Tullylish visited Loughinisland on Friday night last knowing that a win would lift them above their opponents and a step closer to survival but after a full blooded game they came away 3 points worse off.

Loughinisland started the game the better shooting several early wides before they opened the scoring after 5 minutes. At this stage Tullylish were struggling to find their feet and were seeing very little of the ball but did manage to equalise through a John McAreavey free. Tullylish could not handle the midfield dominance of their opponents and were hit by a major blow with the first Loughinisland goal after the ball had been pumped high into the square. Tullylish were in trouble at this stage nearly being overrun by Loughinisland who added 3 more points before the 20th minute before Tullylish started a revival. The visitors started to match their opponents in midfield and got another John McAreavey point followed by a Micheal McCartan score after some good build up work. Just before the half time whistle Gary Chambers scored a free to leave the half time score Loughinisland 1-4 Tullylish 0-4

The second half was a much tighter affair with Tullylish putting it up to their opponents throughout. Loughinisland opened the scoring with 2 early points but Tullylish fought back well with another John McAreavey point and another from Gavin McEvoy. Tullylish had their tails up at this stage and Loughinisland looked like their confidence was weakening but the game changed in a 5-minute spell half way through the half. First Tullylish had Gary Chambers sent off for a second book able offence and then just minutes later Loughinisland were awarded a very controversial penalty after the referee adjudged that Tullylish goalkeeper Ryan McConville had put inn a foot block while saving the ball.

The spot kick was duly converted and Tullylish were in deep trouble but they battled back well with a Mark Fitzpatrick point. Tullylish then got the lifeline they needed when substitute Colin Thompson fielded the ball on the 14-yard line and drove it to the net. This was as close as they got as Loughinisland snatched 2 points although a late John McAreavey point completed the scoring leaving Tullylish 3 points behind at the end.

Tullylish need a result from every game now and must up their performances to secure their survival.

Tullylish: R McConville; P Grew; M Feeney; S Greenaway; G McEvoy 0-1; C McManus; R Barry; D Corbett; P Quinn; M McCartan 0-1; J McAreavey 0-4; M Fitzpatrick (C Thompson 1-0); E Morgan (B Roberts); C McGovern; G Chambers 0-1.