A glorious Summer's evening in John P Wilson Park, Mullahoran was the setting for a very lively opener of the Lucas O'Reilly Memorial Tournament between Mullahoran St Joseph's and Edgeworthstown Wolfe Tones.

A lively battle from the start, Anthony Sheridan opened the scoring in the 3rd minute with a lovely point for Mullahoran from 45 yards. Ronan O'Hagan followed suit 3 minutes later giving Mullahoran a two points to no score lead before Wolfe Tones found their feet with a long-range point from Daniel Connell.

In the 10th minute, Wolfe Tones found the net as John Gaffney sent a rasper of a shot past Darren Sheridan. Wolfe Tones began to stretch their lead as Daniel Connell pointed his second. Mullahoran quickly responded as Ryan Smith took a lovely pass from Daniel Reilly on the right wing and sent it straight over the bar.

Wolfe Tones pointed again as John Newman send the sliotar between the uprights from 40 yards, stretching their lead to 3 points. Shane Smith received the resulting puck out and sent a lovely long distance pass straight into the hand of Kevin Reilly, who then gave mullahoran a fourth, well earned point. Leaving only two points between the sides.

Wolfe Tones began to take control at midfield and were able to utilise this to extend their lead with five unanswered points.

But Mullahoran found new life as Anthony Sheridan found the net after receiving a lovely cross from Ronan O'Hagan. This was closely followed by Wolfe Tones final point of the first half by Andy Kelly, just before the half-time whistle.

Wolfe Tones went in at the break with a comfortable 1:09 to 1:05 lead.

Mullahoran emerged for the second half a more determined side though. Anthony Sheridan again got the opening point. Closely followed by Shane Shields striking with pinpoint accuracy from 70 yards to send the sliotar over the black spot. Derek Dalton continued Mullahoran's attack with a point from the right wing, 45 yards out.

Wolfe Tones answered back with points from Alan Wade and Conor Masterson.

Matthew Hynes pointed a 45 yards free and Mullahoran were not letting their opening game of the year go that easily. Daniel Reilly made a well timed run and with a perfect first touch, deflected a long range puck from midfield into the back of the Wolfe Tones net. Four minutes later, Ryan Smith took another shot at goal that deflected off the uprights.  But Anthony Sheridan was on hand to pick up the loose ball and rattled the Wolfe Tones net once more. At this stage,  Mullahoran were taking real advantage of the low lying sun in the Wolfe Tone keeper's eyes.

Derek Dalton picked up a 20 yard pass from Shane Shields and pointed his second from the right wing.

Wolfe Tones strived to regain their stronghold at midfield and succeeded in feeding two great passes into John Cullen  and Andy Kelly who were able to finish with two fine points.

Matthew Hynes, after pointing his second free,  picked up a well judged breaking ball for Mullahoran and sent a 30yrd pass straight into the hand of Fionnan Reilly, who rounded two Wolfe Tone backs and sent the sliotar into the Wolfe Tones net for the fourth time.

The final score Mullahoran St. Joseph's 4:11 Wolfe Tones 1:13

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