Wind was a huge factor in Tourlestrane's first half struggles says O'Donnell

Tourlestrane used all of their experience to reel in St Mary’s Kiltoghert in last Saturday’s AIB Connacht Club Senior Semi-Final according to manager Fergal O’Donnell as the Sligo side booked their place in the Provincial Final against Moycullen in Avant Money Pairc Sean Mac Diarmada.

The experienced former Roscommon boss admitted he was taken aback by Tourlestrane’s first half struggles: “Connacht club games are always tight. To be honest, I didn’t think we’d be so far off it in the first half. The wind was probably stronger than you thought from the stand and I didn’t realise that even in terms of ball going in - it was going in a bit easier in the second half.

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“But we just didn’t perform, we were probably a bit nervy in the first half. We hadn’t played for five weeks and that’s a long time, you can’t get that momentum but I don’t know why we were so far off it. We lost Nipper, we lost Noel Gaughan, one of our most experienced players in the warm-up, then Kevin O’Hara who replaced him went off early on.

“I have to give credit to Feidhlim O’Donnell who had a great Club Final, was unlucky not to start today. The lads just gathered at halftime, there was no real chat. We just said we hadn’t performed - we played last year against Knockmore and we had regrets over the second half.”

Fergal also highlighted St Mary’s part in Tourlestrane’s struggles: “We didn’t play with any fight but Mary’s didn’t allow us to play. Mary’s are very well drilled, very hard to break down and I just think we played into their hands. We turned it over in the D, they broke at speed but the lads stuck to their task well and played with great courage.

“Even in the second half, we thought we got on top but made two or three silly mistakes we should have scored earlier. It took us a lot of time, we were at 6-4 for ages and that was the vital stage, they had the chance of a free to go 7-4 and once they didn’t get that score, I think that was a huge advantage for us.”

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Many pointed to an increased intensity from the Sligo men in the second half but Fergal again highlighted the impact St Mary’s had on his team’s struggles: “We were trying to do that in the first half but we just couldn’t get to them, they were coming out. 

“Adam Reynolds was coming out, McWeeney was coming out, Kelleher was coming out and we spoke about these guys. There were no surprises in what Mary’s did, there was nothing new but we just couldn’t get to them. 

“Paul Keaney, we spoke plenty about him, Jack Casey was probably the one guy we did tie up pretty well all the way through but it was just a matter of getting to halftime, regrouping and it is just brilliant to get over the line.”

You don't always get what you deserve

THE LAST POINT

Tourlestrane now face into a Connacht Final against Moycullen and for Fergal, it is an experience to savour: “Our experience in Connacht hasn’t been good but they are hungry, the lads want to be in a Connacht Final and we know they’ll go in as mad underdogs.

“We don’t worry about that, we’re in it and what’s the worst thing that can happen? Isn’t it great to be in - the thing for this team is that was an opportunity and if we didn’t get over the line, it would have been a lost opportunity.”