Sun June 11, 2012 

Turloughmore 3-14 Mullagh 0-18

Turloughmore moved to the top of Group C after a terrific second half display earned them a deserved win over Mullagh in Athenry on Sunday. On a perfect day for hurling, Mullagh shaded the opening half in terms of possession – though two Turloughmore goals ensured they were level at the break.

However, a blistering start to the second half during which Turloughmore shot an unanswered 1-7 in a 12 minute period put Turloughmore in the driving seat and they steered the vessel home to capture an important brace of points in the Group.

Favourites Mullagh opened well and rushed into a 0-3 to 0-0 lead within 3 minutes, before Cian Burke settled Turloughmore with a 4^th minute opener. Davie Glennon put Mullagh 0-4 to 0-1 up, before on 8 minutes Ronan Badger was fouled for a Turloughmore penalty and centre back Daithi Burke shot the resultant placed ball to the net to leave it level at 0-4 to 1-1.

Niall Cahalane, who started at centre forward, shot a Mullagh point before Mullagh’s Craig Finnerty was fouled for a Mullagh penalty. However, Conor Dervan’s shot was saved and Turloughmore were buoyed up. Brian Murphy, Niall Cahalane, Ronan Badger (2 frees), Davie Glennon and Donal Reilly exchanged points by the 20^th minute to leave Mullagh 0-8 to 1-4 ahead.

Brian Murphy forced a save from Mullagh keeper Eric Ward on 21 minutes, before points from Finian Coone and Kevin Briscoe edged Mullagh 0-10 to 1-4 ahead on 24 minutes. Indeed, Mullagh worked the ball well into the space in front of their full forward line in that opening half and 10 of their 11 first half points came from play.

That said Turloughmore remained in the contest – a fact highlighted by the fact that the sides were level 5 times in that opening period. Captain Matthew Keating shot a fine Turloughmore point 2 minutes from the break and his side finished the half strongly. Gary Burke bore down on goal on 29 minutes, but no result ensued. But within seconds a long Daithi Burke delivery was delightfully flicked to the net by Ronan Badger, and though Conor Dervan equalised for Mullagh by half time, Turloughmore were the happier team going in level at 2-5 to 0-11 at the break.   

Turloughmore emerged for the second period like a team with a mission. Within 3 minutes Gary Burke, who exploded onto the scene, shot 2 points. 1 minute later Mark Murphy and Denny Forde combined to release Francis Forde on goal and Forde made no mistake to shoot to the net – 3-7 to 0-11 now. Turloughmore were playing with confidence and their use of possession and option taking was impressive.

Gary Burke, Ronan Badger (2 frees), Brian Murphy after an excellent move, and Badger from play extended the Turloughmore lead to 3-12 to 0-11 on 42 minutes.

Davie Glennon shot Mullagh’s first score of the second half on 43 minutes, but Francis Forde replied. Turloughmore keeper Paul Dullaghan saved before Glennon shot his fourth point to leave it at 3-13 to 0-13 on 48 minutes. Mullagh, with the pressure on to salvage the game, drove on and they were to outscore Turloughmore by 0-5 to 0-1in the final 11 minutes.

Niall Cahalane with 3 frees and Finian Coone with 2 from play shot the Mullagh points, while Brian Murphy ended a 15 minute Turloughmore scoreless spell to shoot an important score. Indeed had Turloughmore availed of two goal chances with 8 minutes to go, then the score line could have been more favourable for the black and whites, but they were more than happy to run out deserved 3-14 to 0-18 winners on a day when the old adage again held true – goals win games.

Incidentally, of the 3-32 scored in the game, only 1-8 came from the placed ball!

Ronan Badger who shot 1-5

Turloughmore: Paul Dullaghan, Cian Morris, Fergal Moore, Michael Casserly, Brian Holland, Daithi Burke (1-0 pen), Mark Murphy, Denis Forde, Matthew Keating (0-1), Cian Burke (0-1), Darren O’ Shaughnessy, Gary Burke (0-3), Francis Forde (1-1), Ronan Badger (1-5, 0-4 frees), Brian Murphy (0-3). Sub: Kevin Hussey for Denis Forde 50 mins

Mullagh: E. Ward, C. Hardiman, A. Gaynor, C. Kennedy, D. Hardiman, C. Dervan (0-1), J. Rafferty, K. Briscoe (0-1), Francis Hardiman, Craig Finnerty, N. Cahalane (0-7, 4 frees), J. Gaynor, D. Reilly (0-1), F. Coone (0-4), D. Glennon (0-4). Subs: D. Monaghan for Kennedy, C. Hardiman for Finnerty.

Ref: Alan Kelly

Group C Results so far:

Turloughmore 1-12 Sarsfields 1-12 Mullagh 3-10 Beagh 1-16

Turloughmore 3-14 Mullagh 0-18 

To Come: Round 2: Sarsfields v Beagh June 23/24

Round 3: July 14/15 Sarsfields v Mullagh Turloughmore v Beagh