Allianz HL D1: Emphatic win for Galway

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Allianz Hurling League Division One Group A

Galway 4-27 Westmeath 1-12

By Gerry Buckley at TEG Cusack Park

Galway and Westmeath rounded off their round robin fixtures in this year’s Allianz Hurling League Divsion 1A in showery conditions in
Mullingar this afternoon, with the visitors winning by a somewhat flattering 24-point margin.

The Tribesmen were three points to the good in as many minutes courtesy of Cianan Fahy, Brian Concannon and Liam Collins. Westmeath lost their marquee defender Tommy Doyle after a bang of the sliotar in the head in the eighth minute, a major blow given the absence of their star forward Killian Doyle. In the latter’s absence, Niall O’Brien was on free-taking duty and he had a mixed afternoon from placed balls.

Henry Shefflin’s charges were 0-5 to 0-0 up before their opponents struck for a hat-trick of unanswered points from the sticks of Jack Galvin, Kevin Regan, and O’Brien (a free).

Westmeath’s fourth point came from Galway native Davy Glennon (whose brother Ronan lined out for the winners) and the Connacht side led by 0-10 to 0-4 when Ciaran Doyle, a twin brother of the absent Killian, did well to get in a one-handed strike for a tonic goal for the team under the tutelage of Joe Fortune.

It was 0-12 to 1-4 in Galway’s favour when Concannon rifled home a great goal from a tight angle with exactly 35 minutes on the clock. With Conor Cooney striking four points from play in the first moiety and Evan Niland converting six placed balls (including a ninth-minute ’65’), Galway led by 1-14 to 1-5 at the interval.

A classy point from play by O’Brien was an encouraging start to the second half for Westmeath, but Galway were always able to pick off points when needed. Indeed, they ended up with 13 different scorers on the day. Despite the home team – with Ciaran Doyle prominent – scoring four unanswered points between the 48th and 55th minutes, Galway still led by 1-19 to 1-11 when sub Declan McLoughlin availed of one of many unforced Westmeath errors to rifle the ball past Conor Bracken in the 59th minute.

Galway scored the last 2-7 of the contest without reply from the outclassed men in the changed green and maroon jerseys. The two goals came with time almost up courtesy of Jason Flynn and Tiernan Killeen, and Gavin Lee still had time to score a last-gasp point.

Much of the post-match Galway chat in the crowd focused on David Burke’s cruciate injury, while Westmeath eyes were already firmly set on next Saturday’s Division One relegation play-off against Laois.

Scorers for Galway: E Niland 0-11 (8fs, 1’65’), C Cooney 0-5, B Concannon, D McLoughlin, J Flynn 1-1 each, T Killeen 1-0, John Cooney 0-2, C Fahy, L Collins, G Lee, TJ Brennan, P Mannion, K Cooney 0-1 each.

Scorers for Westmeath: C Doyle 1-4 (1f), N O’Brien 0-5 (4f), J Galvin, D Glennon, K Regan 0-1 each.

Galway: E Murphy; D Morrissey, D Burke, TJ Brennan; P Mannion, J Fitzpatrick, T Killeen; C Fahy, R Glennon; John Cooney, L Collins, C Cooney; E Niland, B Concannon, K Cooney.

Subs: D McLoughlin for Collins (46), J Flynn for C Cooney (54), G Lee for John Cooney (63), Joseph Cooney for Glennon (63), D O’Shea for Concannon (65), M McManus for McLoughlin (blood, 70+1).

Westmeath: C Bracken; G Greville, J Bermingham, C Shaw; A Craig, T Doyle, R Greville; J Galvin, S McGovern; K Regan, C Doyle, E Keyes; N O’Brien, S Clavin, D Glennon. Subs: D Egerton for T Doyle (inj., 8), J Gillen for O’Brien (inj., 52), P Clarke for Glennon (59), M Cunningham for McGovern (67), C Boyle for Bermingham (67), P Maxwell for Galvin (70).

Referee: K Jordan (Tipperary).

Ronan Glennon, Galway, and Tony Kelly and Ryan Taylor, Clare, in Allianz Hurling League action at Cusack Park. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile

Allianz HL D1: Galway defeat Clare in Ennis

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Allianz Hurling League Division One Group A

Galway 1-24 Clare 0-22

By Eoin Brennan at Cusack Park

Galway maintained their hold over neighbours Clare after a storming second half performance at Cusack Park, Ennis.

It was an outcome that couldn’t have been foreseen when the hosts raced out of the blocks to soar 0-8 to 0-1 clear after only 14 minutes thanks in the main to Aidan McCarthy (3) and David Reidy (2). However, there would be a total sea-change over the next 10 minutes as Galway brought back Conor Cooney as an extra midfielder and eventually slashed the areas to just the minimum as Evan Niland (3) and an inspirational Daithi Burke point helped revive the visitors challenge.

That margin would remain until the break at 0-12 to 0-11 but now backed by the slight conditions, Henry Shefflin’s side incrementally seized control on the restart.

Following a prolonged wrestle for supremacy that saw the sides level on four occasions by the 47th minute, Galway upped the ante for the final quarter, outscoring their neighbours by 1-9 to 0-7 including a decisive Conor Whelan goal in the 59th minute.

Conor Cooney produced a rousing second half display to complete a five point haul from play which would be enough to fend off an inevitable home backlash and ensure that the Banner’s search for a first derby victory since 2013 will have to wait until at least the summer.

Both sides are still in the hunt for the semi-finals with Clare requiring a victory over Cork and Galway needing a big win against Westmeath in order to advance.

Scorers for Galway: Evan Niland 0-9 (5fs, 1’65), Conor Cooney 0-5, Conor Whelan 1-0, Daithi Burke, Kevin Cooney, and Tom Monaghan 0-2 each, Ronan Glennon, Brian Concannon, Joseph Cooney, and Sean Linnane 0-1 each.

Scorers for Clare: Aidan McCarthy 0-7 (6fs), David Fitzgerald 0-4, David Reidy 0-3, Ian Galvin 0-2, Ryan Taylor, Cathal Malone, Peter Duggan, Cian Galvin, Robin Mounsey, and Seadna Morey 0-1 each.

Galway: Eanna Murphy; Jack Grealish, Gearoid McInerney, TJ Brennan; Padraic Mannion, Daithi Burke, Joseph Cooney; Ronan Glennon, Tom Monaghan; Conor Cooney, Brian Concannon, Cianan Fahy; Evan Niland, Conor Whelan, Kevin Cooney

Subs: Subs: Sean Linnane for Glennon (52), Tiernan Killeen for Burke (57), David Burke for Fahy (67), Declan McLoughlin for Concannon (69).

Clare: Eamonn Foudy; Adam Hogan, Conor Cleary, Paul Flanagan; Diarmuid Ryan, John Conlon, Cian Galvin; Cathal Malone, Tony Kelly; David Fitzgerald, Peter Duggan, Ryan Taylor; David Reidy, Aidan McCarthy, Davie Conroy

Subs: Brandon O’Connell for Ryan (44), Robin Mounsey for Conroy (45), Seadna Morey for Duggan (54), Ian Galvin for McCarthy (62), Aron Shanagher for Reidy (67).

Referee: Colm Lyons (Cork).

Declan Dalton was the key man for Cork this afternoon, scoring 0-8 and controlling the play around him.

Goal hungry Cork take a chunk out of Galway

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Just five points between the teams at the end of a February league game, and a contest in which Galway played the entirety of the second half with 14 men, would hardly suggest the type of form that should be treated as cast iron in advance of more meaningful matches in the summer – and yet there was a real sense permeating the sea air in Salthill this afternoon that Cork had just offered substantial evidence that they were going to be a force to be reckoned with this summer.

Allianz Hurling League Division One

Cork 4-24 – Galway 3-22

It wasn’t just that they won so convincingly; we should bear in mind here that there were eleven points between the teams before Martin McManus’ goal in the last minute of normal time. It was also that it was a Cork team built around dominant performers in positions that were in 2022 perceived to be their vulnerable spots. Ciarán Joyce’s emergence as a force at centre back had been flagged up, while Declan Downey’s physical presence as a ball-winner was well known, so his redeployment on the right wing of the attack looked like a safe bet.

However Conor Lehane’s nomination as captain has seen him step up into the leadership role in fine style, and the real emerging jewel in the Rebel County’s crown appears to be Eoin Downey at full back. Many would have thought that Eoin, who completed his Leaving Cert in 2022, was only keeping the number three jersey warm for his brother Rob, but many more performances like this afternoon’s effort, and Cork manager Pat Ryan will have some tough calls to make.

It’s easy to forget too, after the final whistle sounds, that Cork had to dig themselves out of something of a hole early on too.

Galway’s inside forward line of Martin McManus, Kevin Cooney and Evan Niland were on fire early on, and while Dalton set up Lehane for an goal in the tenth minute to undo some early damage, Cooney responded in kind for the Tribesmen, and a string of good points saw them move 1-9 to 1-4 ahead by the end of the first quarter.

A significant number of their scores came from Niland’s frees, but that spoke volumes about how much space they were able to generate within 40 metres of the Cork goal, and the number of times their inside forwards found themselves one-on-one with their markers, chasing excellent deliveries.

At the other end, it was all about Dalton, as he set up scoring chances – including a goal chance that Shane Barrett hammered into the crossbar – won frees, and converted plenty of points himself. His controlled bat of the sliotar into Barrett set up Cork’s sixth point in a row to push them into the lead after 26 minutes, and they were still playing marginally the better hurling at half-time, with the sides deadlocked at 1-13 each.

In the five minutes after the restart, the contest changed utterly. An uncharacteristic fumble from Cathal Mannion allowed Barrett to steal possession and set up Seán Twomey for a close-range goal, and an infringement by Oisín Salmon during the move saw the Clarinbridge defender receive a second yellow card.

On the next play, Lehane found the net again, and three more points in the next five minutes saw a finely-balanced tie suddenly have nine points between the teams.

That was how it continued for most of the second half, with Galway briefly chipping away a couple of points here and there, but Cork always able to deliver a response. Conor Whelan, who had been quiet in the first half, weighed in with some impressive scores, while McManus continued to battle against the tide, but it seemed like the contest was meandering to a conclusion, until McManus and then Brian Concannon goaled in quick succession, either side of a Cathal Mannion point.

Suddenly two minutes of added time remained, and when Galway were awarded a penalty for a foul on Concannon, Cooney had the chance to cut the gap to two points.

His low effort was saved by Patrick Collins, and the day’s action concluded – but the question of how much today’s events have foreshadowed the summer is very much open.

Scorers for Cork: Conor Lehane 2-3, Declan Dalton 0-8 (0-2f) Seán Twomey 2-0, Shane Kingston 0-6 (0-4f), Shane Barrett 0-4, Cormac Beausang 0-1, Brian Hayes 0-1, Conor Cahalane 0-1.

Scorers for Galway: Evan Niland 0-11 (0-8f), Martin McManus 1-3, Kevin Cooney 1-1, Brian Concannon 1-0, Conor Whelan 0-2, Pádraic Mannion 0-1, Jason Flynn 0-1, Cianán Fahy 0-1, Cathal Mannion 0-1, Liam Collins 0-1f.

Cork: Patrick Collins; Conor O’Callaghan, Eoin Downey, Eoin Roceh; Tommy O’Connell, Ciarán Joyce, Cormac O’Brien; Brian Roche, Sam Quirke; Declan Dalton, Conor Lehane, Seán Twomey; Cormac Beausang, Shane Barrett, Shane Kingston.

Subs: Luke Meade for Quirke (39), Brian Hayes for Beausang (47), Conor Cahalane for Barrett (55), Pádraig Power for Kingston (59), Colin Walsh for Roche (69).

Galway: Darach Fahy; Oisín Salmon, Gearóid McInerney; Jack Grealish; Pádraic Mannion, Joseph Cooney, Darren Morrissey; Gavin Lee, Seán Linnane; Tom Monaghan, Conor Whelan, Jason Flynn; Evan Niland, Kevin Cooney, Martin McManus.

Subs: Cianán Fahy for Monaghan (half-time), Cathal Mannion for Lee (43), Ronan Murphy for Morrissey (53), Brian Concannon for Flynn (58), Liam Collins for Niland (66).

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)

Kevin Egan reports from Pearse Stadium

AHL Team News: Galway v Cork

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The Galway Senior Hurling team to face Cork in the Allianz Hurling League Round 2 clash is announced. Game is Live on the TG4 app at 2.00PM with deferred coverage on TG4 TV at 5.25PM.

#riseagain #GAABelong #riseofthetribes

Important Match Day Information

On behalf of Galway GAA and the Pearse Stadium Committee we welcome all GAA Supporters to Salthill on Sunday.
This game will result in increased traffic in the Galway, Salthill and Pearse Stadium areas and we urge all
Supporters to arrive early, in order to avoid traffic congestion and potential delays entering the Stadium.
This is an all-ticket game and no tickets will be available to purchase at the ground on the day.
Tickets can be purchased on line and in Centra and SuperValu Supermarkets in advance of the game.
Please have your tickets available for scanning as you approach the Stadium.
Turnstiles will be open at the Main Entrance on Rockbarton Road, Arus Bothar na Trá on Dr. Mannix Road and at the back of the stand.
Gates will open at 12.30pm.
There are ample Car Parks in Galway City and Salthill and we encourage patrons to use these car parks and walk or take public transport to/from Salthill.
Car Parking will be available at St. Enda’s National School on Dr. Mannix Road (limited number)
and at St. Enda’s Secondary School on Threadneedle Road.
We ask all Supporters to arrive early, and to park legally and responsibly, at all times.
Finally, we appeal to all Supporters to be conscious, mindful and respectful to the needs of our neighbours and local residents.

Walsh Cup Galway vs Dublin

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The Galway Senior Hurling Team to face Dublin in the Walsh Cup is announced.

Game will be Live Streamed by ClubberTV, click to purchase stream here

 

No-nonsense Burke focused on winning all he can

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St. Thomas’ defender hurler, Fintan Burke, is much off the field like he is on it – no-nonsense.

When it’s suggested to him that some rival clubs in Galway like to undermine his own’s achievement of having won six county titles in the last seven years by pointing out they haven’t won an All-Ireland in that time, he’s not having any of it.

“Nowadays there’s a lot of stuff said that you just have to blank out and just put on your ear-muffs,” says Burke.

“Because opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one. You just have to let it fade into the background and get on with things. Records and all that craic, I’m not too worried about them now at the moment.”

He means that in every sense possible. He closes his ears to those who try to run St. Thomas’ down, and he’s not the type either to glory in what they’ve achieved.

Winning a fifth Galway title in a row is a serious piece of history for a club that draws its team from such a small area, but don’t expect Burke pat himself on the back any time soon.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” he says. “We’d probably be of the opinion that we’ll have enough time when we’re 40 or 50 sitting at a barstool and looking into a pint thinking about how great we were to win five-in-row, but while you’re here you might as well stay going.”

Conor Cooney, captain of St. Thomas lifts the cup after winning the 2022 Galway County Senior Hurling Championship Final Replay match between St Thomas and Loughrea at Pearse Stadium in Galway.

So how does this group of St. Thomas’ players stay going? Many of them have been on the road a long time now yet they come back year after year with their appetite for success apparently undiminished.

“It’s probably because of how tight the group is,” says Burke. “We’ve obviously had a lot of success the last five, six, seven years. But we’ve had a lot of tough days too. Ballyhale in Croke Park, even Ballyhale last year, Borrisoleigh, Ballyea, we’ve had a lot of disappointing defeats that probably brought us together and cemented our friendship as a group.

“In March, April, or May when you’re trying to get back training and you’re looking outside and it’s milling rain and you’re going training for nothing, essentially, for two months, that’s probably the days you draw on those defeats the most.

“Given the success we’ve had we know how good it is to win so it makes getting out there and doing it that small bit easier.

“Obviously there are days when you’d think it’d be easier to pull up the duvet and hide underneath it and just not go. But when we go training with the lads it’s enjoyable, there’s always that bit of craic. And you’d be looking forward to that as much as anything.”

St. Thomas’ desire to defeat Ulster and Antrim champions, Dunloy, this weekend and make it back to their first All-Ireland Final since 2019 is surely heightened by how disappointing that experience was.

Fintan Burke of St Thomas, Galway, pictured ahead of the AIB All-Ireland GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship Semi-Final, which takes place this Sunday, December 18th at Croke Park at 1.30pm. The AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships features some of #TheToughest players from communities all across Ireland. It is these very communities that the players represent that make the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships unique. Now in its 32nd year supporting the GAA Club Championships, AIB is extremely proud to once again celebrate the communities that play such a role in sustaining our national games.

They didn’t hurl anywhere near their potential and were beaten on the day by 17 points, while a miserable afternoon for Burke was made much worse by the fact he ruptured his cruciate ligament in that game.

“Obviously if you look at our track record we’ve made a habit of not showing up for All-Ireland semi-finals or that Final,” he says. “I suppose you could make 100 excuses but the buck lies with us.

“I suppose, yeah, we were very disappointed, but I wouldn’t say we use it as a motivation. The biggest motivating factor for a lot of us is that these days won’t be around for ever and we’re not going to be as successful as we are at the moment forever.

“When some of the older lads call it a day we’re probably going to be under pressure numbers wise which is always going to happen. So I suppose it’s just about making hay while the sun shines really.

“There’s different motivating factors for us and one of them would be that a lot of lads in our panel don’t have an All-Ireland medal. Some of the older lads do but I don’t myself and that’s one you’d like to have in your back pocket before you call it a day.

“In fairness lads don’t be shy about telling you. If there’s a row in the hurling field that’s the first thing they’d be telling you, ‘where’s your All-Ireland club medal?’ It would be nice on a personal level for every lad on the panel who doesn’t have one to have one.”

By John Harrington

Setanta

Galway GAA Launch New Athletic Development Partnership with Setanta College

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Galway GAA have launched a new partnership with Setanta College that will focus on the delivery of athletic development programmes for the county’s underage development squads.

Covering both hurling and football, the design and delivery of the programmes will be carried out by coaches from Setanta. Leading the implementation of the partnership will be Galway native Des Ryan, who has previously worked as Head of Sports Science and Medicine at the Arsenal FC Academy and is now Director of Coaching and Performance at Setanta.

Chairperson of Galway GAA, Paul Bellew, said, “We are delighted to launch our new partnership with Setanta College. There is a firm commitment in Galway GAA to deliver a development pathway that maximizes the potential of our players all the way through to adult level, and this is a significant step forward in doing so in terms of athletic development, sports psychology and nutritional support. Setanta College’s expertise, educational focus and high support environment under the direction of Des Ryan aligns with our aims of assisting players both on and off the field. We look forward to working closely with Des and the team at Setanta in delivering on our shared aims.”

The partnership was officially launched at an event in the Clayton Hotel, Galway, where representatives from both Galway GAA and Setanta provided an overview of the structure of the new partnership to both players and parents. Also supporting the design of the athletic development pathway will be Lukasz Kirszenstein and Jonathan Harris-Wright, Lead Athletic Development coaches with the county’s Senior Hurling and Football teams.

Des Ryan, Director of Coaching & Performance at Setanta College, said, “We have a great interest in developing young people and players at Setanta so we are very excited to embark on this new partnership with Galway GAA. This project will be dual aspirational; firstly, we want all development players to enjoy Gaelic Games and play with their clubs for as long as possible. We also want to help every player be the best version of themselves. A number of players will go onto play for the county Minor, u20 and Senior teams and we will help them to be physically prepared for those challenges. The Athletic Development, Sports Psychology and Nutrition support provided by Setanta will focus on Health, Wellbeing and Physical Development. We will also ensure it will be a high-challenge and high-support environment.”

Setanta College is an internationally renowned provider of higher education in human performance and sports science headquartered in Ireland with a number of international locations. Recently, the college has expanded its offerings to include the development of performance structures through its consultancy practice Setanta Performance.

For more information on Setanta College, visit www.setantacollege.com 

Galway hurling stars remember Niall Donohue with a star-studded charity match

Galway hurling stars remember Niall Donohue with a star-studded charity match

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On Saturday 10th December, Galway’s biggest hurling stars will play the Niall Donohue Memorial Match in memory of the Kilbeacanty and Galway hurling star. The Leinster title winning team of 2012 will take on a 2017 All-Ireland winning selection at Kilbeacanty GAA Club.

Some of the most famous names in Galway hurling will be there, with funds raised going to support Jigsaw, the youth mental health charity, and Kilbeacanty GAA. The match will also be streamed online and will include expert panel for match analysis along with player interviews. Tickets for the match will be limited and are available on www.jigsaw.ie/hurlingforniall

“We are looking forward to playing in this memorial game to recognise our teammate and friend Niall Donohue. This game is also about raising awareness and funds to help meet the mental health challenges that affects many people in our families and communities”, said Tony Og Regan, spokesperson for the organising committee, and former county teammate of Niall.

Niall Donohue played for Kilbeacanty and Galway as a minor, under-21 and senior. In 2011, he won an under-21 All-Ireland before going onto win a senior Leinster title in 2012. Niall tragically died by suicide on 23rd of October 2013 at the age of 22.

His family, club, fellow players, hurling and county boards have organised the Niall Donohue Memorial Match to raise funds and awareness for Jigsaw, the youth mental health charity, and Niall’s own club Kilbeacanty GAA, in his memory.

Speaking at the launch of the Niall Donohue Memorial Match, Justin Fahey of Kilbeacanty GAA said, “We are very much looking forward to hosting the Niall Donohue Memorial Game in what will be a very special and poignant day for our club. It will be a great privilege to have Niall’s former Galway teammates from 2012 and the 2017 All-Ireland winning team play a game in his memory at our newly redeveloped grounds.

A core aim of this event is to raise awareness of mental health and suicide in young people. We are honoured to partner with the youth mental health charity Jigsaw which does invaluable work in communities to assist young people who may be struggling. Niall will never be forgotten in our club; he will always be our shining star and we will remember him at this special event on the 10th of December and we very much look forward to welcoming you all to Kilbeacanty”

Paul Bellew, Chairperson of Galway GAA said, “All in Galway GAA are proud to be involved in the Niall Donohue Memorial match on December 10th. I want to pay a special tribute to Justin Fahey and Kilbeacanty GAA Club, Niall’s family, and his teammates in coming together to initiate such a wonderful event that celebrates Niall’s memory. It is testament to his life, his legacy and the impact he continues to have in his club, community and across Galway GAA. The benefits of this occasion will make a significant contribution to mental health awareness and directly assist the provision of services for young people through Jigsaw, who we are delighted to be partnering with”

There will also be a series of activities taking place across the day at Kilbeacanty GAA Club and later that evening in McCarthy’s Bar, Kilbeacanty. These include an all-star panel discussion, monster auction, live music and much more. For more information, please visit www.jigsaw.ie/hurlingforniall

Speaking on behalf of Jigsaw, Justin McDermott said, “We are honoured to be a part of this wonderful match in memory of Niall. The commitment his family, club, county team-mates and the county board have shown in arranging this day reminds me of the commitment Niall always gave as a hurler. Thank you to everyone involved. Through this event you’re helping to support young people facing challenges with their mental health in Galway and across Ireland.”

If you have concerns about your own mental health, or a young person you know, the following organisations in Ireland offer help and support:

Jigsaw support young people aged 12 to 25, offering both online and in person mental health advice and support to young people, parents, and those who work with young people. Visit jigsaw.ie

50808 is a free text support service for moments when you are feeling overwhelmed or having thoughts of suicide and need support to get to a calmer place. Text HELLO to 50808 to start a conversation, any time – day or night.
ENDS

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Michelle Healy, Public Relations Officer, Galway GAA.

Tel: 087-2233982
Email: pro.galway@gaa.ie

St Thomas' Mark Caulfield celebrates at Pearse Stadium.

Thomas’ make it five-in-a-row

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A compelling contest unfolded in Salthill with St Thomas’ eventually earning a fifth Galway SHC title on the spin with St Thomas’ coming through on a scoreline of St Thomas’ 1-15 to Loughrea 0-17

Again Loughrea brought plenty of dash to an absorbing encounter, but Kenneth Burke’s team found a way. Resilient and resourceful until the end, Thomas’ answered the stern questions posed by an emerging Loughrea outfit.

Mark Caulfield’s 1-3, Conor Cooney’s relevance, and David Burke’s experience when it truly mattered late on steered Thomas’ over the line.

Loughrea will certainly reflect on what might have been. Two fiercely fought matches illustrated Loughrea’s potential and in a high quality opening 10 minutes they edged 0-5 to 0-4 ahead.

Then, though, Thomas’ pounced to net a goal that carried considerable weight in such a tight and tense battle.

Inevitably Conor Cooney was instrumental making the 11th minute burst that enabled Caulfield to make the Loughrea net dance.

Victor Manso added another Thomas’ point as they moved into a 1-5 to 0-5 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Loughrea summoned a response reeling off four points on the spin courtesy of Jamie Ryan and Neil Keary (three) to nudge in front 0-9 to 1-5.

Tieran Killeen, Loughrea, and Eanna Burke, St Thomas’, in action during the Galway SHC Final replay at Pearse Stadium.

Caulfield, an influential figure, mined a couple of points before the break to ensure Thomas’ departed armed with a narrow 1-7 to 0-9 lead.

When the action recommenced it remained delicately poised. Tiernan Killeen impressed for Loughrea and his 47th minute point levelled matters at 1-11 to 0-14.

A splendid Oisín Flannery effort had Thomas’ ahead. Then Keary and Darren Shaughnessy rifled over points for Loughrea, who were briefly in front.

It was that type of game, but Cooney landed two pressure frees before Eanna Burke landed a beauty from play after Keary dragged a free narrowly wide. Thomas’ registered 1-15 from 25 shots and it was sufficient to ensure they remain perched on the Galway hurling summit.

Tiernan Killeen narrowed the gap in additional time, but Loughrea, efficient throughout themselves registering 0-17 from 26 attempts, just couldn’t nail a leveller as a crafty Thomas’ prevailed. Just about.

Scorers for St Thomas’: Mark Caulfield 1-3, Conor Cooney 0-4 (2fs), Eanna Burke 0-2, John Headd, Cathal Burke, Darragh Burke, Oisín Flannery, Bernard Burke, and Victor Manso 0-1 each.

Scorers for Loughrea: Neil Keary 0-5 (4fs), Jamie Ryan 0-4 (2fs), Tieran Killeen 0-3, Martin McManus 0-2, Darren Shaughnessy, Caimin Killeen, and Joe Mooney 0-1 each.

St Thomas’: Gerald Kelly; Cian Mahony, Fintan Burke, Evan Duggan; Cathal Burke, David Burke, John Headd; Bernard Burke, Darragh Burke; Victor Manso, Conor Cooney, Mark Caulfield; Damien McGlynn, Eanna Burke, Oisín Flannery.

Subs: Brendan Farrell for B Burke (54), Conor Headd for Manso (56).

Loughrea: Gearoid Loughnane; Paul Hoban, Johnny Coen, Kieran Hanrahan; Darren Shaughnessy, Oisín Coyle, Ian Hanrahan; Brian Keary, Tiernan Killeen; Jamie Ryan, Dylan Shaughnessy, Anthony Burns; Neil Keary, Martin McManus, Joe Mooney.

Subs: Caimin Killeen for B Keary (34), Shane O’Brien for Dylan Shaughnessy (40), Tom Hoban for Burns (58).

Referee: John McDonagh.

By Cian O’Connell at Pearse Stadium

Galway SHC Final: Thriller finishes level

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Brooks Galway Senior Hurling Championship Final – Loughrea 0-20 St Thomas’ 1-17

By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium

A Tiernan Killeen point deep in added time secured a draw for Loughrea at the end of a thrilling Galway Senior Hurling Championship final with five in-a-row chasing St. Thomas’.

Kenneth Burke’s side looked to have timed their run to perfection when Éanna Burke, scorer of 1-4, took a Conor Cooney pass and gave the reigning champions their first lead of the contest after 63 minutes.

Loughrea lost forward Darren Shaughnessy to a second yellow card inside the final quarter, but showed admirable composure to work the levelling score with the game’s final play – Paul Hoban, ‘keeper Gearóid Loughnane, Brian Keary and Neil Keary all involved before Killeen hit the target.

Loughrea have been a model of consistency this season, winning the Division 1 title and reaching the final with the competition’s only unbeaten record. Chasing their third title, Tommy Kelly’s side made a dream start when Martin McManus, the competition’s top marksman from play, struck three points inside two minutes of the throw-in.

With Neil Keary deadly accurate from placed balls and Oisín Coyle and Ian Hanrahan also finding the range, they raced into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead. Slowly but surely, Thomas’ worked their way back into matters with two Darragh Burke points having a settling effect along with some terrific Conor Cooney free-taking from distance.

Though Thomas’ hit the final two scores of the half through Cooney and Oisín Flannery, Loughrea’s 0-12 to 0-10 interval advantage was well deserved after playing with the wind.

That margin was cut to one after the restart, but it was a buffer Loughrea maintained and indeed extended to lead by 0-18 to 0-14 after 52 minutes thanks to a run of scores from captain Ian Hanrahan, McManus, Neil Keary and Joe Mooney.

St. Thomas’ were in deep trouble despite having an extra man advantage, but their challenge sparked to life in the closing stages. Damien McGlynn broke free, drew the cover and teed up Éanna Burke to crack home the day’s only goal on 53 minutes. Burke would then follow up with the equalising point two minutes later.

In what was a pulsating finale, Jamie Ryan pushed Loughrea within sight of the Tom Callanan Cup once more only for Conor Cooney’s eighth converted free to level and a further Éanna Burke point to tilt the balance back in St. Thomas’ favour.

There would be a final twist in the tale as Loughrea worked a last gasp scoring opportunity and Killeen held his nerve to ensure the neighbouring clubs must return to Pearse Stadium to do it all again next Sunday.

Scorers for Loughrea: Neil Keary 0-9 (8f), Martin McManus 0-4, Ian Hanrahan 0-2, Oisín Coyle 0-1, Dylan Shaughnessy 0-1, Joe Mooney 0-1, Jamie Ryan 0-1, Tiernan Killeen 0-1.

Scorers for St. Thomas’: Conor Cooney 0-9 (8f), Éanna Burke 1-4, Darragh Burke 0-2, Oisín Flannery 0-1, Victor Manso 0-1.

Loughrea: Gearóid Loughnane; Johnny Coen, Paul Hoban, Kieran Hanrahan; Ian Hanrahan (captain), Oisín Coyle, Brian Keary; Jamie Ryan, Tiernan Killeen; Darren Shaughnessy, Dylan Shaughnessy, Anthony Burns; Neil Keary, Martin McManus, Joe Mooney.

Subs: Seán Sweeney, for Ian Hanrahan, 58 mins; Shane O’Brien, for Burns, 60+1 mins; Caimin Killeen, for Dylan Shaughnessy, 60+1 mins.

St. Thomas’: Gerald Kelly; Cian Mahony, Fintan Burke, Cathal Burke; Evan Duggan, John Headd, Mark Caulfield; Bernard Burke, David Burke; Victor Manso, Conor Cooney (captain), Darragh Burke; Damien McGlynn, Éanna Burke, Oisín Flannery.

Subs: Shane Cooney, for Caulfield, half-time; Brendan Farrell, for Manso, 46 mins; Conor Headd, for John Headd, 58 mins; Damien Finnerty, for Bernard Burke, 60+3 mins.

Referee: Shane Hynes.