An Tain league hurling final Div 1

TOOREEN (MAYO)................2-17

ATHLEAGUE (ROSCOMMON)..................1-10

By Michael O Connor.

Tooreen have sent out a message of intent early season with this comprehensive title win and in the post match acceptance speech Captain Adrian Judge sent a warning to all in Mayo that they are tuned in for a year of trophy attainment following this success at the Connacht GAA centre on Saturday afternoon.

A competition that commences in the darkness of winter aided by artificial light and artificial pitches, muddy pitches and played by hurlers just recovering from the excesses of the winter break concluded in stunning sunlight and an odd chilly breeze in beautiful Bekan at the weekend.

Due to the colour clash both clubs reverted to county colours with one Tooreen man commenting in the prematch photo " enjoy our day in the county colours, for most of us it wont happen again". Played on pitch 1 at the Connacht GAA centre. Tooreen are gathering a formidable squad to challenge for county and provincial honours once again this year under the watchful eye of club legend Joe Henry with his son Joe Junior positioned at the edge of the square and the NUIGalway hurler made a solid contribution.

This latest success for the Mayo club was constructed on a powerful opening quarter that yielded not necessarily  a huge volume of scores but ensured control of the park allowing little scope for Athleague to create scores and had them on the backfoot from the throw in.

Sean Regan and Ray Larkin opened the scoring with a point apiece after three minutes before Gary Fallon converted the first of many frees for Athleague. Sean Regan saw a goal effort flash past Joe Fallon's goal before Shane Boland who was impressive hit a brace of points in the space of a minute with seven minutes played. Joe Henry's effort for a goal was brilliantly saved by Fallon only for the rebound to end with Regan who pointed with ease. Paul Hunt (point) and the first goal from Regan created a gulf of nine points at the end of the first quarter.

Try as they might, Athleague were short of pace in key areas of the park and suffered as a consequence. Lucky for them was that Tooreen were not in goal scoring form. They added six second quarter points with Boland, Joe Ganly, Stephen Hunt and Sean Regan amongst the scorers. The solitary score for Athleague fell to a second Gary Fallon point in the 28th minute as Tooreen were coasting clear on a (1-12) to (0-2) interval lead.

No rally cry could motivate the men from Athleague except perhaps three early second half goals. They did perform with more consistency in the second half but could not pierce the tight defensive unit of Tooreen with Daniel Cunnane, David Harrison, Sean Ganly and Cathal Freeman sweeping with ease.

Gary Fallon hit over two early scores before Adrian Hession had to redeem himself with a fine save after a short puck out went into the hand of Christy Leahy. Fallon converted the resulting 65. The Athleague revival was stunted when against the run of play Joe Henry struck for goal after 36 minutes. Stephen Hunt (2) and Joe Ganly stretched the Tooreen lead as all present knew this race was over and winner all right.

Tooreen began to introduce replacements who have much experience in the club colours. Athleague did dominate the scoring in the final quarter outscoring the winners (1-5) to (0-1) with (1-3) coming from Gary Fallon. The final score of the game fell to man of the match and former NUIGalway sigerson cup player Cathal Freeman.

Best for the 2015 Division 1 Tain league champions were Daniel Cunnane, Adrian Judge, David Harrison, Sean Ganly, Cathal Freeman, Paul Hunt, Stephen Hunt and the accurate duo of Shane Boland and Sean Regan. Athleague improved as the game went on but the leakage in the first quarter denied them a hope of catching the winners in the second half. They had solid performers in Gary Fallon from frees, Joe Fallon, David Mullen, David Delaney, Kevin Flanagan and Eamonn Bannon.

TOOREEN: Adrian Hession, Declan Muldoon, Daniel Cunnane, Adrian Judge, David Harrison, Sean Ganly, Gary Nolan, Cathal Freeman (0-1), Joey Ganly (0-2), Paul Hunt (0-2), Ray Larkin (0-1), Stephen Hunt (0-3), Shane Boland (0-4), Joe Henry (1-0), Sean Regan (1-4). Subs: David Kenny for Larkin, Niall Robinson for Boland, Matt Flannery for Regan.

ATHLEAGUE: Joe Fallon, JP Murray,  Colm Moran, David Mullen, Enda Naughton, Kevin Flanagan, David Delaney, Stephen Kilcommins, Eamonn Bannon, Tomas Connaughton (0-1),  Gary Fallon (1-8), Paul Flaherty,  Christy Leahy, Shane McGeeney, David Connell. Subs: ET Murray, Shane Moran, Darragh Heavey (0-1).

Referee: John Keane (Rahoon/Newcastle)

After the game Chairman of Coiste Iomana Stephen Cahalan presented the An Tain Div 1 league cup to Tooreen captain Adrian Judge as experienced midfielder Cathal Freeman was selected as man of the match and presented with the award by connacht council secretary John Prenty.

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