Timmons inspires Graiguecullen comeback as Emo fade badly
Mark Timmons (Graiguecullen) moving to break with Ruairi Bourke (Emo) giving chase in their SFC Rd 1 game at Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Wednesday Photo: Denis Byrne
Graiguecullen 0-19
Emo 1-8
GRAIGUECULLEN produced a brilliant comeback in the second half to open up their Laois Shopping Centre SFC campaign with an eight-point win against Emo in Laois Hire O'Moore Park on Wednesday night.
Emo looked in control at the break leading 1-7 to 0-5, but Graiguecullen came out a different animal in the second half to win comfortably in the end.
Emo made a fast start in this game and would be up by three points in no time at all, first the brilliant Pa Hosey pointed to kick off his championship campaign.
They then increased their lead after a wonderful two pointer effort from Darren Strong and it looked like Emo were in control.
Mark Timmons got a badly needed score for Graigue after a few chances went astray. Emo responded again through Padraig Kirwan with a brilliant effort that split the posts.
Emo went further ahead after a great mark by Ruairi Bourke who was a late addition to the Emo side.
Graiguecullen were growing into the game and nearly hit the back of the net in the next attack, but Dylan Murphy's effort crashed against the crossbar.
They then finally settled into the game and kicked the next three points through Dylan Murphy who hit a brace while Josh O'Brien got the other.
Emo then finished the half the stronger with Hosey and Niall Gorman (free) adding two more scores for their side.
They then hit the back of the net after Emo won a kickout and worked the ball into Ross Meredith who dummied the goalie and put the ball into the back of the net to leave Emo in the lead 1-7 to 0-5 at half time.
Emo were having all the ball in the early stages of the second half but couldn't make it count as they had three wides in the space of five minutes.
Mark Timmons got Graiguecullen off the mark in the second half with an outrageous two-pointer which gave Graiguecullen renewed energy for the rest of the contest.
Dylan Murphy added a free with Graiguecullen starting to win all the breaks around the middle of the field.
Graiguecullen then reduced the gap to a point after the brilliant Jack Byrne split the posts as his side had all the momentum now Pa Hosey got a badly needed score in the 43rd minute and incredibly this was to be their last score of the match as Graiguecullen ran riot in the last 17 minutes.
Murphy and Jack Byrne levelled matters as Emo were really struggling to get a foothold in the second half.
Jack Byrne then put Graiguecullen into the lead for the first time of the game and from there on in Graiguecullen were very impressive.
Mark Timmons was in an inspired mood and would kick his second two-pointer of the half to open up a three-point lead 0-14 to 1-8 with 11 minutes left.
The victors were just too powerful in the second period with Daniel O'Reilly making a huge impact around the middle coming off the bench midway through the second half.
They were playing with confidence now and would kick three more points through Timmons, Brian Byrne and Trevor Collins to put them further ahead.
Emo went in search of goals trying to get back into the affair, they had a chance from Nigel Murphy whose shot flashed past the post and wide.
Graiguecullen kicked the last two scores of the game through Aaron Forbes and Jack Byrne completing a great comeback win.
SCORERS:
Graiguecullen: Mark Timmons 0-6 (2 tps), Dylan Murphy (0-1f) and Jack Byrne 0-4 each, Aidan Bradley, Josh O'Brien, Brian Byrne, Trevor Collins and Aaron Forbes 0-1 each.
Emo: Pa Hosey 0-3, Ross Meredith 1-0, Padraig Kirwan, Ruairi Bourke (mark) and Niall Gorman (f) 0-1 each.
GRAIGUECULLEN: Luke Dooley; Warith Oyeniyi, Danny McGrath, Seanie McGrath; Eoin Aylesbury, Trevor Collins, Brian Byrne; Mark Timmons, Jamie Sheehan; Danny O'Brien, Josh O'Brien, Dylan Murphy; Jamie O'Brien, Aidan Bradley, Jack Byrne.
Subs: Daniel O'Reilly for Aidan Bradley (44m), Aaron Forbes for Josh O'Brien (57m), Aaron Cullen for Murphy (59m).
EMO: Stephen Norton; Tom Fennelly, Brian Gorman, Shane Murphy; Sean Greene, Cian Langford, Darren Strong; Eibhin Joyce, Padraig Kirwan; Nigel Murphy, Charlie Hand, Ross Meredith; Pa Hosey, Ruairi Bourke, Niall Gorman.
Subs: James O'Rourke for Joyce (53m), Paul Lawlor for Bourke (54m).
REFEREE: Hugh Coughlan (Park/Ratheniska)
