Scorching Paddy has the means

Scorching Paddy has the means

11 July 2018

SHARPSHOOTER Paddy Grant enabled Teconnaught to maintain their unbeaten run at a balmy Ballynoe on Friday night.

The ruthlessly efficient corner forward notched up 1-9 of Teconnaught’s total and just as well as Bright had the runaway leaders pinned to their collar at times.

Both sides were missing several key players, but it was Bright who hit the ground running.

Early points from Rian Tempany and the ebullient Gareth George had Bright seizing the initiative, but a Grant free in the fifth minute pegged the hosts back.

Further scores from Corey Ranaghan and George gave Bright a 0-4 to 0-1 lead by the 11th minute, but four consecutive Grant points eased to the visitors into a 0-5 to 0-4 lead in the blink of an eye as Bright were punished for every little piece of defensive indiscipline.

Lorcan McDonnell and another effortless effort from Grant stretched Teconnaught’s lead to three points before two cracking points just before the break from Cailean Toner sent Bright in trailing by the minimum, 0-7 to 0-6.

It was expected that Bright would push on a bit at the start of the second half, but it was Teconnaught who stole a march on their hosts with a few dogged power plays.

A converted Grant free and an opportunistic goal from the same player, after a sweeping build-up, had the visitors well in command with a five-point lead after 36 minutes.

That quickly became double scores when Tony Davis split the posts with a delightful score.

Just to rub salt into the wounds a Grant free gave Teconnaught a 1-10 to 0-6 lead, but the game was far from over.

Teconnaught were dealt a blow when Shane Brennan was red-carded midway through the half and within minutes Freddie O’Connor was on hand to steer the ball over the line after an untidy scramble.

George and Andrew McCartan exchanged points before George converted a penalty to leave a single point between the sides, 2-7 to 1-11.

The game was now at fever point and cranked up even further when Bright’s Tempany was black carded. The outcome was in the melting pot until McCartan and Grant soothed Teconnaught’s nerves with late frees.

The action was far from over and still time for Teconnaught’s Rory Anderson and Bright’s Noel Travers to see red before George registered Bright’s last score with a converted free.

Bright: J Hanna, J Farrand, B Mageean, M Burns, M Burke, S Tumelty, N Travers, C Toner (0-2), G George (1-4, 1 pen, 2f), O Tumelty, R Tempany (0-1), C Ranaghan (0-1), M Murphy, F O’Connor (1-0), C Tumelty. Subs: C McLaughlin for C Tumelty, C Tumelty for Murphy, S P McMenamin for Tempany (black card) 

Teconnaught: J Kelly, R McDonnell, C Greene, R Sweeney, S Brennan, S Larkin, J Greene, T Davis (0-1), J Larkin, D Kelly, R Anderson, D McGreevy, P Grant (1-9, 7f), L McDonnell (0-1), A McCartan (0-2f). Subs: M McMullan for S Larkin, C Degan for L McDonnell.