TOURLESTRANE sent out a clear message of intent with this
impressive win over St. Molaise Gaels at Markievicz Park on Saturday
last.
The defending champions took a little while to get into
their stride but once they hit top gear they had too much pace and power
for the North Sligo outfit.
The Gaels gave as good as they got in the first half and led 1-3 to
0-5 at the interval but it was a different story after the break as
Tourlestrane took complete control and decorated some impressive
approach play with a string of excellent scorers.
The decisive moment arrived six minutes into the second half when
Eamonn O'Hara, who was very influential throughout, latched on to a long
clearance and fired to the net to give the South Sligo men a 1-8 to 1-3
lead.
It had been quite close up to that point but Tourlestrane took great
confidence from O'Hara's goal and went to to dominate the game in the
last quarter.
Adrian McIntyre was outstanding at midfield for the champions while
John Marren was at the heart of almost everything up front. John Quinn,
Brian Egan and veteran, Gerry McGowan, were also highly impressive in a
slick moving Tourlestrane attack.
In a lack-lustre opening, points from play by Brian Egan and O'Hara
gave Tourlestrane a two point advantage by the 14th minute but the Gaels
then enjoyed a very productive spell. Martin Feeney opened their
account with a terrific score from a free in the 16th minute and then
Noel McLoughlin and John Gilsenan got through for points to edge them in
front.
At the other end, the Gaels keeper, Glenn McHugh, was obliged to make
a point blank save to keep out Brian Egan's goalbound shot in the 27th
minute but two scores in quick succession from Marren and Brian Egan
gave Tourlestrane a 0-4 to 0-3 lead.
However, the champions were rocked on their heels in the 30th minute
when Mark Quinn, who was very industrious in the first half, cut in from
the left wing to set up John Gilsenan for a welltaken goal. A pointed
free by John Quinn reduced the gap to the minimum just before the break.
Tourlestrane showed much more urgency in the early stages of the
second period and points by Brian Egan, Quinn and Aaron Murtagh edged
them two points clear before O'Hara struck for the game-changing goal in
the 36th minute.
It was all one-way traffic thereafter as Tourlestrane pressed forward
with renewed conviction. Points by Darragh Currid and McLoughlin gave
the Gaels some hope but in truth the South Sligo side's authority was
never in doubt.
Quinn (0-2), James Leonard, Brian Egan (0-2), O'Hara and McGowan all
got in on the scoring act as Tourlestrane romped to a comfortable
victory.
It wasn't by an means a perfect performance by the defending
Champions but there was a hunger and desire about their play,
particularly in the second half, which suggested that they will only get
better as the campaign goes on.
The Gaels still have plenty to play for over the remaining rounds of
the Championship and if they can reproduce the spirit they displayed
here they could yet figure in the hunt for qualification Tourlestrane: S
Gildea, D Dunne, D Durkin, C Neary; J Leonard (0-1), Brendan Egan, M
Brennan; A McIntyre, N Gaughan; A Murtagh (0-1), E O'Hara (1-2), J
Marren (0-1); J Quinn (0-4), B Egan (0-5), G McGowan (0-1). Sub: M Walsh
for Brennan (56 mins) St. Molaise Gaels: G McHugh, L Kennedy, G
Gilsenan, J Kelly; A Caraway, T Kennedy, N McLoughlin (0-2); C Burns, M
Quinn; J Gilsenan (1-1), K Watters, D Fallon; M Feeney (0-3), M Leonard,
D Currid (0-1). Referee: J Griffin