Three Plunkett two-pointers secures third consecutive title for Tullamore
TWO POINTERS: Tullamore came with a sensational finish featuring three Harry Plunkett two-pointers to clinch their win. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
Tullamore took a slightly different route to a familiar ending this afternoon at Glenisk O’Connor Park as the Blues made it three-in-a-row in the Offaly senior football championship, while Ferbane must now reflect on all three of those finals that could have gone either way.
In 2023, a scrappy goal in dismal conditions cost Ferbane, whereas last year’s decider was a thrilling encounter edged out by a single point by Tullamore.
Today, Darragh Flynn’s goal with four minutes of normal time to play looked like it might be enough to see them win their first title since 2019, but instead Tullamore came with a sensational finish featuring three Harry Plunkett two-pointers to clinch their win.
Arguably every bit as important for Tullamore was their ten-minute spell in the middle of the first half. The wind favoured Ferbane in that time and the West Offaly club were 0-3 to 0-1 up after nine minutes, only to concede the next three points, a Luke Plunkett brace either side of one for the impressive Niall Furlong.
Two pointers from Paddy Clancy and Cian Johnson before half-time gave Ferbane something to defend with an 0-8 to 0-5 interval scoreline, but what was an anaemic-looking lead at the break was eaten up in no time as Tullamore dominated the third quarter.
Aaron Leavy was central to their dominance as he kicked two points while playing an immense role at midfield, Luke Plunkett kicked his third of the game while Mike Fox snatched a couple of close range efforts just as it looked like Tullamore might go out of sight.
0-12 to 0-9 with the wind at their backs should have enabled exactly that, but Ferbane’s tenacity didn’t allow it. Brian Carroll, Cian Johnson (free) and David Nally levelled it up with three quick points and the fairytale looked to be on the cards when Cathal Flynn set up Darragh Flynn for a 56th minute goal.
Perhaps if they had held out for the next couple of minutes, that would have been enough. Instead Tullamore got the next point, levelled it up with a high pressure two-point free from Harry Plunkett, and then followed up with another excellent kick from play from the same man.
There was time for more drama as county hurler Oisín Kelly had a goalbound effort blocked and once Tullamore cleared their lines, they were able to engineer one last chance for Plunkett to complete the scoring and send the Blues back into Leinster, where they will make the short trip north to play the Downs (Westmeath) on November 16th.
: H Plunkett 0-8 (2tpf, 1tp, 2f), L Plunkett 0-3, M Fox 0-2, A Leavy 0-2, N Furlong 0-2, C Egan 0-1, D Egan 0-1.
C Johnson 0-7 (1tpf, 3f), D Flynn 1-1, P Clancy 0-2 (1tp), D Nally 0-1, B Carroll 0-1.
: C White; B Heffernan, D Hogan, D McDaid; C Egan, J Furlong, O Keenan-Martin; C Bourke, A Leavy; L Dillane, M Brazil, N Furlong; M Fox, L Plunkett, H Plunkett.
: D Egan for Dillane (35), N Bracken for L Plunkett (53), L Bourke for Brazil (60+4)
A Nugent; A McCabe, C Cahill, C Dunican; P Taaffe, D Nally, K Nugent; C Grennan, C Flynn; B Carroll, A Egan, P Clancy; C Johnson, J Clancy, D Flynn.
: O Kelly for Grennan (h-t), K Higgins for A Egan (40).
: Marius Stones (Clara).
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