Goodings inspires Tullamore to emphatic win over Sligo

Tullamore Town 4 Sligo Rovers 0 Tullamore lifted themselves into joint third place in the league table with this comprehensive victory over a talented Sligo Rovers side in Leah Victoria Park last Saturday. It was confirmation, if any was needed, of the enormous strides made by the team under manager Mark Dempsey and his assistants Brian O"Shea and Tony Albin and, with seven games remaining, pushes them into the thick of the promotion race. The visitors started this match the brighter and with only two minutes gone a lofted ball into the area was fired over by Mikey Creane and minutes later Joe Mooney had to be quickly off his line to clear from the in-rushing Creane. They again threatened when Conor Griffin headed over when well placed while, at the other end, Simon Keegan"s glancing header flew the wrong side of the post. As Brian Francis and Kevin Duffy began to get a grip on midfield, Town came more into the game and they again went close when a Darren Coleman free was knocked out to Duffy but his shot cleared the crossbar. With half an hour on the clock Shane Brannigan flashed a fine long-range effort inches past Mooney"s left upright but, five minutes later, the home side made the vital breakthrough. Brendan Bracken played a great ball through to Mark Goodings and he held it up before slipping it to Simon Keegan, who expertly placed the ball inside the far post to put his side ahead. With five minutes remaining in the first half Sligo squandered a wonderful chance to equalise when Danny Fallon headed the ball down to Daniel Breslin, who had just come on, but the substitute blasted his effort over from two yards out to leave the score 1-0 at the interval. Tullamore were quickly out of the traps on the resumption with Brian Francis bursting through the middle and bringing a fine save from keeper Michael Schlinnermann. With Stephen Duffy being forced out through injury, Gary Buckley was brought on wide on the right and, with 55 minutes on the clock, the home side increased their lead when another surging run on the right by Francis saw him pull the ball back to Kevin Duffy, and he unerringly drilled his shot low into the bottom right hand corner for a fine goal. It was nearly a case of déjà vu five minutes later when Mark Goodings broke clear on the right and cut the ball back to Buckley but this time Schlinnermann got down to save. Goodings was again in the thick of the action when he brilliantly controlled the ball in the middle before playing a great ball out to Simon Keegan wide on the left and, when he was taken down, Brendan Bracken and Eoghan O"Shea just failed to get on the end of Duffy"s free kick. Town again went close when Goodings picked out the flying Buckley on the right but the talented youngster saw his shot drift inches outside the far post and minutes later Schlinnermann had to be at his best to keep out a great Darren Coleman effort. Mark Goodings topped off a fine individual display on seventy minutes when he got on the end of a lovely lofted pass from Stephen Francis and cleverly lobbed the ball over the advancing keeper and into the empty net. With Michael Hoey and Willie Duffy being introduced, the home side nearly went further ahead when a tremendous Darren Coleman cross shot was superbly saved by Schlinnermann and the same player again went close when Hoey picked him out wide on the left and his effort flew just outside the far post. Minutes later Coleman returned the favour when Michael Hoey got on the end of his corner kick to send a lovely near post header into the back of the net to put his side four up. Goodings very nearly had the last word when he picked the ball up on the left wing and cut inside before sending a great effort inches over as the referee brought the curtain down on a very impressive team performance. This was a win in which everyone played their part with the man-of-the-match award going to the outstanding Mark Goodings. With the visit of Finn Harps on Sunday (July 12, kick-off 3pm), Tullamore will be hoping to keep their great run going as they set their sights firmly on the First Division in what is turning out to be a momentous season. Tullamore Town: Joe Mooney, Stephen Francis, Brendan Bracken, Eoghan O"Shea, Shane Mannion, Stephen Duffy, Brian Francis, Kevin Duffy, Darren Coleman, Mark Goodings and Simon Keegan. Subs : Gary Buckley, Michael Hoey, Willie Duffy, Michael Kenaney, Mark Clohessy and Ross Whittaker. Other News The Sligo match was kindly sponsored by Dinny O"Meara and Kevin O"Connor of D&K Refuse Collection. At half-time, Tullamore Town Council chairman Tommy McKeigue presented League winners" medals to the victorious Under-10 team who, under managers John Connolly and Stuart Kavanagh, had remained unbeaten for the entire season. For the second year running, Tullamore Town just fell short in the prestigious FAI Club of the Year Awards in Monaghan last Friday with Dunboyne AFC from Co. Meath capturing the big prize.