Second-half surge powers St Brigid's to fine victory

That the old adage "Tosach Maith Leath na hOibre" doesn't always guarantee ultimate success was eloquently illustrated at sunny Markievicz Park, Sligo, on Sunday last. Yeats County champions Tourlestrane having catapulted into an early lead with four unanswered points after just 9 minutes, were unable to maintain their early momentum against the current Shane McGettigan Cup holders and Roscommon kingpins St Brigid's. Though still narrowly ahead (0-5 to 0-4) at half-time, the Sligo men steadily succumbed to the awesome power and resolve that are integral parts of this present Brigid's machine, losing out in the end by six points (0-16 to 0-10) to opponents who now entertain Galway title holders, Corofin, at Kiltoom, on Sunday week, November 20. Having recently taken the Sligo count title for the ninth time, Tourlestrane already sampled current provincial club fare when overcoming Leitrim champions Glencar/Manorhamilton (1-15 to 2-7) in the opening round. Buttressed by the advantage of that earlier win over Glencar/Manorhamilton, the Neil Egan-managed Tourlestrane hit the ground running here. They literally tore into their opponents who in those early moments appeared sluggish and out of sorts. Full-forward John Marren was narrowly wide after 30 seconds, but centre forward Gary Gaughan played a captain's part when finding the target on the double with a fine brace of points within the first four minutes. Maintaining the initiative, wing-forward Shane Dunne drew the free, pointed by marksman 18-year-old Brian Egan, and on nine minutes, Alan Dunne, on the other wing lofted over a point from all of 40 metres. The Tourlestrane faithful were in justifiably full voice at this spell of ascendancy by their favourites. But Brigid's suddenly found their touch as, following a foul on Senan Kilbride, Frankie Dolan got his team on the scoreboard when pointing the resultant 10th minute free. This was precursor to a seven-minute cameo of typical Brigid's power play, as the tireless work of Garvan Dolan in the midfield diamond area, and attacking centre-back Peter Domican began to pay rich dividends. An unmarked Cathal McHugh had a fine point on the run, while Garvan and Darren Dolan made the road for another point from play, this time by Peter Domican. Garvan again drew another foul, pointed unerringly by Senan Kilbride and so by the 17 minute, the contest was tied at 0-4 each. Striving to get back in contention Tourlestrane midfielder Stephen Henry forced a fine save from St Brigid's custodian James Martin while, at the other end Cathal McHugh saw his goal effort blocked down and eventually forced wide. It was becoming apparent with every passing moment, that the earlier perception of sluggishness was gradually being eradicated from the Brigid's physche, but it was the Yeats County men who went into the dressing rooms in front (0-5 to 0-4) following Brian Egan's pointed free. On the restart, Brigid's gave early evidence of their intent when seconds in, Padraig Kelly, Frankie Dolan and Damien Kelleher combined for the latter to rifle over the equalising point. Tourlestrane lost little time in responding when wing back Diammuid Dunne came upfield to reciprocate in kind with a like score. But from then on the pattern of play hitherto on view changed inexorably as Noel O'Brien's charges forged ahead and assumed control in effectively every department. Between the 34th and 56th minutes of that second half, they accumulated 11 points, as a fading Tourlestrane were curtailed to a mere two points, with one of those from a free and the other from a midfielder. Such was the dominance of the Brigid's defence that the Tourlestrane attack, in this spell failed to raise a flag from play. In this regard, the right flank of Robbie Kelly and Eoin Sheehy saw both their direct opponents held scoreless throughout and replaced in that second half, while Darragh Sheehy, Peter Domican, Darragh Donnelly and Niall Grehan stuck to their task assiduously and keeper James Martin maintained his citadel intact. For a role model of high fielding and defensive back-up when required, one needed to look no further than the second-half exploits of Karol Mannion who in no small way helped to swing the tide in his side's favour. Garvan Dolan's huge work rate was also clearly evident and, with the forward unit, ably led by Senan Kilbride and Frankie Dolan, responding with a flurry of scores, another Connacht final beckoned. Of that 11 points, Senan Kilbride accounted for five (two frees), Frankie Dolan three (two frees), with Karol Mannion, the ever-improving Damien Kelleher and the hard-grafting Darren Dolan adding one each. Centre-forward Cathal McHugh and dual player Padraig Kelly were prominent up front in that second period. Tourlestrane lost their freetaker and marksman Brian Egan six minutes from the end, following a second bookable offence and while they scored the last two points of Sunday's semi-final when sub John Quinn converted two frees, it was too little and far too late to have any effect on the final outcome. Brigid's had long since ensured another final berth, with that tetchy opening receding into the fading light. Scorers St Brigid's: Senan Kilbride (0-6, 0-3 frees), Frankie Dolan (0-4, 0-3 frees), Damien Kelleher (0-2), Cathal McHugh (0-1), Peter Domican (0-1), Karol Mannion (0-1), Darren Dolan (0-1). Tourlestrane: Brian Egan (0-3), John Quinn (0-2 frees), Gary Gaughan (0-2), Alan Dunne (0-1), Diarmuid Dunne (0-1), Brendan Egan (0-1). Teams St Brigid's: James Martin, Robbie Kelly, Darragh Donnelly (capt), Darragh Sheehy, Eoin Sheehy, Peter Domican, Niall Grehan, Karol Mannion, Garvan Dolan, Darren Dolan, Cathal McHugh, Damien Kelleher, Padraig Kelly, Senan Kilbride, Frankie Dolan. Subs: Conor McHugh for Padraig Kelly (41); Gearoid Cunniffe for Darragh Donnelly (55); Ger Aherne for Darren Dolan (60). Tourlestrane: Seamus Gildea, Colin Neary, Brian Kennedy, Noel Gaughan, Diarmuid Dunne, Adrian McIntyre, James Leonard, Brendan Egan, Stephen Henry, Alan Dunne, Gary Gaughan (capt), Shane Dunne, Brian Egan, John Marren, Gerry McGowan. Subs: David Durkin for Stephen Henry (36); John Quinn for Shane Dunne (40); Stephen Henry for Gerry McGowan (49). Referee: Ray McBrien (Leitrim)