Emphatic win for Tour in LGFA Senior semi-final
Sligo LGFA Connacht Gold
Senior Champions Semi-Final Tourlestrane 10-8 Eastern Harps 1-9
ATTACKER Lauren Normanly scored an outrageous 5-4 and Tourlestrane scored 10 goals on their way to an incredible 26-point defeat of Eastern Harps, 10-8 to 1-9, in last Sunday’s Sligo LGFA Connacht Gold Senior Championship semi-final at Tourlestrane.
This one-sided contest was in stark contrast to August’s Sligo LGFA Adult League Division One final when Tourlestrane and Eastern Harps couldn’t be separated after extra-time at Curry – that wonderful joust ended 3-17 apiece.
Tourlestrane, who take on St Nathy’s in this Saturday’s county final at Markievicz Park were on their way to victory at the interval last Sunday when they led by 17 points, 5-6 to 0-4, with two goals apiece from Cora Gilligan and Lauren Normanly, while Katie Walsh found the net after a powerful run.
Eastern Harps, even with Athlone Town’s SSE Women’s National League star Roisin Molloy in their attack, were left dizzy by this first-half goal deluge – they only managed four first-half scores, all points from Tara Phillips. There was a glimmer of hope for Eastern Harps who at least thought they could test Tourlestrane’s new goalkeeper as Jade Walsh came in for the injured Laura Walsh – but the replacement custodian made three excellent saves.
The outcome was confirmed in the opening five minutes of the second period when Lauren Normanly scored her third goal and Tara Walsh also goaled. There was a mini-response from Eastern Harps, who shot 1-2 – Roisin Molloy scored 1-1 and Megan McCormack landed a point.
The goals kept coming from the home side – there were two more goals from Lauren Normanly, who impressed for Tourlestrane in the recent Sligo LGFA Minor Championship ‘A’ Cup final, scoring 1-9 in her side’s loss to Drumcliffe-Rosses Point.
Cora Gilligan then added her second goal of proceedings.
Eastern Harps kept trying to at least take the harsh look off the scoreboard – substitute Lisa Casey chipped in with three neat points in the second-half, with one long-range effort especially notable.
Player of the Match: Lauren Normanly Tourlestrane: Laura Walsh, Orla Fleming, Erin Deehan, Shauna Henry, Catherine Marren, Aisling Egan, Sinead Mooney, Sarah Cunney, Cora Gilligan (22), Tara Walsh (1-0), Lauren Normanly (5-4, 1f), Leah Walsh, Molly Kennedy (0-1), Katie Walsh (1-1), Ciara Walsh (1-0)
Subs used: Jade Walsh, Anna Corcoran, Ciara Brennan, Amy Kennedy, Laura Surlis, Caoimhe Gilligan, Laura Durkin
Eastern Harps: Eimear Henry, Emma Hannon,
Sarah Gallagher, Edel McNulty, Sarah Conheady, Leanne McGowan, Grace Rafferty, Lisa Powell, Amy McGovern, Megan McCormack (0-1), Katie Hannon, Riona Hannon, Roisin Molloy (1-1, 1f), Tara Phillips (0-4, 2f), Eimear Connolly
Subs used: Lisa Casey (0-3), Aoife Lyons, Nollaig O’Dowd, Aideen Coyle, Alisha O’Dowd
Referee: Gus Chapman