Clarinbridge and Tommy Larkins were among the big winners in round two of the Brooks Galway Senior Hurling Club Championship when they got the better of Turloughmore and Gort respectively in the highest profile Senior A matches of an action-packed weekend.
Despite playing against the wind in the first half on Saturday evening in Athenry, Clarinbridge worked hard to gain an 0-11 to 0-10 interval lead.
Jarlath Niland’s side stretched that lead to four by the beginning of the final quarter and dominated the closing stages to record a relatively comfortable 0-24 to 0-17 victory, with Evan Niland their top scorer on 0-14, which included 11 frees.
Sarsfields enjoyed their first win in group one. With Kevin Cooney in fine form, they overcame Castlegar on Sunday afternoon.
An early Greg Thomas goal gave Castlegar a promising start, but after grabbing the initiative just before half-time, Sarsfields held out for a 2-19 to 2-13 win.
Elsewhere in the same group, St Thomas’ made it two wins from two with a relatively straightforward victory over Killimordaly, with second-half goals from Conor Cooney and Victor Manso keeping the champions on track.
Tommy Larkins had a far more taxing encounter with Gort on Sunday afternoon in Athenry, as a late Darren Duggan goal proved decisive in a 1-23 to 1-21 win. Gavin Lally produced heroics between the sticks for Gort to keep them in the hunt, but despite Jason Grealish’s second-half strike, Larkins were able to finish strongly to record their first win.
Cappataggle remain unbeaten after their dominant display against Kilconieron that saw Darragh Dolan, Jarlath Mannion, Declan Cronin and Daniel Nevin all hit the net.
Loughrea are also sitting pretty on four points after a 1-22 to 2-16 win over Craughwell, with Gearóid Loughnane’s second-half penalty save from Tom Monaghan a crucial moment.
In Senior B, group two is delicately poised with four sides now with one win apiece.
Portumna are on top of the pile after a hard-fought win over Ardrahan, while Liam Mellows struck two goals in the opening quarter through Jack Hastings and Conor Kavanagh on their way to a 2-20 to 0-20 win over Mullagh.
Padraig Pearses also got off the mark as they finished strongly against Ahascragh-Fohenagh, winning by 0-18 to 0-13.
In group one Athenry had to withstand a late flurry of goals from Kilnadeema/Leitrim, but held on for a two-point victory.
Elsewhere, Oranmore-Maree’s Niall Burke was in excellent form in their 1-16 to 0-13 defeat of Tynagh Abbey/Duniry, while Moycullen continued their impressive run of form with a stunning late comeback to secure a 2-24 to 3-15 win over Beagh.
In the Intermediate championship, Turloughmore, Killimor, and Abbeyknockmoy secured their passage into the quarter-finals before the last round of games is played. Ballinderreen stayed in the hunt in group two after a remarkable comeback to draw against Sylane, who had ed by nine points late in the game.
