up sooner rather than later.

True Red · Post by **True Red** » Mon Oct 01, 2007 4:01 pm

Is that a pig just after flying by my window?

kudos to Lone Shark there for his worthy appraisal of Edenderry. Although I do seem to recall around this time last year that he was offering odds on the Intermediate c'ship and he had the Reds at 3rd/4th favourites.

However i digress.

(maybe Edenderry posters, having been able to compare both clubs, could give an inkling which of the two clubs they make antepost favourite?)

On balance I would have to say that Doon are the better of both sides,marginally.Both backlines are unspectacular and limited.Both forward lines are classy and industrious but Doon have a slight edge in this department.And the midfield units of both teams are rangy and mobile while a tad lacking on the physical side.

It depends on Doon's attitude next year.If they approach it properly they should be favourites to come back up.If losing the final this year gets to them I would be fearful as it isnt an easy championship to win.

Lone Shark · Post by **Lone Shark** » Tue Oct 02, 2007 2:25 pm

True Red wrote: kudos to Lone Shark there for his worthy appraisal of Edenderry. Although I do seem to recall around this time last year that he was offering odds on the Intermediate c'ship and he had the Reds at 3rd/4th favourites.

Edenderry could have gone either way at the time - based on their performances against Doon and Shannonbridge you couldn't have said that the club was well set for a comeback. Obviously the ability in the playing ranks is such that with everyone pulling in the one direction the club was going to be too strong for that grade, but that looked a long way from likely in the immediate aftermath of bad relegation games with certain players refusing to play and all else that was afoot.

Which is all the more reason why relegation followed by promotion will be great for the club, and great for Offaly. It was the shock the club needed, and hopefully the turnaround will be rewarded with a couple of Edenderry players being called into the county panel over the winter.