Tourlestrane’s bid for three in a row gets off to perfect start
TOURLESTRANE’S bid for three county titles in a row got off to a winning start on Saturday night last as they overcame St John’s by six points in Curry.
The south Sligo men built on their recent Division One success by overturning a strong start from St John’s, going ahead mid-way through the first half.
Eamonn O’Hara’s men never looked back after that, leading by one point at the break and out-scoring their opponents by five in the second period.
Despite going into this round one game as underdogs, the Carraroe boys began the livelier. Tourlestrane the architects of their own misfortune as Conor Greene cut out Oisin Kennedy’s attempted fisted pass over his head with little over 90 seconds played.
Although the John’s corner forward had just the keeper the beat, he elected to take the safer route by firing over the black spot for the game’s opener.
The county champions’ sloppy start continued and James Murphy was allowed cut inside to thump over his only score of the game.
Tourlestrane hit the first of their nine wides in total, 60 seconds later. Before midfielder Pat Harte got the wheel turning with a white flag from dead centre in front of goal.
But John’s were to make their rivals work for their half time lead. A superb catch with his back to goal from a Greene pass allowed Tommy Kelly the time to turn and shoot between the posts to extend the lead back to two.
Michael McNamara’s charges then had namesake Paul McNamara to thank when he put his body on the line, somehow taking a goal-bound effort off the John’s line.
John’s then began to dally and allowed Oisin Kennedy and Cian Surlis dictate play 30 yards from goal. The latter finding Cathal Henry in ample space as the half-forward slotted over the first of his two of the evening.
Johnny Kelly and Shane Dunne registered scores for Tourlestrane as they moved into the lead for the first time on 16 minutes. While Kelly and David Rooney then shared scores for either side. Tourlestrane leading by the bare minimum at the interval.
The favourites just had too much for St John’s in the second half even as the blues sent over the first score of the half hour courtesy of Rooney’s second on the first attack.
This is where Tourlestrane were to really push on as John’s went an incredible 24 minutes without a single score. A number of decisions from referee Ronan Hynes did not pass without scrutiny from the St John’s bench. Including Hynes’ decision to punish Kelly for over-carrying close to goal, even though it looked as if the winger took less than the maximum steps allowed whilst in a profitable position.
John’s frustrations were compounded as Tourlestrane were awarded a free in front of goal on the next attack. Rian Kennedy obliging with the resulting set-piece.
Henry swung over his second two minutes later, while Kennedy was again on target with a sumptuous kick from the ground shortly after that.
Cian Surlis emerged from full-back to sweetly guide the ball over the crossbar with the inside of his right boot on 42. Substitute Conan Marren then exchanged passes with Surlis and Gary Gaughan as Tourlestrane worked their way through the John’s rearguard. Marren finishing what he began, tapping over Noel O’Donnell’s head to extend the lead to five at 0-10 to 0-5.
Rian Kennedy had his hat-trick of points ten minutes from time. As the shadows lengthened across the pitch, John’s skipper Enda Roche upended Harte as travelled at speed, allowing Kennedy to kick over one of the easier scores of his career.
The pattern of this second period never hinted at a John’s comeback but they did muster a mini-purple patch late on. Rooney picking up his third score of the day to leave six between the team. 60 seconds before the same man grabbed a fourth with a left footed effort from out wide.
Tourlestrane were able to slow the pace of the game and hush any brief rally from St John’s who face into a crucial tie with Calry/St Joseph’s this weekend. Kelly raising the final white flag of the game as he converted a free won thanks to Gaughan’s good work.
Tourlestrane: Adam Broe; Kevin O’Hara, Barry Walsh, Cian Surlis (0-1); Oisin Kennedy, Stephen Henry, James Leonard; Shane Dunne (0-1), Pat Harte (0-1); Alan Dunne, Cathal Henry (0-2), Rian Kennedy (0-3); Gary Gaughan, John Marren (Conan Marren 52) (0-1), Johnny Kelly (0-4) (Darren Leonard 59)
St John’s: Noel O’Donnell; Paul McNamara, Enda Roche, Niall Walsh (Daniel Smyth 8); Neal Hayes, Oisin Cox, Robbie Fahy (Phelim Murphy 51); James Murphy (0-1), David Burke; Brian McGowan, David Rooney (0-4), Tommy Kelly (0-1) (Mark Rooney 60); Conor Greene (0-1), Shane Stenson (Alan Keane 39), Charlie Harrison.
Referee: Ronan Hynes.