By: Mary Dunne
Tullamore Court Hotel Senior Football Final
Tullamore: 2-16
Ferbane: 1-13
Tullamore who have now become one of the most dominant clubs in the county added even more silverware to their endless haul when they collected the Dowling Cup for the fourth year in row following a very polished and impressive display on Sunday last in Glenisk O’Connor Park, Tullamore.
This win, saw The Blues collect their 32nd Senior Football Title as they surpassed Rhode on the top of the leader board and yet again inflicting more hurt and heartache on their arch nemesis Ferbane in what was very impressive fashion.
It was an extremely polished performance from start to finish. The manner in which they approach games has to be admired. Winning key battles throughout the field once they got a run on Ferbane particularly from the 35th to 43rd minutes they did untold damage with some fantastic scoring and overall team play a joy to watch.
For Tullamore it just keeps getting better and better as their hunger and drive gets stronger every year. This year at times they might have looked like they were stumbling somewhat, but they regrouped extremely well and came back with a lot of vengeance and while many started to write the off, they were just lying in wait to show what exactly they can do.
For Ferbane once again it is utter heartbreak and there’s no amount of words that can put in to words how that heartache feels. They have been knocking on the door for so long and they really have to wonder what more they need to do to get over the line.
Ferbane had a brilliant run this year and at times on Sunday they showed flashes of that, but it is very hard to play against a team that know how to win and on Sunday Ferbane needed to be the ones channeling that belief, but it was Tullamore once again who backed themselves brilliantly.
It has become one of the biggest rivalries of latter years as reigning County Champions Tullamore and Ferbane renewed acquaintances for the fourth year hand running they went toe to toe in a bid to bring home the Dowling Cup for 2026.
On the footballing calendar you don’t get bigger days than this. No strangers to the big day, nothing is bigger for a club footballer. Growing up the ambitions for any player in their club is to reach the heights of a County Final no matter what grade and on Sunday both sides aimed to bring home the ultimate prize.
We all can a talk about club histories and these clubs have mountains of it. Tullamore not only were they bidding to win four in row, but a win on Sunday would put them also on top of the leaderboard in Offaly with a staggering 32 County Titles to their name.
For Ferbane, they have been so near over the past number of years. A club who once dominated the Offaly footballing scene Ferbane. They enjoyed years of success in particular during the mid to late 80’s where they won five in a row from 1986 to 1990, and having been massively successful at underage level on Sunday they were certainly hoping to channel that into success.
Ferbane, who last won the Dowling Cup in 2019 when they defeated a Rhode side who were in hunt themselves for four in a row, Ferbane needed to bring that killer instinct to the field in the same way as it saw them stop Rhode in their tracks and be the club for the second time to stop another clubs drive for four.
This was always going to be a ding dong battle and it didn’t disappoint. With both teams wanting to play football, it was a joy to watch from start to finish in what a thrilling encounter with neither side giving an inch and it was always going to come right down to the wire.
Out around the middle of the field it was a real dogfight and it was Tullamore who despite playing against the wind were first off the mark with Niall Furlong pointing within sixty seconds.
Ferbane weren’t long however to fine their rhythm and with three scores in quick succession from Cian Johnson (2) and Darragh Flynn, they led 0-3 to 0-1.
It was a lead however that was not set to last and by the 14th minute thank to scores from Diarmuid Egan, who really was exceptional for Tullamore throughout the afternoon and two from placed balls from Harry Plunkett the Blues were ahead 0-4 to 0-3.
Paddy Clancy responded for Ferbane to draw the side’s level but once again Tullamore had more to come and with two on the bounce from Aaron Leavy and Niall Furlong, the gap was two, 0-6 to 0-4.
Full back Leon Fox landed a massive score for Ferbane on the 22nd minutes and a minute later the sides were deadlocked 0-6 each with Cian Johnson levelling it up.
Then out of nothing Tullamore attacked. Overturning a ball he had no right to in the middle of the field Diarmuid Egan took it and ran. It was like the red sea parting as he tore through the Ferbane defence and let to ball off to Harry Plunkett who hit home the game’s opening goal.
With Tullamore now three clear 1-6 to 0-6, Ferbane needed their own moment of magic and in fairness their response was brilliant.
Cian Johnson hit over a free and then with a second score from Leon Fox, it was back to a two point game, before Paddy Clancy hit over a massive two pointed and with that Ferbane were ahead again 0-10 to 1-6.
Tullamore did have the final say of the half with Mike Fox drawing the side’s level 0-10 to 1-7 and a game certainly poised very much to their hands.
The start of the second half was tit for tat and it was Ferbane who had the perfect restart when Paddy Clancy lined it up for Cian Johnson who made no mistake in hitting the net and with that Ferbane were 1-10 to 1-7 clear.
Ferbane really should have pushed on from there, but Tullamore’s response was second to none and effectively from the 35th minute to 43rd minute it was where the game was won and lost.
Tullamore were ruthless in that timeframe. Winning everything in the middle of the field and with Cormac Egan and Daire McDaid pulling a lot of the strings it wasn’t long until it showed on the board.
Mike Fox had them off the mark on the 35th minute and with a follow up ’45 from Harry Plunkett the gap was back to one 1-10 to 1-9 by the 36th minute.
There was more and more yet to come from the Blues and with thirty nine on the clock nobody followed full back Declan Hogan and making a great run, he got himself into the position to drive home a cracking goal.
It was effectively the straw that broke the camel’s back and with further scores from Daire McDaid, Niall Furlong, Harry Plunkett and Cormac Egan they were suddenly six clear 2-13 to 1-10 with forty three minutes played.
Cian Johnson did pull two back but with Daire McDaid and Cormac Egan hot on his heels Tullamore were six clear still 2-15 to 1-12 with fifty three on the clock.
Ferbane needed a goal, but despite trying they just couldn’t find the chink in the Tullamore defence and with late scores from Liam Dillane and Cian Johnson, it was Tullamore who took home the crown with six to spare. The final scores reading 2-16 to 1-13.
The Scorers
Tullamore: Harry Plunkett 1-4 (0-3 Frees, 0-1 ‘45), Declan Hogan 1-0, Niall Furlong 0-3, Mike Fox 0-2, Daire McDaid 0-2, Cormac Egan 0-2, Aaron Leavy 0-1, Diarmuid Egan 0-1, Liam Dillane 0-1.
Ferbane: Cian Johnson 1-7 (0-5 Frees), Paddy Clancy 0-3 (0-2 TP), Leon Fox 0-2, Darragh Flynn 0-1.
The Teams
Tullamore: Arron Hensey; Jack Maher, Patrick Kenna, Declan Hogan; Diarmuid Egan, John Furlong, Daire McDaid; Cormac Egan (Capt.), Aaron Leavy; Davin Keegan, Niall Furlong, Luke Egan; Mike Fox, Harry Plunkett, Luke Plunkett.
Subs: Michael Brazil for Luke Egan (48 mins), Liam Dillane for Luke Plunkett (54 mins), Luke Bourke for Diarmuid Egan (58 mins), Nigel Bracken for Harry Plunkett (62 mins), Oisin Keenan Martin for Jack Maher (63 mins).
Ferbane: Adam Nugent; Aron McCabe, Leon Fox, Pat Taaffe; David Nally, Paddy Clancy, Jake Maher; Ciaran Cahill (Capt.), Kyle Higgins; Conor Dunican, Eoghan Grennan, Brian Carroll; Cian Johnson, Joe Maher, Darragh Flynn.
Subs: Oisin Kelly for Eoghan Grennan (42 mins), Kevin Nugent for Kyle Higgins (43 mins), Jack Clancy for Ciaran Cahill (48 mins), Michael Wren for Jake Maher (56 mins), Conor Grennan for Brian Carroll (61 mins).
Referee: Chris Dwyer (Clara).
By Offaly Secretary Sun 11th Oct
