Kenneth Burke and Greg Lally during the Galway SHC Final at Pearse Stadium.
Galway SHC Final
St Thomas' 1-11 Gort 0-10
By Cian O'Connell at Pearse Stadium
Sean Skehill’s 46th minute goal was the key score as St Thomas' claimed their second Galway SHC title in Salthill.
John Burke’s team restricted Gort to three second period points securing a deserved victory in demanding weather conditions in the west.
Though St Thomas' were on top for vast chunks of the first half Gort were efficient in attack departing at the interval armed with a 0-7 to 0-6 advantage.
Aidan Helebert's opening period haul of five points was critical for Gort, who frustrated Thomas'.
The 2013 All Ireland club champions offered glimpses of their ability edging 0-5 to 0-3 in front with Darragh Burke, James Regan, and Bernard Burke nailing points.
Gort responded impressively clipping four of the next five points with Paul Killilea rifling over two important efforts.
David Sherry and Greg Lally collide at Pearse Stadium.
It was a tight encounter with Helebert's free just before the break ensuring Gort went in ahead at the break.
But after the restart Thomas' took control reeling off 1-4 without reply as Gort went 21 minutes without a score.
Conor Cooney was sharp from frees while Skehill batted a goal following a delivery from Darragh Burke as Thomas’ took charge. That hugely significant incident happened seconds after Gort had a goal disallowed for square ball and Thomas' weren't going to be denied.
In the closing stages Helebert converted three late frees for Gort, but a resourceful Thomas’ outfit held out.
Gort’s Tadhg Linnane and Thomas’ Gerald Kelly were red carded in stoppage time, but it was John Burke’s charges who prevailed in the rain.
Scorers for St Thomas': C Cooney 0-6 (6fs), S Skehill 1-0, B Burke 0-2, B Farrell 0-1, Darragh Burke 0-1, J Regan.
Scorers for Gort: A Helebert 0-8 (6fs), P Killilea 0-2.
St Thomas': P Skehill; F Burke, C Burke, E Burke; J Regan, D Cooney, S Cooney; David Burke, B Burke; C Cooney, Darragh Burke, D Sherry; B Farrell, S Skehill, K Burke.
Subs: G Kelly for Sherry (54 mins), A Kelly for S Skehill (57 mins), C Fallon for K Burke (60 mins).
Gort: Gavin Lally; T Linnane, M McMahon, M Cummins; P Lally, Greg Lally, A Harte; S Og Linnane, Jack Grealish; P Killilea, A Mullins, A Helebert; R Cummins, M Mullins, Jason Grealish.
**Subs: **G O'Donoghue for A Mullins (35 mins), W Walsh for Lally (48 mins).
Referee: L Fay.
