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So close, so far

February 17, 2011

By Staff Reporter

Tipperary star Declan Browne, one of the day’s main attractions, had Tipperary’s opening point from a free after seven minutes and he added one more from play six minutes later. Still the two-time All Star was getting little satisfaction from his duel with Paul O’Connor and he would be no more effective against Eddie Greenan after a switch to the 40 after the half.
New York leveled when Matthew Mitchell fed Justin O’Halloran for a 22nd minute point. Incredibly Mitchell was New York’s best performer despite playing 60 very hard and very effective minutes for the New York hurlers in their defeat of Westmeath.
New York began to show some life in the closing stages of the half with Mitchell, Mark Dobbin, and Pa Murphy to the fore. Mitchell pointed to put New York on top before Dobbin nipped in for a key interception to spring Robbie Moran for the final score of the first half.
A decent crowd was in attendance on a chilly afternoon in the Bronx, but the rain held off and the field, although slippery, was in pretty good shape. The football wasn’t the highest of standards however as both teams seemed unable to find a groove.
Tipperary were trying to play the so called possession game, bringing players behind the ball in big numbers but they were unable to mount any consistent attack as their passing let them down.
New York were applying more pressure but the home team were failing miserably when the goalposts came into view. Six first half wides were twice Tipp’s total, but more frustrating were the half dozen shots that landed in Tipperary goalkeeper Paul Fitzgerald’s waiting arms, when points were there to be taken.
New York looked as if they might escape punishment for their wastefulness when they opened the second half with three straight points extending their lead to 0-7 to 0-2, and it looked like a double victory party for the home team was in the cards.
Browne had switched with center forward Benny Hickey at the restart in an effort to get Browne more involved but it would turn out to be Hickey that would make the difference.
Hickey ran onto a low ball in the square and when neither fullback O’Connor nor goalkeeper John McGinley, who should have taken charge of the situation, played the ball, it bounced off Hickey and into the goal. It was a terrible goal for New York to allow and a huge break for Tipperary.
The home side tried to fight back and Dobbin and Mitchell each pointed in reply to two Hickey points and a pointed free from Browne, but the Gotham side were now clinging to a one point as the momentum swung decidedly to the Premier County.
Another Browne point from a free leveled things after 23 minutes. New York were visibly pressing now as Tipperary finally warmed to their task. The last three points were for the visitors and New York’s double dream died a quiet death.
Man of the Match: Benny Hickey

Tipperary
Paul Fitzgerald, Bernard Hahessy, Niall Curran, Peter King, Ciaran Maher, Sean Collum, Robbie Costigan, Kevin Mulryan, Niall Fitzpatrick, Aidan Fitzgerald (0-1), Benny Hickey (1-2), Brian Lacey, Brian Mulvihill, Declan Browne (0-5, 3 fr), Damien O’Brien Subs: Eamon Hanrahan, Stephen Murphy, Fergal O’Callaghan (0-1)

New York
John McGinley, Niall Corbett, Paul O’Connor, James McIntyre, Cathal McKeever, Ed Greenan, Pa Murphy, Darren Pettit, James Mitchell, Robert Moran (0-1), Matt Mitchell (0-3), Ronan Garvey (0-1, 1 fr), Mark Dobbin (0-1), Paddy Smith (0-1) Justin O’Halloran (0-1) Subs: Billy Harty, Vinny Gavin (0-1)

Referee: Barton Higgins

Schedule Sunday October 30, Gaelic Park

12:00 Ladies Minor Football
Bray Emmetts vs. New York

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2:30 John Joe McGovern Cup
Rangers vs. Fermanagh/Tyrone

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