Tourlestrane retain Junior ‘A’ status after intense joust

PRE-MATCH SMILES: Prior to the start of last Saturday’s Connacht Gold Junior ‘A’ Football Championship relegation final at Nace O’Dowd Park were, Niall Durkin (Tourlestrane captain), Keith Henry (match referee) and Conor Maher (Curry captain). Connacht Gold Jnr ‘A’ C’ship Relegation Final Tourlestrane

Curry 1-16 0-12

TWO years ago Tourlestrane’s second XV won the Connacht Gold Junior ‘A’ Football Championship final. Last year they were relegated from the Intermediate ranks. On Saturday last they showed sufficient class to overcome their neighbours and south Sligo rivals, Curry, in the Junior ‘A’ relegation decider, winning by seven points, 1-16 to 0-12, at Achonry’s Nace O’Dowd Park.

For three-quarters of this contest matters were relatively even. There was no trophy at stake but neither team wanted to slip back to the Junior ‘B’ grade.

Curry had an outstanding finisher in Bertie Gallagher, who contributed eight points, and Tourlestrane had an equally adept scorer in David Brennan, who scored 0-6.

This game could have boiled down to which of these forwards had the best day.

But Gallagher was left to carry the majority of Curry’s threat, although Paddy Burke (up until injury forced him off in the first-half), Enda Walsh and Greg Maher were especially busy. Ferghal Brennan also showed glimpses of talent.

Tourlestrane, however, had more than just David Brennan’s input. Rian Bailey, an enterprising centre-forward, supplied five points. Tourlestrane’s midfield pairing – Cian Surlis and Cathal Fleming – was responsible for 1-3.

A goal in the first minute of second-half stoppage time from Cian Surlis, who scored after getting an assist from Tomás Henry, put the icing on Tourlestrane’s victory cake.

Defensively, team captain Niall Durkin, Colin Neary and Jon Durkin stood out for Tourlestrane.

What particularly swayed matters for the winners was the fact that they, collectively, had more in the tank for the latter stages of the second-half. Their substitutes did better, too, with Enda Kelly getting on the ball and two others, Darren O’Hara and Tomás

MENTOR: Richard Kennedy, who is part of Tourlestrane’s Junior team management. 13th minute.

Among these points was a shot from David Brennan and Curry’s goalkeeper, Oisin Hannon, tipped over and a superb effort by Rian Bailey. The remainder of the opening period was tit for tat as both teams did good things but then made errors, as it the way with Junior ‘A’ grade. Bertie Gallagher landed a sublime point for Curry and he also popped a shot over – from a Danny O’Hara pass – when a goal was on.

David Brennan was responsible for another Tourlestrane highlight – he cut in along the endline and clipped a point from a tight angle.

It was level at half-time, 0-8 apiece. The first 16 minutes of the second-half were tight. Bertie Gallagher kicked two more points for Curry who could have goaled if a shot from Kevin Giblin had a lower trajectory. Tourlestrane were beginning to show more purpose, with David Brennan again displaying accuracy, and two pointed frees from Rian Bailey was an example of their greater firepower.

Player of the Match: David Brennan Tourlestrane: Jack Lundy, Diarmuid

Dunne, Niall Durkin (c), Darren Leonard,

Jon Durkin, Colin Neary, Adrian Walsh, Cian Surlis (1-2), Cathal Fleming (0-1), Stephen Clarke, Rian Bailey (0-5, 3f, 1 ‘mark’), Cormac Dolan, Conor Surlis, David Brennan (0-6, 2f), Danny Cawley

Subs used: Enda Kelly, Darren O’Hara (0-1), Tomas Henry (0-1)

Curry: Oisin Hannon, Gerry Henry, Blaine McIntyre, Conor Maher (c), Enda Walsh (0-1), Gary Walsh, Paddy Burke, Darragh McDonagh, Aidan O’Hora, Colin Brennan, Greg Maher (0-1), Bertie Gallagher (0-8,

5f), Oisin Frizzell, Kevin Giblin (0-1), Ferghal Brennan (0-1)

Subs used: Declan Walsh, Keith Davey, Andy Pearce, Sean Byrne

Referee: Keith Henry