Sligo ace Walsh stars as Tourlestrane march into All-Ireland Junior Club Final

All-Ireland Junior Club Semi-Final

Tourlestrane 2-10 
Old Leighlin 0-10 

From Gavin Cawley at McGrath Park, Bagenalstown, Carlow

Goals proved the difference as Sligo champions Tourlestrane bagged majors in both halves from Laura Surlis and substitute Leonie Gaughan to book a place in the All-Ireland Junior Club Final on December 9.

Gaughan’s late effort wrapped up the win as Tourlestane set up a final clash with Cork outfit Glanmire.

Tourlestrane dominated the first quarter of their semi-final with Carlow’s Old Leighlin, as they raced into a 1-4 to 0-1 lead with four points coming from the boot of county star Katie Walsh.

Old Leighlin, who started slowly, worked their way back into the match with a brace before the half time break from Carlow ace Rachel Sawyer, as they trailed by points at the interval by 0-7 to 1-6.

In a very tense second half, where scores were at a premium, it was Tourlestrane who extended the gap with three unanswered points, a brace coming from Walsh.

The home side battled hard throughout the final quarter and as they cut the gap back to four points and they were given a boost as substitute Catriona Flynn was shown a yellow card, entering the sin-bin for the final ten minutes of play.

Old Leighlin tried hard to find a goal but as close as they got was another point from Sawyer and Gaughan booked her side’s place in the final, finishing a super counter-attack as Tourlestrane march on.

Scorers for Tourlestrane – K Walsh (0-6, 2fs), L Surlis, L Gaughan (1-0 each), G Carty (0-2,2fs), S Cunney, T Walsh (0-1 each)

Scorers for Old Leighlin –  R Sawyer (0-4, 3fs), A Roche, A Gilmartin (0-2 each), S O’Neill, C O’Neill (0-1 each)

Tourlestrane – C Walsh; S Brennan, L Walsh, S Mooney; E Meers, S Henry, C Marren; A Egan, N Brennan; A Corcoran, G Carty, T Walsh; S Cunney, K Walsh, L Surlis

Subs used: M Kennedy for Meers, 42; C Flynn for Marren, 48; L Gaughan for Surlis, 55.

Old Leighlin –  N Hanley; R Maher, A Roche, P Murphy; E Meaney, E Atkinson, M Dermody; M O’Sullivan, C O’Neill; R Sawyer, S O’Neill, N Forde; A Roche, A Gilmartin, E Brennan

Subs used: A Hanley for Meaney, 37; L Regan for O’Sullivan, 42; E Purcell for O’Neill, 52; E Meaney for A Roche, 59.

Referee: Niall McCormack (Laois)