This weekend’s rivals met in two other deciders
THIS Sunday’s Homeland Senior Football Championship decider is only the third time in the history of the Owen B Hunt Cup that St Mary’s and Tourlestrane are meeting in the competition’s final.
The clubs previously met in the county finals of 2004 and 2016, with Tourlestrane winning both.
Their 2004 joust went to a replay, with two pointed frees from Matthew Walsh in second-half stoppage time giving Tourlestrane a share of the spoils, 1-8 to 2-5, and forcing a rematch at Markievicz Park.
Mark Breheny scored 2-3 for St Mary’s and his third point – a converted free in the final minute of normal time– gave St Mary’s, then managed by Glenn Young, a two-point lead. Brendan Egan and John Marren impressed for the Anthony Brennanmanaged Tourlestrane in the drawn encounter, with John Marren scoring Tourlestrane’s goal in the 49th minute. The Rooney brothers, Aidan and Mark, shone for St Mary’s, Mark especially, with the Sligo town side also having ex-Westmeath player Ger Heavin in their attack.
Tourlestrane won the replay by five points, 2-9 to 2-4, as they overturned a six-point deficit in the first-half. For what was their first title since 1999, team captain Eamonn O’Hara had a powerful game, so too Matthew Walsh, who was named Player of the Match. Mark Rooney netted two first-half goals for St Mary’s, with Eamonn O’Hara’s goal keeping Tourlestrane within two points of St Mary’s at halftime, 2-3 to 1-4.
Substitute Eamon Walsh’s second-half goal wrapped up Tourlestrane’s win against a St Mary’s side that only scored once in the second period – Mark Breheny’s pointed free after 36 minutes.
Twelve years later when the clubs renewed rivalries in the biggest club game of the year, St Mary’s were the defending champions, having won the dismissals – referee John Gilmartin issued red cards to Tourlestrane’s Pat Harte and Noel Gaughan in second-half stoppage time.
There were also red cards in the closing stages for St Mary’s – Fintan Ruddy and Kyle Cawley were both dismissed, the latter for his part in a brawl that erupted at the final whistle.
Tourlestrane: