Francis strike is pick of the bunch

The Tullamore resurgence continued apace as they extended their unbeaten run to seven games with this emphatic win over Dublin side Manortown in Leah Victoria Park last Friday. This was a game in which the superior fitness of the home team ensured that the visitors were constantly on the back foot. Were it not for a lack of sharpness in front of goal, the winning margin would have been significantly greater. With only seven minutes gone they hit the front when fine work between Peter Martin and Michael Hoey resulted in Martin drilling the ball low into the bottom right hand corner. Manortown could consider themselves unlucky when they had the ball in the net from a set piece but it was ruled out for offside. Encouraged by this they hit back and were only denied by some fine goalkeeping from Joe Mooney, but, with debutant Scott Delaney playing superbly at the back and Peter and Alan Martin raiding to great effect on the wings, Town continued to press and again went close when Hoey cut the ball back to Kevin Duffy, but his effort flew narrowly wide. Manortown almost got themselves back in the game when a long range effort cracked off the crossbar with Fergal Gorman first to react to clear his lines while at the other end Brian Francis appeared to have a good shout for a penalty but play was waved on. But they were not to be denied when with five minutes remaining in the first half Mark Goodings skipped past two defenders before being hauled down and Kevin Duffy drove the resultant spotkick home to leave the score 2-0 at the interval. Tullamore began the second half as they had finished the first with Michael Hoey going close but the visitors got themselves back into the game when they were awarded a penalty which was duly converted. As the home side hit back Mark Goodings crashed a wonderful effort off the inside of the upright and then the Manortown keeper did well to turn a Hoey piledriver around the post. Town increased their lead when Goodings picked out Joe O"Connor on the right and his excellent cut back was fired home by Hoey. The home side were to leave the best wine until last when Brian Francis gathered the ball on the halfway line and raced through the Manortown defence before unleashing a 20-yard rocket into the top left hand corner of the net to put the seal on a well deserved victory. The return of Simon Keegan from injury was most welcome while a late injury to Stephen Francis was the only worry for the management team of Tony Albin and Kevin O"Connor. In what was a fine all round performance there were outstanding contributions from Joe Mooney, Fergal Gorman, Peter Martin and Brian Francis, but the man of the match award went to Town"s central defender Scott Delaney. Tullamore: Joe Mooney, Fergal Gorman, Scott Delaney, Stephen Francis, Stewart Kavanagh, Peter Martin, Brian Francis, Kevin Duffy, Alan Martin, Michael Hoey and Mark Goodings. Subs: Joe O"Connor and Simon Keegan (both used). Friendly Fixture With Tullamore in such a rich vein of form there is a mouth watering tie in prospect when they take on League of Ireland side Athlone Town next Tuesday, 24th February, in Leah Victoria Park. Kick-off 8pm.