Debutant Bracken heads winner

Tullamore are starting to translate the tremendous progress made this season under manager Mark Dempsey into results as they made the long journey to Donegal last Sunday and came away with a thoroughly deserved victory over Finn Harps. Due to a combination of injuries and exams, debuts were handed to Brendan Bracken, Shane Mannion and Stephen Duffy with all three fully justifying their selection. The back four of Scott Delaney, Eoghan O"Shea, Bracken and Mannion were excellent throughout, leaving goalkeeper Joe Mooney with a relatively quiet day but he was solid when called into action. The work-rate of Brian Francis and Kevin Duffy in the middle was phenomenal and they were greatly assisted by Stephen Duffy and Stephen Francis while, up front, Simon Keegan and Mark Goodings kept the home defence busy. The game started brightly and after only eight minutes Harps could have taken the lead but McMenamin shot over when well placed. The all-important breakthrough came on 12 minutes when Town were awarded a free kick thirty yards out and, when Kevin Duffy swung the ball into the area, Brendan Bracken sent a powerful header into the top corner for a wonderful goal. They almost increased their lead in the 26th minute when Brian Francis played a lovely ball through to Goodings but the keeper was quickly off his line and when his clearance fell to Simon Keegan, his attempted lob from forty yards out just drifted the wrong side of the post. On the stroke of half-time, the home side nearly equalised when a fine effort from Mark Moran flew over to leave the score 1-0 at the interval. Harps were again on the attack on the resumption and Ruairi Harkin blazed a free kick over from the edge of the area while at the other end Brendan Bracken headed just over from another free. Tullamore could have doubled their tally in the sixty third minute when Scott Delaney got on the end of a Kevin Duffy free but from five yards he headed over. It was not all one way traffic and Joe Mooney had to be at his best when he brilliantly tipped a thirty yard drive from Fintan Bonner around the post and he was again called into action when he scrambled a speculative Harkin effort out for a corner. But it was the visitors who finished much the stronger and with five minutes remaining Stephen Francis made a surging run down the left and cut inside before sending a great twenty yard drive inches over and then in time added on Michael Hoey picked the ball up on the halfway line and fired in an audacious lob that the back peddling keeper just managed to tip over the bar. The final whistle was greeted with great excitement by both players and the small contingent of supporters who made the long trek north. While manager Mark Dempsey expressed his delight with the performance, he singled out Brendan Bracken, Shane Mannion and Stephen Duffy, who were playing their first game at this level, for special praise. Tullamore: Joe Mooney, Scott Delaney, Eoghan O"Shea, Brendan Bracken, Shane Mannion, Stephen Duffy, Brian Francis, Kevin Duffy, Stephen Francis, Mark Goodings and Simon Keegan. Subs: Michael Hoey, Jason O"Halloran, Willie Duffy, Fergal Gorman and Gary Buckley. Next Fixture Tullamore Town are away to Sligo Rovers next weekend when they will be hoping to pick up another few points on the road. AGM Tullamore Town are holding their AGM this Friday, 12th June, at 8pm in their clubhouse. All are welcome but only paid up members are entitled to vote.