Junior A Championship 

Turloughmore 3.13 Loughrea 3.12

Turloughmore defeated Loughrea in the Junior A championship on Friday evening after a thrilling and enjoyable game in Lackagh. This was Turloughmore’s second game of the championship and after losing to Liam Mellows in the opening game, this game was already vital and thus the win was most important.

Loughrea began in lively fashion and led by 0-5 to 0-2 on 14 minutes, with Matt Moran and Gary Hurney (free) replying for a Turloughmore side that took some time to settle. However, the switch of Tomas Caulfield to centre back, allied to a general all round improvement, coincided with Turloughmore coming back into the game. Points form Matt Moran (2) & Cormac Whelan left Turloughmore just 0-6 to 0-5 behind on 21 mins.

Two quick fire points from Ronan O Shaughnessy and a fine effort from Keith Doyle put Turloughmore 0-8 to 0-7 ahead on 27 minutes and things got better before the break when Cormac Whelan’s cross fell invitingly for the impressive Matt Moran and the centre forward whipped to the net to leave Turloughmore 1-8 to 0-7 ahead at the break.

Loughrea stated the second half well though – and a free and a goal from another long range free left them on level terms – 1-8 apiece – on 36 minutes. Gary Hurney shot two frees either side of a Matt Moran point and thus at the three quarters stage it was Turlough who led by 1-11 to 1-9.

Within a minute Loughrea struck for a goal, but quick as a flash, Turloughmore went up the field and Gary Hurney cleverly fed Neil Burke, and the returning former underage star shot a cracking goal. Paul Madden added a point in reply to two from Loughrea to leave Turlough 2-12 to 2-11 in front with 8 mins left.

The see saw nature of the game continued though – Loughrea shot a point and then a goal to go 3 in front with five minutes left, before Matt Moran did well to set up Cormac Whelan and Whelan ran on to shoot a well taken goal and leave the sides level at 3-12 apiece with 3 minutes left. It was all hands on deck now, and on 60 minutes, Paul Madden calmly slotted over the winning point to see Turloughmore end 3-13 to 3-12 winners. Congrats to all concerned on a fine win.

Team: V Doyle, T Caulfield, T Costello, S Hughes, S. Collins, P Hession, S Morris, M Costello, K Doyle (0-1), G Hurney (0-3 frees), M Moran (1-4), R O Shaughnessy (0-2), C Whelan (1-1), P Madden (0-2), C Kearney. 

Subs: N Burke (1-0) for Kearney, E Flaherty for Morris & P Kearns for Hughes.

For photos from the game click here...