Sarsfields and Clarinbridge served up the game of the weekend in the Brooks Group Galway Senior Hurling Championship when they played out a thrilling draw in Duggan Park on Sunday evening.
Sarsfields’ ability to craft goals has made them an eye-catching proposition already this season, and once again Kevin Cooney was a valuable contributor as he added two to his personal tally, while brother John scored the third in a dramatic 3-16 to 1-22 stalemate.
When push came to shove, though, it was the eldest of the Cooney brothers, Joseph, who salvaged a share of the spoils for his side with an excellent score deep into stoppage time from an acute angle after Sean Kilduff appeared to have won it for Clarinbridge.
Elsewhere in Senior A Group 1, St Thomas' is now the only unbeaten side after the champions dug out a 2-19 to 0-19 win over Castlegar.
With veteran Ger Farragher once again a significant score-getter for Castlegar, it took goals from Conor Cooney and Damien McGlynn to see them over the line.
Turloughmore cruised to a comfortable 2-20 to 0-12 win over Killimordaly, but they have two tough tests yet to come against St Thomas’ and Sarsfields which will decide their fate in the group.
In Group 2, table-toppers Loughrea were very impressive in defeating a still winless Gort by 2-20 to 1-13 in Pearse Stadium.
Anthony Burns’ goal on the stroke of half time put clear daylight between the sides and Loughrea never looked back as Joseph Mooney also hit the net in the second half.
There were two first-half dismissals in the second draw of the weekend, one for each side, as Tom Monaghan’s late score secured a hard-earned point for Craughwell against a still-unbeaten Cappataggle side.
Tommy Larkins now sit in third place on four points after a Ronan Murphy hat-trick inspired them to a 4-17 to 0-17 over Kilconieron, who appear set for a swift return to the Senior B ranks.
Moycullen and Portumna are now clear favourites to move in the opposite direction as they sit on top of their respective groups with three wins from three.
Moycullen defeated Tynagh Abbey/Duniry by 1-20 to 2-14, while Ardrahan were narrow victors over Mullagh on a 2-14 to 1-15, with the winner’s goals coming from Jason Kennedy and Sean Gardiner.
Liam Mellows also recorded their second win of the campaign against Ahascragh/Fohenagh by 1-24 to 2-9, a late Adrian Morrissey goal sealing a comfortable win despite the best efforts of the Mannion brothers.
Declan McLoughlin netted Portumna’s first goal of the campaign as they beat Padraig Pearses by 1-19 to 2-11, while wins for Athenry over Beagh and Kilnadeema/Leitrim means there are now three sides locked on four points apiece as the competition begins to hot up.
In the intermediate championship, the last eight has already been decided as the race for promotion gathers pace.
Kinvara scraped through on scoring difference from group four, and will now face Sylane in the quarter-finals, while Rahoon-Newcastle finished unbeaten and will take on Craughwell.
Meelick-Eyrecourt sealed top spot in group two and will clash with group three runners-up Abbeyknockmoy, while the final knockout clash sees Killimor take on Turloughmore.
