*Fiachra Hale scored twice for Tulla Utd. Photograph: Ruth Griffin.
TULLA UTD have gone joint top of the Maloney Hardware Premier Division after coming from behind to defeat Ennis Dons.
Tulla Utd 4
Ennis Dons 2
Venue: The Cragg, Tulla
Four teams now sit tied at the top of the Premier Division with Bridge Utd, , Avenue Utd and Newmarket Celtic now joined by Tulla, all four teams have nine points from three outings.
This will change by the middle of November with Bridge Utd and Tulla to face off. Scoring difference sees Bridge lead the way followed by Avenue, Tulla and Newmarket.
Ennis Dons have been competitive since their promotion from the First Division, they tested Tulla for large spells of the game, more than matching them for the duration of the opening half but fitness appears to be catching them as their challenge waned the more the contest wore on.
Opting against strengthening their squad could well catch Tulla as the season progresses but it was their depth that was another difference between the sides. Both this and their superior fitness enabled them to produce a more powerful finish which saw them score two goals in the final half hour when chances dried up for the Dons.
Within the first ninety seconds of kick off, there was a worry it was all going to be one way traffic as the hosts came very close to breaking the deadlock twice, first Ayoub Aguerram narrowly missed before Dan Withycombe’s shot was deflected out for a corner kick which Dons managed to successfully clear.
There were five goals in the first half but three of these were deemed to be offside by referee Paudie Hayes. Ironically, Ayoub scored twice for Tulla but neither goal stood while Donal O’Halloran was deemed to be off when scoring on the thirty fifth minute.
O’Halloran did manage to register a goal when an intended pass by right-winger Fiachra Hale to his goalkeeper Gearoid Austin was intercepted by the Dons striker who finished to the net putting the visitors in front on thirteen minutes.
One week after scoring an excellent free kick versus Newmarket Celtic, centre-half Diarmuid Molloy was denied from repeating the act by Dons netminder James Tierney.
Tierney was unable to stop Fiachra Hale from equalising via a penalty on twenty seven minutes when he tucked the ball to the back of the net. Full-back Adam McNamara was brought down by Ethan Cronin prompting Hayes to award the penalty and book Cronin.
Ayoub had a chance to put Tulla in front but his effort was well stopped by Tierney. Dons put two chances in a row together before the break but were unable to get back ahead.
Their cause took a major blow at the beginning of the second half when Seán Withycombe struck for goal, fifty two seconds into the half after Ennis Dons failed to regain possession from a Tierney restart.
Dons levelled matters on fifty nine minutes via O’Halloran but their joy was short-lived as Tulla regained the lead immediately with Fiachra Hale firing a bullet to the back of the net.
Daragh Corry again made an impact from the bench for the East Clare side. His first attempt went wide but he made no mistake with his second after he was put through on goal and he fired home off his left boot to make it 4-2 in additional time.
Peter O’Brien made sure the damage wasn’t greater when clearing a chance from Jashar Aliu off the line in the closing moments.
For what could have easily been a game where Tulla dropped points, they will be very pleased to have emerged with a 4-2 victory, maintaining their unbeaten status in the Premier Division. They did take time to get going but were composed on the ball which allowed them to craft together chances. Best for Mike Moloney’s side were Adam Kilker, Diarmuid Molloy, Fiachra Hale and the Withycombe brothers.
Beating Lifford a week previous was a big lift for Ennis Dons who also ran Newmarket Celtic very close. For large stages they competed with Avenue Utd, this outing was more positive in that sense but also similar in that they failed to finish the game strong. Stephen Jordan at right-full was their standout player.
Tulla Utd: Gearoid Austin; Adam McNamara, Diarmuid Molloy, Dara Ryan, Greg McNamara; Adam Kilker, Ian Macnamara, Fiachra Hale, Dan Withycombe, Seán Withycombe; Ayoub Aguerram.
Subs: Jashar Aliu for D Withycombe (65), Daragh Corry for Aguerram (72), Frankie O’Sullivan for S Withycombe (77), Cormac Hale for F Hale (85), Jack McSweeney for Macnamara (90)
Ennis Dons: James Tierney, Stephen Jordan, Ethan Cronin, Alex Akujobi, Aaron Duggan; Seun Olanrewaju; Thomas Collins; Kingsley Makombe, Kaylan O’Loughlin, Philip Talty; Donal O’Halloran.
Subs: M Akujobi for Collins (54), Jack Arra for Olanrewaju (55), Peter O’Brien for O’Loughlin (75).
Referee: Paudie Hayes
