Moycullen/Mhaigh Cuilinn footballers continue to create their own history after winning their first Connacht Senior Club Football Championship title by a comprehensive 0-13 to 0-06 over Sligo's Tourlestrane on Sunday afternoon in Pearse Stadium.
This recent success comes with most of the players who had won the club’s first county title in 2020 - at a time when the pandemic prevented them from competing at provincial level.
It was an historic weekend for the club, which also included more silverware when their u17s defeated Claregalway on Saturday after extra time, ensuring the underage structures put in place by chairman Paul Clancy are reaping rewards at senior and underage level now.
Throw-in for the senior championship clash was at the earlier time of 12.45pm on Sunday afternoon, but both sides were treated to some fine December sunshine in Salthill which helped playing conditions, despite the ground still being relatively heavy underfoot.
Many neutrals were writing off Tourlestrane’s chances pre-game, but John Kelly quelled those opinions when he opened the scoring for his team with a wonderful point. Gaining an early lead allowed Fergal O’Donnell’s side to set out their stall as they got behind the ball in numbers.
Dessie Conneely responded for Moycullen with a placed ball, but Don Connellan’s team was struggling to create opportunities up front, while dangerous inside forward Liam Gaughan showed all his sharpness with another well-taken score for Tourlestrane.
Another Conneely free and a second point for John Kelly left the scores at 0-03 to 0-02 in Tourlestrane’s favour after 15 minutes. However, the Sligo champions’ discipline was letting them down as they conceded another two frees which Conneely converted to put Moycullen a score ahead by half-time.
Moycullen bolted out of the traps in the second half with a renewed energy. Owen Gallagher grabbed their first point from play after three minutes, an excellently taken score from the right wing. Despite Gary Gaughan’s response for Tourlestrane, Moycullen had started to take control of the game, particularly in the middle third where they were dominating Adam Broe’s kick-outs.
Three scores on the bounce for Moycullen from Paul Kelly, Peter Cooke and the marauding Michael O’Reilly left Moycullen firmly in control leading by four. And, for the remainder of the game, Moycullen outscored their opponents by 0-05 to 0-02, with tricky corner forward Liam Gaughan notching a brace of points for Tourlestrane.
Moycullen’s lead was never threatened in the closing stages as Paul Kelly and Peter Cooke helped their team coast through the final stages.
Cooke kicked the point of the day in the final few minutes from distance with his familiar kicking style which he makes look so easy.
Moycullen were worth every bit of their victory on Saturday afternoon and they will take great confidence from their display as they march on into the All-Ireland series.
They will play either reigning All-Ireland champions Kilcoo or Derry champions Glen as they face off in the Ulster final this weekend.
