Tourlestrane 1-14 Drumcliffe-Rosses Point 1-11
Tourlestrane secured the first five-in-a-row in the Sligo Senior Championship with a three-point win but they were pushed to the very edge by Drumcliffe-Rosses Point at Markievicz Park.
Tourlestrane came into the game looking to win Sligo GAA's blue riband competition for the fifth campaign in succession.
The holders were without the injured Cathal Henry, while joint-managers Eamonn O’Hara and Gerry McGowan were suspended and so had to watch proceedings from outside the perimeter fence.
First-time finalists Drumcliffe-Rosses Point started with Donegal’s All-Ireland winner Paul Durcan as their custodian, with Cian Lally – who has played basketball for Sligo All-Stars – and Cian McBride, a noted athlete, in their attack.
Drumcliffe-Rosses Point’s first score in a Senior Championship decider came in the opening minute when free-taker Paul Logan pointed from distance.
Kenny Gavigan’s point after four minutes brought Tourlestane level and they went in front two minutes later when Pat Harte, who played well in the first-half, pointed from play.
Tourlestrane began to control matters in the opening period and by the 19th minute they were 0-06 to 0-01 ahead.
Liam Gaughan, the competition’s top scorer coming into this game, got on the scoresheet with a pointed free and there were a brace of points from play by playmaker John Kelly.
Tourlestrane, controlling almost all of the midfield breaks, were forcing turnovers all over the pitch but their shooting was their only flaw – with seven first-half wides.
Drumcliffe-Rosses Point, with Cian Lally getting involved, revived themselves in the last 10 minutes of the first-half with three scores – all from Paul Logan. He added two more frees and a fine point from play after a pass from Kieran Lynam.
Tourlestrane went into the second-half with a three-point advantage, 0-07 to 0-04, having not put their dominance on the scoreboard. Their seventh point was a very good score from Pat Harte.
A pointed free from Liam Gaughan got Tourlestrane off to a good start in the second period but two excellent points for Drumcliffe-Rosses Point – Kieran Lynam and Brian Monaghan on target – gave the underdogs some hope.
With 42 minutes played an improving Drumcliffe-Rosses Point had brought the gap to a point, 0-09 to 0-08, with Sean Power pointing in style to increase the pressure on Tourlestrane.
Prior to the second-half water break there was just a point between them, 0-10 to 0-09, as a sixth point from Paul Logan kept Drumcliff-Rosses Point’s dream on the boil.
Tourlestrane found another gear, however, pulled ahead with scores by Oisin Kennedy and Liam Gaughan but another good point from Sean Power left the gap at two, 0-12 to 0-10.
Pat Harte converted a penalty in the 54th minute to put Tourlestrane five points up, 1-12 to 0-10, but almost immediately Drumcliffe-Rosses Point goaled when Sean Waldron scored with a flick in a packed goalmouth.
Matters were still in the melting pot as six minutes of stoppage time were signalled – Tourlestrane leading by a point, 1-12 to 1-11.
Liam Gaughan then extended Tourlestrane’s lead to three points, 1-14 to 1-11, as the champions’ experience began to tell.
Drumcliffe-Rosses Point had a late, late goal chance to force extra-time but Cian Lally’s effort was blocked.
Tourlestrane: Adam Broe, Noel Gaughan, Barry Walsh, Cian Surlis, Oisin Kennedy (0-01), Adrian McIntyre, Kevin O’Hara, Stephen Henry, Pat Harte (1-02, 1-00 pen), Conan Marren (0-01), John Kelly (0-02), Kenny Gavigan (0-01), Liam Gaughan (0-06, 3f), Gary Gaughan, James Leonard (c) (0-01)
Subs used: John Francis Carr for Cian Surlis, 46; Rian Kennedy for Kenny Gavigan, 57; John Marren for Oisin Kennedy, 60+2; Rian Bailey for Pat Harte, 60+2
Drumcliffe-Rosses Point: Paul Durcan, Steven Regan, Ciaran McLoughlin, Jude McGarry, Sean Power (0-2), Neil Ewing (c), John McGowan, Brian Monaghan (0-01), Sean Waldron (1-00), Cian McBride, Cian Lally, Steven Regan, Kieran Lynam (0-01), Niall Colleary, Paul Logan (0-07, 6f)
Subs used: Aaron McCormack for Cian McBride, h-t; Eoin Gaughan for Kieran Lynam, 51; Mark Horkan for Brian Monaghan, 52; Brian Monaghan for Sean Waldron, 58; Oisin O’Reilly for Brian Monaghan, 58
Referee: Gus Chapman
