Champions Tourlestrane survive late scare to book first
win
Two late points from Brian Egan and Liam Gaughan secured a
two point win – 0-15 to 2-7 - for reigning county senior champions Tourlestrane
against Coolaney Mullinabreena in the opening game of the defence of their
title at Curry on Saturday evening last.
The defending champions had looked comfortable throughout
the game and were six points up with ten minutes to go before a later surge
from their challengers reduced their lead which demanded the late rescue.
Coolaney Mullinabreena’ s Barry Gorman had opened the
scoring in the first minute but there was little to excite the spectators before
the first water break – reintroduced for the weekend’s games because of the
high temperature alert – as each side only added one further point apiece to go
into the break at 2 -1 in favour of the challengers.
The champions came out of the break with greater intent
however and added five points without reply in normal time before two Shane O’Brien
frees and points from Brian Egan and John Kelly sent Tourlestrane in 8-4 ahead.
They picked up where they left with three further unanswered
point in the opening ten minutes of the second half with Egan, Liam Gaughan and
flying wing back James Leonard – who ended the day with four points to his name
– finding the range.
Coolaney Mullinabreena moved midfielder Gavin Gorman further
forward in an attempt to secure some possession closer to their opponents’ goal
and he got two points to reduce the deficit to five with ten minutes remaining.
Captain Gary Gaughan pointed for Tourlestrane with eight
minutes to go but it looked like the champions just had to run down the clock as
they went into the last five minutes of the game five points clear.
A Stephen O’Brien point and a goal from Sean Gorman in the
space of a minute reduced the gap to two and while Leonard pointed to push the
gap to three as the game moved into extra time, Coolaney Mullinabreena were on
a roll as Gavin Gorman grabbed a goal to level the game two minutes into added
time.
The champions however showed their composure with their two corner
forwards – who notched eight points between them on the night - working a score
each in the remaining time to hold the win.
Tourlestrane; Adam Broe; JP Lang, Barry Walsh, Kevin
O’Hara; Oisín Kennedy. John Francis Carr, James Leonard (0-4); Adrian McIntyre,
Conan Marren; Kenny Gavigan, Cathal Henry, Gary Gaughan (0-1); Liam Gaughan (0-3,
1f), John Kelly (0-2, 1m), Brian Egan (0-5, 4f)
Subs: Rian Kennedy for Gavigan; Ronan Walsh for Lang.
Coolaney Mullinabreena: Cathal Finan; Kian Golden,
Declan McCormack, Brian Marren; Conor Johnston, Nathan Mullen, Kevin O’Kennedy;
Gavin Gorman (1-2, 1f), Barry Gorman (0-1); Niall Connolly, Cristóir Davey (C),
Conor McCormack; Enda Kivlehan, Shane O’Brien (0-4, 2f), Pearse Gorman.
Subs; Eoin Barrett for McCormack, Sean Gorman (1-0)
for Kivlehan, Niall O’Dowd for Mullen, David Barrett for Connolly, Conor Gorman
for Johnston.