Tullylish prove that goals do win matches

Warrenpoint 1-17

THE often used comment that ‘goals win matches’ was very appropriate for this entertaining Division II match in Laurencetown on Friday night.

Although Warrenpoint recorded 18 scores over the hour it was their opponents’ ability to grab the all important three-pointers that was the difference between the teams in the end.

Warrenpoint opened the scoring with a point in the first minute but Tullylish responded with points from Peter Quinn, Gareth Johnston and John McAreavey. However, similar scores from Cowan and Mallon left it all square on three points each at the end of the first quarter.

Points from Johnston and McAreavey restored Tullylish’s two point cushion and this was maintained over the next 10 minutes as Quinn and Boyle, and then McAreavey and Mallon traded points.

Tullylish then lost their influential wing forward Gary Chambers with a serious ankle injury and he was replaced by Chris McGovern.

With six minutes of the half remaining Warrenpoint went in front with a well taken goal from Ryan Boyle but Tullylish came back to lead again with points from Shannon Drainey and John McAreavey.

Two superb goals in the last two minutes of the first half from Shannon Drainey and Chris McGovern left Tullylish in a very strong position at the break with a lead of 2-9 to 1-6.

Warrenpoint started the second half very strongly and by the end of third quarter had reduced the deficit to just one point after out-scoring the hosts by seven points to two in the first 15 minutes of the half.

At this stage Tullylish were struggling to maintain their lead but they were thrown a lifeline in the 21st minute when Justin McCartan kept his nerve to score his team’s third goal of the night and put Tullylish four in front with nine minutes left. Gareth Johnston extended the lead with a point a minute later but four unanswered points from the visitors made it a one-point game going into injury time.

Warrenpoint went all out for the equaliser in added time but were denied by superb defending from Conor McManus, Chris Magee and Fiontann O’Dowd. A John McAreavey free from the sideline concluded the scoring to leave the full-time score Tullylish 3-13 Warrenpoint 1-17.

Tullylish GFC would like to thank Drumhorc Electrics for sponsoring the match ball for Friday night’s game.

Tullylish: S OHare, R O’Dowd, C McManus, C Magee, M McCartan, J McDermott, F O’Dowd, G Johnston (0-3), D Corbett, G Chambers, K McCartan, S Drainey (1-1), J McAreavey (0-6), P Quinn (0-2), J McKivergan: Subs used: C McGovern (1-1), J McCartan (1-0), E Morgan.