Tourlestrane march into semi finals
13-point margin.
St Molaise Gaels were dealt a blow very early in the first half when their influential full forward Alan McLoughlin had to depart with only 6 minutes on the clock through injury, replaced by Cathal Herron.
It was the south Sligo side who exuded their dominance in the early stages of the opening half, both sides went without scoring until 8 minutes when Rian Kennedy got the game’s first score through a free after Cathal Henry was fouled.
The next move resulted in the ball being in the back of the St Molaise Gaels net after a mistake from keeper Niall McLoughlin gifted possession to Liam Gaughan who fed brother Gary Gaughan as Tourlestrane leapt into a 4 point lead.
It was Gary Gaughan again who earned a free as all the play was with the south Sligo outfit, Kennedy again tapping over.
They could have even extended this lead further only for McLoughlin pulling off a fine save to deny Gary Gaughan yet again after a fine pass from the excellent Johnny Kelly.
St Molaise Gaels were guilty of some indisciplined fouling which Tourlestrane exploited and two mores frees from Kennedy and Liam Gaughan had them ahead by 8 with 17 minutes gone.
The North Sligo outfit got on the scoreboard through a Gallagher free on 18 minutes before they were dealt another blow in the first half when captain Cathal Burns was black carded on 27 minutes as the hardworking Cathal Henry pointed from play for Tourlestrane who were in cruise control at this stage.
A brilliant point from play from St Molaise Gaels’ Gerald Brady was quickly followed by another from teammate Paddy McGowan, also from play, as the deficit was reduced to 6 points at the break, Tourlestrane leading by 1-6 to 0-3.
The half-time team talk must have ignited some fire in St Molaise Gaels as they looked more decisive going forward after the resumption.
Gallagher linked up with Gilsenan who was fouled with the former converting the free before they were right back in the game.
St Molaise Gaels’ momentum was stronger in the opening stages of this half and when Luke Towey won possession way deep into his own half he had his eyes set on goal.
The corner forward ran a considerable distance before coolly slotting to the back of Alan Bowes in the Tourlestrane net and there was little the keeper could have done.
The North Sligo support had finally found their voice with 25 minutes to go. Tourlestrane responded clinically through a fine point from Liam Gaughan on 36 minutes before moments later referee Micahel Duffy signalled a clear penalty after Gary Gaughan was brought down.
Harte’s shot went to the right and wide but Tourlestrane were finding their grip again on the game. Another Liam Gaughan free put 4 between them as St Molaise Gaels were guilty of handing possession directly to their opponents.
In what looked like an impossible angle, Liam Gaughan’s attempt sailed between the posts on 42 minutes, a brilliant score from the impressive full forward.
St Molaise Gaels hit two wides in a row before Tourlestrane captain James Leonard got on the scoreboard with a well-taken point from play on 45 minutes as 6 separated them.
The game was pretty much over as a contest on 48 minutes when Tourlestrane got their second goal which looked to be coming for sometime, Johnny Kelly with a brilliant pass finding substitute Cian Surlis who found the net, the holders leading by 2-11 to 1-4.
St Molaise Gaels’s chances to attack were being smothered by a strong Tourlestrane defence as Leonard pointed again as did influential substitute John Marren. Cathal Herron was threatening toward the Tourlestrane goalmouth late on but Brian Kennedy defended expertly as Tourlestrane march into the semi-final with Coolera/Strandhill.
TOURLESTRANE: A Bowes, K O’Hara, B Walsh, B Kennedy, O Kennedy, A McIntyre, J Leonard (C), S Henry, P Harte, A Dunne, C Henry, R Kennedy, G Gaughan, L Gaughan, J Kelly.
Subs used: C Surlis for O’Hara (45), J Marren for R Kennedy (52), S Dunne for McIntyre (55), D Leonard for B Kennedy (60).
Scorers: G Gaughan (1-0), C Surlis (1-0), R Kennedy (0-5, 4f), L Gaughan (0-5, 4f), J Leonard (0-2), J Marren (0-2), C Henry (0-1).
ST MOLAISE GAELS: N McLoughlin, E Farrell, G Gilsenan, J Brennan, E McHugh, P McGowan, J Kelly, C Burns (C), M Quinn, J McLoughlin, D Gilsenan, L Towey, C O’Domhnaill, A McLoughlin, D Gallagher.
Subs used: C Herron for A McLoughlin (inj 6), G Brady for Brennan (25), D Keaney for Burns (b/c 27), D Elliot for G Gilsenan (h/t), D Carroll for O’Domhnaill (39), A Currid for J McLoughlin (52).
Scorers: L Towey (1-0), D Gallagher (0-2, 2f), G Brady (0-1), P McGowan (0-1), C Herron (0-1, 1f).
REFEREE: M Duffy.