Minor glory for Shamrock Gaels with win over Tourlestrane
SHAMROCK GAELS TOURLESTRANE 3-10 2-5
TWO goals from the boot of Roisin Kearns and five points courtesy of Makayla McLoughlin inspired Shamrock Gaels to the Connacht Gold U18 Minor A title in Tubbercurry on Thursday last.
Gaels’ start gave a hint as to how this game would go. Slack defending from Tourlestrane allowed the in-form Kearns plenty of time and space to slip the ball past Colette Walsh for the opening goal with less than one minute gone.
Points from Tara Walsh, Sarah Cunnie and Cathy Brennan saw Tourlestrane recover from that early blow. But a superb pass from Jane Benson found Kearns in space once again as she registered her second goal in eleven minutes. Tourlestrane now leading by four.
Things got worse for the south Sligo ladies when Shamrock Gaels had their third goal on 13. A fine one-two between Mairead Tuohy and Jade Lyons leading to the latter smashing home for Gaels’ third.
David Bailey’s side kept in touch with a goal of their own just one minute later. Ciara Brennan catching straight from a kick-out out to supply Cathy Brennan who finished with ease.
But further white flags from McLoughlin, Erin Mullaney and Rachel Boyd meant Shamrock Gaels kept their distance until the break, leading by seven.
The south Sligo girls were on top for large periods of this second half but were unable to bridge the gap. Laura Surlis capitalising on poor marking to cut the gap to four with just moments of the second period played.
However and despite having the majority of the play in the second half, Tourlestrane would only go on to fire over two more scores.
Mullaney, McLoughlin, Benson and Rachel Boyd and all kept Gaels ticking over, while Tourlestrane had Catriona Mooney sin-binned for persistent fouling.
The green and gold broke their 22 minute spell without a score with six minutes left as Surlis pointed.
But the contest had been decided at that stage. Substitute Nadine Hargodan completing the scoring as Shamrock Gaels ran out eight point winners.