Eoghan Rua defend their county crown
Eoghan Rua captain Louise Lindsay and Tourlestrane's Anna Corcoran follow the play as referee Gerry O'Connell waves advantage.
Eoghan Rua made it back-to-back senior titles as the West Sligo ladies proved too strong for the challenge of Tourlestrane on Saturday afternoon.
Eoghan Rua started brightly and raced into three points lead, with a brace coming from Player of the Match Alisha Cuffe.
Leonie Gaughan registered the opening point for Tourlestrane after four minutes but Sarah Curley restored the three points advantage for Eoghan Rua on eleven minutes as she showed her pace before putting the ball over the bar.
Gaughan, who was excellent throughout the match, kept the scoreboard ticking for Tourlestrane who reduced the gap once again.
An eighteenth minute penalty, scored by Leah Duffy after Saoirse Corcoran was fouled, strengthened the position of the defending champions and after Duffy added a free to her tally, they led 1-5 to 0-2 after 23 minutes.
Tourlestrane, whose second team had won the junior ‘C’ title earlier that morning, responded well and hit back with a goal of their own as an excellent run from Cora Gilligan, which saw flash by a number of players, resulted in her passing the ball off to Anna Corcoran who finished to the net, which brought the South Sligo side right back into the contest.
Nicki Brennan followed with a point to cut the margin to just two points but Eoghan Rua were back in command of a three points lead by half-time, 1-6 to 1-3, as Sarah Curley split the posts for a second time.
Tourlestrane struck for the opening point of the second-half through Leonie Gaughan but a minute later came a point in reply from Leah Duffy, after some excellent build-up involving Alisha Cuffe.
Tourlestrane would now have their best period of the second-half, as they scored three points without reply to leave the sides level for the first time in the match, with Tara Walsh and substitute Lauren Normanly both raising white flags.
Saoirse Corcoran briefly restored Eoghan Rua’s lead before the sides were level again, on 48 minutes, through a Tourlestrane point by Nicki Brennan.
The final quarter belonged to Eoghan Rua however, with the key score in the match coming on 56 minutes as Saoirse Corcoran was fouled by Amy Kennedy and a second penalty of the match awarded. Again it was converted by Duffy and Eoghan Rua pushed on to run out winners by five points.
They will now face Leitrim county champions Glencar-Manorhamilton on October Bank Holiday weekend.
Scorers – Eoghan Rua: Leah Duffy 2-4 (2-0pens, 2f), Saoirse Corcoran, Sarah Curley and Alisha Cuffe 0-2 each.
Tourlestrane: Leonie Gaughan 0-4, Anna Corcoran 1-0, Nicki Brennan 0-2, Tara Walsh and Lauren Normanly 0-1 each.
Eoghan Rua: Lauren Fitzgerald; Kathryn Feeney, Orna O’Dowd, Leigha Cleary; Sarah Curley, Sinead McGinty, Tara Hastings; Louise Lindsay, Orla Naughton; Alisha Cuffe, Sinead Naughton, Sarah Feeney; Leah Duffy, Fiona Feeney, Saoirse Corcoran. Subs: Ellen McGuire (for Hastings 58), Laura McGuire (for S Feeney 59), Leanne Taylor (for S Naughton 59), Hastings (for Cleary 60), Grace Casey (for Duffy 60).
Tourlestrane: Laura Walsh; Eva O’Hara, Amy Kennedy, Erin Deehan; Shauna Henry, Ciara Walsh, Molly Kennedy, Sarah Cunney, Catherine Marren; Tara Walsh, Anna Corcoran, Leonie Gaughan; Cora Gilligan, Nicki Brennan, Katie Walsh. Subs: Lauren Normanly (for K Walsh ht), Caoimhe Crawley (for T Walsh ht), T Walsh (for Henry 33), Ciara Brennan (for Corcoran 49), Katie W (for T Walsh 51).
REF: Gerry O’Connell
