Davin leads the charge for Tuam against Oughterard

Stars record 11-point victory in championship opener

Tuam Stars 2-20

Oughterard 0-15

By Mike Rafferty

At Pearse Stadium

With 12 players finding the range, Tuam Stars displayed impressive finishing ability as they eased past Oughterard in this Senior Football championship Group 4 opener in Pearse Stadium on Saturday afternoon.

While matters were competitive in the early exchanges, a rich scoring spell in the second quarter - which was rewarded with eight unanswered points - allowed them to open a gap that never looked like being breached thereafter.

Seven points clear at the break, Tuam again produced another fruitful scoring blast to take them 12 points clear and while Oughterard continued to work hard to try and close the gap, only three late two-pointers rewarded them for a lot of effort.

Despite Tuam playing with the opening half wind, it was the West Board side who did most of the early scoring as the ever industrious Ryan Monaghan opened their account, with Matthew Tierney from a free and James Webb with a punched effort giving return for their enterprise. Mark Colleran converted a 45 for the Stars before further efforts by Jamie Murphy and Luke Davin levelled matters with 16 minutes elapsed.

Thereafter, Tuam began to pick up the breaking ball in midfield where Shay McGlinchey, Cian Mitchell and Jamie Murphy were to the fore. With Luke Davin running amok in attack he slotted over four points, including a two, while Mark Colleran also sent one over from distance. Ronan Colleran and Rory O'Connor also found the range as Tuam Stars opened up an 0-11 to 0-4 gap on 24 minutes.

A Ciaran Noone orange flag from a free gave Oughterard their first score in 12 minutes before Dara Heneghan and Mark Colleran added to the Stars tally before the break. While Ryan Monaghan got a quick score for Diarmuid Lee's charges on the resumption, all the scoring action quickly resumed at the other end.

A Mark Colleran point got Tuam off the mark on 34 minutes before Jack Grugan and Brian Mannion were involved in setting up Paul Collins for a fisted goal. McGlinchey then slotted over a beautiful score and Mannion converted close-in free awarded for a breach to leave matters at 1-16 to 0-7 on 41 minutes.

Despite generally playing second fiddle to Tuam Stars, Oughterard continued to maintain a challenge and two-pointers from Niall Lee (free), Matthew Tierney and Eric Lee allied to an Adam Tierney point left just six between them at 1-17 to 0-14 after 47 minutes.

However, that was as good as it got for Oughterard as Tuam upped the tempo over the closing minutes to stretch their advantage again. Niall Lee, with a free, and Luke Davin exchanged scores before Davin collected a Grugan pass to slot home their second goal past an unprotected Noone and in the process brought his tally to 1-6.

Jack Heneghan and Dara Ó Ruairc lobbed over late points to seal the perfect start to the championship for David Donnellan's charges. Next time out they will face Annaghdown, while Oughterard will meet St. James'.

TUAM STARS: D. Creavan; S. Rattigan, D. Ó Ruairc (0-1), D. Cunningham; D. Heneghan (0-1), R. O'Connor (0-1), C. Mitchell; S. McGlinchey (0-1), P. Collins (1-0); R. Colleran (0-1), J. Murphy (0-1), M. Colleran (0-5, one 0-2 score, 0-1 45); B. Mannion (0-1), J. Grugan (0-1), L. Davin (1-6). Subs: C. Doherty, for Murphy (temporary), 17-25 mins & for Mitchell, 49 mins; J. Cryan, for R. Colleran, 49 mins; J. Heneghan (0-1), for Grugan, 55 mins; C. Rhatigan, for M. Colleran, 55 mins.

OUGHTERARD: C. Noone (0-2, 0-2 free): K. Noone, P. Gibbons, L. Byrnes; Colin Forde, Cormac Forde, C. O'Donoghue; J. Webb (0-1), P. Walsh; R. Molloy, M. Tierney (0-3, one 0-2 score, 0-1 free), R. Monaghan (0-2): C. Monaghan, N. Lee (0-3, one 0-2 free), E. Lee (0-3, one 0-2 score). Subs: E. O'Sullivan, for Colin Forde inj., 4 mins; A. Tierney (0-1), for Walsh (temporary), 17-25 mins & 46 mins; J. Lowry, for Molloy, half-time; D. Creighton, for Cormac Forde, 48 mins.

REFEREE: James Molloy.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH:

Luke Davin (Tuam Stars).