Tara Mines strike at Pairc Tailteann

Tara Mines made a successful return to the Leinster Inter-Frims JFC final with a convincing win over Hewlett Packard from Kildare at Pairc Tailteann on Wednesday night of last week. Tara Mines fielded a strong team with players of the calibre of Navan O'Mahonys duo Cormac McGuinness and Gary O'Brien augmented by two more from Wolfe Tones in the form of Ciaran McLoughlin and Stephen Corrigan. Add to that mix the influence of Damien Sheridan at midfield and it represented a potent mix of senior talent with plenty of experience from a sprinkling of junior and intermediate clubs. The Meath men were well worth that nine-point winning margin and they were well in control when Hewlett Packard were reduced to 14 men following the dismissal of goalkeeper Noel Kenna in the second-half, apparently following a verbal exchange with an umpire. Referee Cormac Reilly also had a 'word' with the custodian in the opening half and the numerical advantage made the task easier for the Tara Mines team. “This is Tara's first year back in the competition following an absence of three or four years and I hope they can now go on and claim the All-Ireland title,†commented Leinster Inter-Firms FC secretary Liam Dwyer. “Credit to Hewlett Packard for a spirited performance in their first final and they also had some Meath men in their team,†he added. Tara Mines manager Jack Gordon and his selectors Richie Cahill, Gerry Heaney and Mattie McCabe can now look forward to the All-Ireland semi-final following this victory. Tara Mines negotiated the Prison Officers (Portloaise) and ESB in the quarter and semi-finals. “There is great enthusiasm amongst the players, it's all down to them,†stated Gordon. Tara Mines struggled to make an impact on the scoreboard in the opening half as they laboured to a 0-5 to 0-3 interval advantage. Part of the reason for the low scoring was a tally of seven wides, some of them were quite memorable. Tara made the early running with pointed frees from Ryan McCormack and Ian Curran inside eight minutes, but a hard-working Hewlett Packard side were ahead by the end of the opening quarter. James Walsh (two frees) and Brian McLafferty from play gave the Kildare side a merited advantage. Tara Mines were on terms in the 20th minute when Drumbaragh's James Connolly claimed the first of his two first-half points from play while full-forward McCormack converted another free for the hosts before the break. McCormack pointed another free a minute into the second-half and Barry Smith's determination was rewarded with a score from play soon after. Hewlett Packard's task was made more difficult in the 10th minute when they lost goalkeeper Kenna who received a straight red card, That effectively finished the game as a contest and Tara knocked over further points from Smith and O'Brien (two each), Daithi Reilly and Curran. The Kildare men managed another Walsh point near the end. Tara Mines – Michael McCarthy (non-club); Daithi Reilly (St Michael's 0-1), Ciaran McLoughlin (Wolfe Tones), Brendan Dixon (Moynalvey); Kieran Kenny (Simonstown Gaels), Cormac McGuinness (Navan O'Mahonys), Gary O'Brien (Navan O'Mahonys 0-1); Stephen Corrigan (Wolfe Tones), Damien Sheridan (Seneschalstown); Ian Curran (Syddan 0-3), Barry Smith (Gaeil Colmcille 0-3 one free), Alan Carolan (Kilmainhamwood); James Connolly (Drumbaragh 0-2), Ryan McCormack (Kingscourt 0-3 frees), Ruairi Russell (Bective). Subs - Keith Brady (Simonstown Gaels) for Dixon 50 mins; Michael McCann (Cavan) for Russell 51m; Jim Gallagher (Moynalty) for Curran 53m; Conor Martin (St Ultan's) for Sheridan 55m; Damien Maguire (Simonstown Gaels) for Carolan 56m. Hewlett Packard – N Kenna; C Rooney, Enda Dixon (Longwood), M Uhlemann; D Reynolds, Emmet Ferguson (Dunsany), T Adderly; G Nerney, A Griffin; B Maguire, J Walsh (0-3 frees), T O'Connor;G Mooney; D Flynn, B McLafferty (0-1). Referee – Cormac Reilly (St Mary's).