Tourlestrane overcome Harps in Div 1

Back 16/05/2016 @ 09:56 | mainnews | Tourlestrane overcome Harps in Div 1

TOURLESTRANE   THE   MASTERS   IN   TOP   OF   THE   TABLE   TIE

                      TOURLESTRANE   2 – 12       EASTERN  HARPS   0 - 12

Free flowing Tourlestrane showcasing half a dozen or so county panelists proved superior to old rivals Eastern Harps in this Round 6 Fureys coaches Division 1 League match played at sun drenched Tourlestrane on Sunday last. Entertaining at all times, lively and inventive too it has to be said,  nevertheless this most recent encounter lacked the bite you normally get from these rivals perhaps due to the high temperatures, temperatures not normally seen in May. Or perhaps the absence of intensity was due to their forthcoming championship clash later this year with neither side too anxious to go flat out. Laying down a marker is a term often used to describe such a scenario and if this was the case in Tourlestrane on Sunday last then  it was the home side who laid it down and this they did using an indelible marker.

Two early first half goals from Brian Egan and Cathal Henry gave the winners a platform on which to boss the game, controlling the pace and at all times keeping the visitors four and five points away from parity. To their credit Eastern Harps did play some fine football however the winners at all times looked capable of upping the pace and the pressure if such a situation demanded. On top at midfield for most of the hour where Stephen Henry shone brightest of all Tourlestrane used their two early goals to give themselves a half time cushion of six points. Perhaps a bit wasteful in the second period when notching several wides Tourlestrane still controlled the possession stakes to run out winners by the same margin.

Dominated perhaps in most sectors of the field Eastern Harps nonetheless were never totally out of this game and indeed created by far the best goal scoring chances of the day, none of which were converted. From four created it would be at least two finished on a normal day out, but the Tourlestrane defence proved highly vigilant getting in some last ditch blocks on several occasions while goalkeeper Padraig McVeigh was in spectacular form between the posts. Football fans in the county can look forward to this summers championship clash between these two rural rivals and on this showing the likes of, always on the move Noel Gaughan , rock steady Adrian McIntyre , high fielding Stephen Henry and crafty forwards Brian Egan and Cathal Henry will command a fair bit of the pre planning from Shane King and his cabinet of wise men from the east. On the evidence of this Round 6 tie that towering performer Ross Donovan, fit and pacey Kevin Gallagher, creative Tony Taylor and unlucky finishers Sean Bruen and Martin Doherty will take up some thinking time from the decorated and medal laden  Tourlestrane advisory team of Eamon O Hara and Gerry McGowan.

Referee     John  Gilmartin.