Holders Tourlestrane take on Drumcliffe
TOURLESTRANE 0-13 DRUMCLIFFE/ROSSES POINT 1-7
IF spectators at the double header in Markievicz Park were expecting a dominating performance from holders Tourlestrane, they were in for a very close encounter instead.
Drumcliffe/Rosses Point put in a hugely spirited showing and kept Tourlestrane in check right until the final whistle with only a mere goal separating the sides at the finish.
It took Tourlestrane a while to settle and the will also be ruining their missed chances, having nine wides in the first half an a further five in the second period.
The North Sligo outfit didn’t seem at all fazed at taking on the current Champions, who are also tipped to do the double this year.
The Eamonn O’Hara/Gerry McGowan managed Tourlestrane with a strong panel of 36 were ahead by a narrow margin of two points at the break, with Drumcliffe/Rosses Point still very much in the game right until the end.
It was the South Sligo side who were first to score, corner forward Liam Gaughan, one of their most prolific sharp-shooters on the evening, getting their first point on three minutes after a pass from John Kelly.
Cathal Henry, who was also impressive up front for Tourlestrane added another and it was Henry who was on target with two more points, one from play in the 6th minute and a converted free in the 8th as Tourlestrane had a four point cushion with Drumcliffe/Rosses Point yet to score.
It was Paul Logan who got the North Sligo side on the scoreboard through a free on ten minutes with Niall Canning adding another to halve the Tourlestrane advantage.
A brilliant score from play by Gaughan was followed by a wellstruck Henry free on 25 minutes as Tourlestrane were hitting a significant number of wides in the opening half.
They were leading comfortably when Gaughan got his third as the interval was approaching.
Drumcliffe/Rosses Point were right back in the game just before referee Conor Conway signalled half-time.
A brilliant move from the lively midfielder Cian Lally saw him link up with the alert Canning who passed back to Lally who scored the only goal of the game.
Drumcliffe/Rosses Point were adrift by two points at the interval, Tourlestrane leading by 0-7 to 1-2 with spectators expecting a close second half which was indeed the case.
The hard-working John Kelly got the first score of the second half two minutes after the resumption but Drumcliffe/Rosses Point responded through Cian Lally, the basketball star using his height at fielding well in the air.
Drumcliffe/Rosses Point were not giving up by any means. The influential Gaughan got his fourth point of the evening to give Tourlestrane a three point lead on 36 minutes which was replied to by Logan, getting his second on 37 minutes. Kelly again was on target for the south Sligo side on 41 minutes as they led once again by a goal. Logan responded for Drumcliffe/Rosses Point, while the shooting was more accurate in this half. Great work from Drumcliffe/ Rosses Point captain Neil Ewing saw his shot fly over the bar as only a point separated the sides with 44 minutes played, the North Sligo support edging their team on. Pat Harte got a fine score with
15 minutes to go for Tourlestrane as their experience was beginning to show, particularly in defence.
With ten minutes to go though, a fantastic long-range free was expertly sent over by Logan as the deficit was once again down to a point. The excellent Gaughan was again on target with eight minutes left, getting his fifth, while teammate Oisín Kennedy saw his effort from distance hit the cross-bar.
A goal would have sealed the deal for Drumcliffe/Rosses Point but instead it was Tourlestrane who held on, Kelly getting a settling score in injury time to give the holders the win.
TOURLESTRANE: P McVeigh, C Neary, B Kennedy, B Walsh, O Kennedy, A McIntyre, J Leonard (C), S Henry, K Gavaghan, C Henry (0-4, 2f), J Kelly (0-3), G Gaughan, L Gaughan (0-5), P Harte (0-1), J Marren. Subs used: J Quinn for Marren (45), S Dunne for S Henry (53), N Egan for G Gaughan (53).
DRUMCLIFFE/ROSSES POINT: R McCormack, C McLoughlin, J McGarry, A McCormack, D Long, N Ewing (C) (0-1), P Gallagher, B Óg Murphy, C Lally (1-1), S Power, P Logan (0-4, 2f), J Harvey, D Gallagher, K Davey, N Canning (0-1). Subs used: S Regan for McGarry (inj, 12), N Colleary for Canning (41), C Feeney for Harvey (inj, 60). REFEREE: Conor Conway.