McDonald header sees Eden' advance at Tullamore's expense

With the League a virtual two horse race between these two outstanding teams, Edenderry gained an important psychological advantage over their arch rivals with this fine Cup win in Portarlington on Monday. Tullamore were first to threaten when Rory Condron swung in a searching cross from the left that was headed to safety by Aaron McDonald and, with 12 minutes on the clock, they were desperately unlucky not to hit the front. Condron again created the danger when he cut in from the left only for Shane Hayes to brilliantly tip his goalbound effort onto the crossbar and, as the ball broke back into play, he managed to keep out Michael James' diving header. Edenderry went close on fifteen minutes when John Moriarty threaded the ball through to Mark Nolan, who dinked it over the advancing Patrick Dunican, but it drifted outside the left post. As Tullamore hit back, Dillon Melia swept the ball out to James on the right and his excellent cross was fired narrowly over by Aaron Hensey. With half an hour gone, Ryan Lynch broke clear on the left but Ross Kinnarney got across to knock the ball behind and, from the resultant corner, Aaron McDonald sent a towering header into the back of the net to put his side in front. Tullamore nearly equalised within minutes when Mark Casey and Gary Hutchinson combined to pick out Ted Conway, but his well struck shot flew inches outside the left post. As they continued to press, James fired in a deep cross that found Hensey at the back post, but his effort only found the side netting. With Peter Cunningham outstanding in the middle, Edenderry hit back and Ryan Lynch went close when he broke clear on the left but Dunican got down well to save. With minutes remaining in the first half Hutchinson won a free kick 30 yards out and Michael James sent a superb shot arrowing towards the top corner, only for Shane Hayes to brilliantly tip the ball around the post. But it was far from one way traffic as Lynch played a lovely crossfield ball to Eoin Feeney on the right, but he was denied by a great block tackle from Diarmuid Carroll as the referee brought the first half to a conclusion. With the introduction of Macdarragh O'Neill and Shane Martino at the interval, Tullamore went in search of an equaliser and O'Neill was quickly into the action when he played a great ball through to Aaron Hensey, but he was penalised for pushing. O'Neill then sent Martino clear on the right but his effort flew across the face of the goal, while, at the other end, Mikey Clear found Lorcan Pender but Patrick Dunican got down well to save. Edenderry nearly increased their advantage on 65 minutes when, following a goalmouth melee, Matthew Hynes charged down Mark Nolan's goalbound effort and then Lee Dempsey headed John Moriarty's free narrowly wide. Tullamore went close on seventy minutes when a great move involving Mark Casey, Shane Martino and Terry Byrne created an opening for Macdarragh O'Neill, but Shane Hayes saved superbly at his feet. As the clock ticked down Casey, Martino and Byrne again combined to pick out Rory Condron but Hayes was equal to his effort as Edenderry ran out deserving winners of this pulsating cup tie. For Edenderry, there were excellent contributions from Shane Hayes, Peter Cunningham, Eoin Feeney and Lorcan Pender with Mark Casey, Michael James, Shane Martino and MacDarragh O'Neill the pick of the Tullamore side, but the man of the match award went to their outstanding attacking defender, Rory Condron. Tullamore Town: Patrick Dunican, Matthew Hynes, Ross Kinnarney, Diarmuid Carroll, Rory Condron, Michael James, Gary Hutchinson, Mark Casey, Ted Conway, Dillon Melia, Aaron Hensey. Subs: Macdarragh O'Neill, Shane Martino, Adam Shelly and Terry Byrne.