The final eight teams remaining in the Brooks Group Galway Senior Hurling Championship are now known, with Portumna the only club from outside the boundaries of Senior A to have made it to the business end of proceedings.
With playing conditions far from ideal across the county last weekend, Portumna’s two first-half goals proved decisive in their 2-10 to 0-13 win over Craughwell. Ronan O’Meara struck early before Joe Canning finished brilliantly on the cusp of the interval to leave the sides deadlocked.
Craughwell still had wind advantage to come with Adrian Prendergast and Thomas Monaghan in decent form, but they would only add four second-half scores as Portumna critically opened up a three-point lead in the third quarter, and two late Canning frees saw them home.
Saturday’s other preliminary quarter-final saw Cappataggle get the better of Moycullen with a convincing 0-17 to 0-10 victory in Salthill with Liam Collins and Dan Nevin both chipping in with six points apiece.
On Sunday Clarinbridge also had seven points to spare in their 1-18 to 1-11 victory over Ardrahan in Athenry. Evan Niland was once again to the fore for the winners, hitting all but five of his side’s points, while Cian Sammon struck an early goal that was cancelled by Ardrahan’s Iarla Tannian.
Turloughmore were the last side to put their name in the hat, overcoming a dogged Oranmore-Maree side by 2-14 to 0-11. Goals from Tom Quirke and Fergal Moore put Turloughmore in a good position by half time, but Oranmore-Maree’s challenge, led by Niall Burke, was hampered when Éanna Burke was red carded with more than 20 minutes to play.
The quarter-final draw has now provided a number of mouth-watering ties, with Loughrea taking on Turloughmore, Tommy Larkins facing Clarinbridge, Sarsfields clashing with Portumna, and county champions St Thomas’ meeting Cappataggle.
Ahascragh/Fohenagh safe
Ahascragh/Fohenagh clung to their senior status by their fingernails, emerging victorious against Tynagh/Abbey Duniry in the relegation play off by just a solitary point. Ahascragh/Fohenagh appeared to have the hard work done when leading by seven early in the second period, but they would only add a single score as Tynagh/Abbey Duniry took charge, but came up agonisingly short.
They will be replaced in the senior ranks by Killimor, who banished the memory of their loss in last year’s final intermediate final with a hard-fought 0-13 to 0-9 win over Meelick/Eyrecourt in Duggan Park on Saturday.
As anticipated, this was an entertaining final despite the conditions as the near neighbours went toe to toe. Meelick/Eyrecourt started brightly and led by 3-0 and 5-2 with James Downey, John Fleming, and Tiarnan Gohery all on target.
Points from Eoin McEvoy and Jack O’Meara kept Killimor within touching distance, though, before Dessie O’Brien’s side hit four unanswered points early in the second half to take the lead for the first time. Killimor finished strongly, with Kevin Hanney, McEvoy, and O’Meara all scoring late on to seal the triumph and clinch the Mick Sylver Cup.
