Turloughmore turn the tables on county champions

Turloughmore  1-13

St. Thomas’  0-15

WHEN David Burke fired St. Thomas’ into a one-point lead as normal time elapsed on Saturday evening, it looked for all money as if the reigning county champions would record the first win in Group 2 of the Senior A section, and that Turloughmore would be left to reflect on what might have been from an earlier position of strength.

James Horan’s side had only scored two points in the second half, both from placed balls, and St. Thomas’ had fired over three on the trot in the final ten minutes to finally take the lead after a much-improved second half performance. Surely John Burke’s side would see this one out to grab the precious two points on offer.

However, there were to be not just one but two final twists in the tale, as Turloughmore were awarded two long range frees within sixty seconds of each other, the second and most crucial of which seemed a very borderline call, and Jamie Holland stood tall to strike both with conviction and accuracy and spark joyous scenes on the Turloughmore sideline.

Make no mistake, this is a win of much significance to Turloughmore’s new management ticket, who are competing in shark infested waters very early in the year. St. Thomas’ had 17 points to spare when the sides met last year, so this was some turnaround and while there were obvious flaws to the Turlough performance, their commitment and intensity made up for those deficiencies and drove them to victory.

The most glaring of those flaws was that only three players managed to register a score for Turloughmore, and only four scores came from play over the course of the game. They were fortunate that St. Thomas’ accuracy levels were unusually poor, none more so than in the opening minutes.

Five times the umpires signalled wides as St. Thomas’ started briskly for no reward. Holland eventually got the new digital scoreboard in Kenny Park working with a sixth minute free that was followed by a decent effort from play after good work by Matthew Keating, better known as a defender but stationed for this game at centre half forward.

St. Thomas’ eventually drew level as their inside forwards Kenneth Burke and Brendan Farrell both clipped over good scores, before Barry McDonagh edged Turloughmore back in front. James Regan and David Burke were working well together in the St. Thomas’ engine room, and a long range Conor Cooney free and Kenneth Burke’s second put them 0-4 to 0-3 ahead.

From there to the break, though, Turloughmore wrestled back control of proceedings and Holland drove over two frees before landing an audacious sideline cut from just in front of the dugouts. Vincent Doyle then fluffed a goal chance after Cooney had knocked over a free at the other end, before Holland was called into action once more and obliged in the 23rd and 24th minute from frees.

St. Thomas’ were under the cosh but Cooney’s ability from distance got them another score on 28 minutes, but Turloughmore swiftly replied through McDonagh before Holland dropped a long distance free short and Keating held off a challenge to catch cleanly, turn and fire to the net passed Patrick Skehill.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.