Tourlestrane ladies win Intermediate
THE Connacht Gold Division 2 Final saw Tourlestrane taking on south Sligo’s Eastern Harps at the weekend in Cloonacool.
The Tourlestrane ladies showed great spirit to overcome a very talented Eastern Harps side.
Harps went into the lead twice in the opening minutes, as Tourlestrane responded with scores from Captain Shauna Henry and Tara Walsh.
Unfortunately for Harps, they didn’t score again until they were eight points down.
The Tourlestrane scores came from Grainne Carty ( 3) and a Leonie Gaughan penalty.
Harps got two scores back, but Leonie Gaughan struck another point before the break, after a brilliant pass from corner back Shauna Walsh.
The half time score wasTourlestrane 1- 8 Eastern Harps 0- 4.
Eastern Harps started the stronger of the two sides in the second half, thanks to a goal from corner forward Megan McCormack.
This was shortening Tourlestrane’s leading margin to 1- 9 to 1- 7.
An unfortunate sin bin for Laura Walsh meant that Tourlestrane had to work even harder to hold the game.
Tourlestrane defenders such as Molly Kennedy, Rebecca O’Hara and Ellen Bailey worked extremely hard to keep the Harps attack out.
Saves from goalkeeper Colette Walsh were also greatly contributing.
The midfield pairing of Anna Corcoran and Aisling Egan played a huge influence on the game, aiding in attack and defence.
A goal from centre half forward Nikki Brennan showed to be the real turning point in the game, as Eastern Harps could only respond with one point for the remainder of the tie.
Leonie Gaughan added three more points to her tally, as Sarah Cunney, Laura Surlis and Tara Walsh kept the shooters supplied.
Tourlestrane’s substitutes played a huge role in keeping the score line in their favour, with Katie Molloy and Dearbhla Jones carrying the ball up the field, and closing down the opposition.
Laura Hegarty, another substitute, also contributed a point, which was to be the last of the game.
The match finished 2- 15 to 1- 8 in favour of Tourlestrane.
Both teams gave their all in a brilliant game of football.
In fairness to Harps, they put up a strong fight, and the score line did not do justice to their efforts.
Congratulations to the management team of David Bailey, Enda Kelly, Austin Walsh and Jenny Lundy, who have put together an outstanding ladies team, hopeful of bringing home some more silverware come Championship.
Tourlestrane: Colette Walsh; Ellen Bailey, Laura Walsh, Shauna Walsh; Molly Kennedy, Shauna Henry( 0- 2), Rebecca O’Hara; Aisling Egan, Anna Corcoran; Sarah Cunney, Nikki Brennan( 1- 2), Tara Walsh( 0- 1); Grainne Carty( 0- 3), Leonie Gaughan( 1- 5), Laura Surlis( 0- 1); Katie Molloy, Dearbhla Jones, Laura Hegarty( 0- 1), Liz Grier, Rachel Walsh, Lisa Walsh, Tiffany Murtagh, Ciara Henry, Caroline McGowan, Catherine Marren, Cathy Brennan,
IN FAIRNESS TO HARPS, THEY PUT UP A STRONG FIGHT