Galway Senior Hurling Club Championship
Group stage:
August 8: Loughrea 1-19 – 0-18 Kilconieron
Loughrea kicked off their county championship campaign with a win in a thrilling encounter with Kilconieron that ended in a four-point victory for Tommy Kelly’s side.
The match was marked by a high-scoring first half, but Loughrea’s defence got to grips with their opponents in the second half. Loughrea got the job done, but there was plenty of room for improvement.
August 24: Killimordaly 3-8 – 4-25 Loughrea
Loughrea sent a reminder to their challengers as they blitzed Killimordaly in a showcase of their quality and potential.
Kieran Hanrahan and Shane Morgan were imperious for Loughrea. Achieving a score of 4-25 was made more impressive by the fact Loughrea finished with 17 wides. A crucial clash with Craughwell awaited.
September 7: Loughrea 2-22 – 3-23 Craughwell
Loughrea got stung by a Craughwell team meaning they could not guarantee a place in the county quarter-finals.
Tommy Kelly’s side were without talisman Jamie Ryan and Anthony Burns saw red in a disappointing encounter for the reigning champions. This result set up a preliminary quarter-final meeting with Moycullen.
September 21: Loughrea 4-15 – 0-13 Moycullen – Preliminary quarter-final
Four opening half goals saw Loughrea cruise to victory at Pearse Stadium in the preliminary quarter-final.
Loughrea needed a response after their bruising group stage defeat to Craughwell and they delivered. Darren Shaughnessy returned and starred with a brace.
October 5: Clarinbridge 2-14 – 1-18 Loughrea – Quarter-final
Loughrea showed the resilience of champions as they battled from seven-points down against the wind to send Clarinbridge packing.
The reigning champions took the lead for the first time in the contest in the third minute of stoppage time in a classic at Kenny Park. Anthony Burns, returning after his sending off against Craughwell, ignited the comeback with a goal which ended with Tiernan Killeen sailing a 50-metre free over the bar to win it at the death.
Loughrea advance to the semi-final to take on Turloughmore.
October 18: Loughrea 1-17 – 0-15 Turloughmore – Semi-final
Loughrea reached the county final with a 1-17 to 0-15 victory over Turloughore in an exciting semi-final at Pearse Stadium.
A surge at the end of the first half which saw Loughrea outscore their opponents by 0-7 to 0-1 in the final 11 minutes before the interval was crucial. Turloughmore closed the gap to two-points going into stoppage time to set up a pulsating finish but Loughrea sealed the win when a long-range effort from Kieran Hanrahan ended up in the net.
Loughrea’s victory sets up a thriller with St Thomas’ in the county hurling club championship final.
November 1: St Thomas’ 1-14 – 1-15 Loughrea – Final
Loughrea captured their fourth Galway SHC title when they retained their crown at Pearse Stadium against St Thomas’ in a final for the ages.
Loughrea did the heavy lifting in an impressive first half as they led by five-points going into the interval despite having played against the wind.
St Thomas’ had never lost a county final before going into the final at Pearse Stadium, and showed character to claw their way back to a two-point deficit with four minutes on the clock. However, Anthony Burns set up Darren Shaughnessy who scored a superb goal to extend his side’s lead to five points.
There was still time for a point and a cracking Conor Cooney goal to get the pulses racing again, but Loughrea hung on to retain their crown.
All-Ireland Senior Hurling Club Championship
December 21: Loughrea 2-22 – 0-15 Slaughtneil – All-Ireland semi-final
Loughrea sealed a place in their second All-Ireland senior club hurling final with a 2-22 to 0-15 victory over Derry’s Slaughtneil at Parnell Park.
Goals either side of half time sealed the deal for the Galway champions. Anthony Burns got the opener five minutes before half time before Vince Morgan rifled his effort into the top corner in the 37th minute.
Burns’ strike ensured his side lead 1-9 to 0-10 going into the interval. His side showed their class as they pulled away in the second half. Morgan’s goal gave Loughrea a 2-12 to 0-11 advantage and the contest looked in no doubt from that point onwards.
Despite having played no competitive game since winning the Galway county final in early November, Loughrea looked the stronger, more confident outfit.
Cullen Killeen’s red card after an off the ball incident leaves a sour taste, he was phenomenal as he was named TG4 player-of-the-match.
Loughrea will face Ballygunner of Waterford at Croke Park on Sunday, January 18 as they bid to claim their first All-Ireland title.
