First half Goals earns Tuam/Cortoon provincial title

First half Goals earns Tuam/Cortoon provincial title Tuam Stars/Cortoon (Galway) 5 – 8 Cill Chomain (Mayo) 1 – 8

A first half goal spree helped Tuam Stars/Cortoon
win this Connacht Junior Club title in Tuam. In doing so they became
the 3rd Galway club in four years to capture the crown following
in the footsteps of Dunmore Mc Hales in 2003 and Grainne Mhaols
in 2004.

The game was some 40 seconds old when Laura Gilmore flashed the
ball to the net for the winners. The winners continued to dominate
and by the 6th minute they were 3 goals to the good thanks to strikes
by Emer Faherty and from a free by Laura Gilmore – one which the
losers keeper will want to forget in a hurry. The afore mentioned
Gilmore added a point in the 11th minute to increase the lead to
10 points. In between the Gilmore goal and point Edel Concannon
had hit the crossbar with a goal on.

Aine Ni Ghallachobhair settled Cill Chomain nerves when she had
their first score in the 12th minute. They followed this up with
another point from the boot of Padraicin Ni Chabhaill on 17 minutes
with their third point coming a minute late as a result of some
fine combination play by Padraicin Ni Chabhaill and Caroline Mc
Andrew with the latter sending over.

Between the 19th and 25th minutes the winners recorded a number
of wides. Importunely for the winners the losers were unable to
capitalize on their poor shooting with only a point from Mc Andrew
to show in return. Entering the final minutes and injury time in
the first half, the destination of the Silverware was more or less
decided. Laura Gilmore pointed for the winners in the 28th minute
but the next 90 seconds was to prove vital as two penalties were
awarded – one to each side – first up Edel Concannon converted for
Tuam/Cortoon but Padraicin Ni Chabhaill blasted her effort wide
of the mark. Edel Concannon and Pauline Heverin added points in
injury time to leave the score line at 4 – 4 to 0 – 4 for Tuam Stars/Cortoon
at half time.

The losers came out all guns a blazing in the second half adding
4 points to their tally inside the first five minutes through Maire
Ni Chabhaill, Caroline Mc Andrew and a brace for Padraicin Ni Chabhaill.
If the opening five went the way of the losers the next eight were
to go the way of the winners as Edel Concannon added three points
with Laura Gilmore also being on target to restore their 4 goal
advantage.

The winners fifth goal arrived in the 14th minute of the half as
Edel Canconnon played a ball into the path of substitute Amy Finnerty
who finished in fine style. The losers did manage to get a goal
of their own through Annette Gallagher in the 18th minute. This
score however only proved to put a little respectability on the
scoreboard despite a number of attempts from the losers they failed
to add to their tally in the closing 12 minutes with Tuam Stars/Cortoon
holding on to claim the title for Galway for the 3rd time in 4 years.

Tuam/Cortoon: Gillian Boyle, Leona Gormally, Edel Heverin, Norrie
Brennan, Maria Connell, Anna Costello, Jenny Mannion, Carmel Kelly,
Emer Faherty (1 – 0), Siofra O’Brien, Edel Concannon (1 – 4), Miriam
Savage, Karen Canavan, Laura Gilmore (2 – 2), Pauline Heverin (0
– 1). Subs: Amy Finnerty (1 – 0), Regina Connell, Amy Hardiman,
Sarah Varden, Sarah Cahill

Kilcummin: Anne Murphy, Rachel Ni Ghamhnan, Aine Ni Chabhaill, Clar
Nic Aindriu, Eilis Ni Mhaille, Leoina de Burca, Ciara Ni Mhurchu,
Sharon de Burca, Caroline Nic Aindiu (0 – 3), Aine Ni Ghallachobhair
(1 – 1), Padraicin Ni Chabhaill (0 – 3), Imelda Nic Aindriu, Brid
Ni Mhurchu, Maire Ni Chabhaill (0 – 1), Eilis Ni Dhubhasa. Subs:
Lorna Nic Aindriu, Nicole Ni hEile, Marina Ni Thaidhg, Maire Ni
Ghraith.

Referee: John Niland (Sligo)