Hurling enthusiasts have two mouth-watering semi-finals in the Brooks Group Galway Senior Championship to look forward to this Sunday afternoon in Pearse Stadium.
With three quarter-finals ending in relatively comfortable victories for the pre-match favourites, it was the meeting of Loughrea and Turloughmore in Ballinasloe on Sunday afternoon that proved the most nerve-wracking and highest scoring.
Loughrea prevailed in the end by 1-22 to 2-16, with Johnny Coen’s second-half penalty giving the victors a vital lead after they had trailed at half-time. Jamie Ryan was highly influential in the final stages, but Loughrea had plenty of scoring threats, with Neil Keary, Mark McManus and Anthony Burns contributing handsomely to a fine win.
The draw for the last four has pitted Loughrea against Clarinbridge, who were six-point winners over Tommy Larkins in Athenry on Saturday. A pre-match confrontation set the tone for a tense affair, with Larkins using wind advantage to build up a solid 0-12 to 0-5 half-time lead.
Gavin Lee’s well-taken goal early in the second half cut the deficit back to just a solitary point, and when Mark Kennedy was fouled, he rifled in a penalty that gave Clarinbridge the lead. Tommy Larkins responded gamely to tie it up with five minutes to play, but TJ Brennan’s superb goal was one of four Clarinbridge scores that closed out a 3-12 to 0-15 win.
Saturday’s second quarter-final saw St Thomas’ take on Cappataggle, with the opening minutes producing scores at each end before St Thomas’ took control with the aid of the elements and built up a 0-13 to 0-5 advantage by the break.
Cappataggle made a spirited recovery in the second half with Liam Collins their main source of scores, while James Skehill made a spectacular save to deny Conor Cooney. With four points separating the sides, Bernard Burke was given acres of space to crack a shot to the net, and from then on St Thomas’ were never going to be beaten.
The county champions had eight different scorers on the day, with defenders Cathal Burke, John Headd, and Evan Duggan all registering points. Conor Cooney’s free-taking was reliable as ever and the introduction of Shane Cooney late on after a long injury lay off is another boost to their cause.
It will be a repeat of one of the 2018 semi-finals when St Thomas’ take on Sarsfields on Sunday. The New Inn/Bullaun men had seven points to spare over Portumna on Saturday, but at half time the outcome was very much up in the air as Portumna only trailed by 1-10 to 0-11, having played against the wind.
Joe Canning was leading the line for Portumna with aplomb as always, and Dinny Cahill’s side was able to withstand a Mark O’Regan goal to stay in contention. Sarsfields, however, managed to pull away in the second half with free-taker Niall Morrissey in good form, and Alex Connaire chipping in with a brace of important scores.
Fixtures: Sunday November 6 - Galway Senior Hurling Championship semi-finals in Pearse Stadium, Sarsfields v St Thomas' 12.30pm; Loughrea v Clarinbridge (2.15pm ).
