Tourlestrane too strong for CT Gaels
THE curtain raiser to the ladies Senior final in Kilcoyne Park on Saturday was the meeting of south Sligo neighbours Tourlestrane and CT Gaels in the Intermediate decider and with the club’s men also in action a day later in the Senior final, the green and gold supporters were hoping their ladies would start the weekend in a winning fashion.
A large crowd of supporters from both sides were out cheering on their respective teams despite the horrendous weather.
Unfortunately from a CT Gaels perspective, they certainly did so in quite some fashion in a rain drenched Tubbercurry as the conditions were extremely challenging for both sides.
It was a game Tourlestrane completely controlled from start to finish and they were deserving winners on the day but CT Gaels who are a very young team will no doubt be back again.
The opening first half saw the majority of play in the CT Gaels half as the rampant Tourlestrane attack seemed never ending.
They managed to outscore their opponents by 2-7 to no score at the interval and it was the green and yellow who were really on top with Grainne Carty at full forward causing lots of headaches for CT Gaels’s defence who were under constant pressure.
The second half saw more positive attacks from CT Gaels and they managed to score 1-4 in this period, the goal coming from midfielder Ciara Gannon on 48 minutes.
The winners however managed to find the net 5 times and their first of these arrived within the first minute.
Laura Surlis and Nikki Brennan involved in the build up play, stealing possession from CT Gaels and it was the lethal Carty who found the net, following up with a point a minute later.
CT Gaels keeper Laura McIntyre had a busy afternoon and pulled off a number of fine saves including a fine stop on Tara Walsh in the opening minutes.
There was little she could do to prevent Tourlestrane’s second goal on 7 minutes Tara Walsh and the excellent Katie Walsh finding Surlis who slotted home. Carty and Tara Walsh added 2 more points before the net minder was once again called in to make another fine save on Surlis with another Tourlestrane goal definitely on the cards.
Two more Tourlestrane goal chances in the moments later skewed wide and also hit the post with Katie Walsh, Tara Walsh and Grainne Carty all adding more points before the break.
Four minutes after the resumption and Tourlestrane found the net for the 3rd time, this time midfielder Nikki Brennan on target after brilliant work from Tara Walsh. Another outstanding point from Carty pushed Tourlestrane further in front before down the other end, CT Gaels got on the scoreboard through a Laura Gannon free and seconds later they had a goal chance with Eva Currid’s shot coming off the post falling to Gannon who pointed.
CT Gaels keeper Laura McIntyre once again was called on to pull off a fantastic save on substitute Sarah Cunney with the ball bouncing into the arms of Katie Walsh and the inter-county forward didn’t hesitate in goaling.
CT Gaels went on the counter-attack with Amy Currid moving through the Tourlestrane defence, a good block on her attempt falling to Gannon and the midfielder slotted into the back of the Tourlestrane net with 12 minutes to go, the goal being cheered by the CT Gaels support.
Tourlestrane were not done with scoring goals their fifth one coming from a fine pass from Anna Corcoran to Surlis who fisted to the net for her second as CT Gaels added the final 2 points through Ciara Henry and a Gannon free. It was Tourlestrane’s day as the green and gold now progress to the next stage in Connacht.