Dramatic weekend in Galway SHC
Loughrea hurler Paul Hoban. Photo by Ray McManus/Sportsfile
Galway Senior Hurling Championship Preliminary Quarter-Finals
Gort 0-22 St Thomas' 2-15
Loughrea 2-21 Castlegar 2-17
Turloughmore 0-22 Liam Mellows 2-9
Craughwell 1-23 Ardrahan 0-25
Holders Loughrea eventually overcame Castlegar to book a place in the last eight of the Galway SHC.
Substitute Jamie Ryan starred in the closing stages for Loughrea, who defeated a Ger Farragher inspired Castlegar outfit.
Former Galway midfielder Farragher struck 1-7 for Castlegar, but Loughrea stayed cool.
Ryan landed five points, while Tiernan Killeen and Martin McManus supplied crucial goals for the winners.
Gort edged out local rivals St Thomas in a keenly contested match at Kenny Park on Saturday.
Thomas' settled impressively with a Conor Cooney goal from a free edging them six points clear.
Gort, though, responded with Aidan Helebert providing important scores.
Greg Lally and Nathan Gill were influential figures as a gritty Gort team prevailed despite a second Thomas' goal for Eanna Burke.
Turloughmore also booked a place in the quarter-final, defeating Liam Mellows.
Adrian Morrissey was in good scoring form for the city club, but Turloughmore emerged convincing winners.
Dara Zimmer's last gasp goal, at the end of extra-time ensured Craughwell beat Ardrahan.
Trailing by two, Craughwell required a goal, and Zimmer provided the flash of inspiration, netting in the closing seconds.
Galway SHC Quarter-Finals draw
St Mary's, Athenry v Loughrea
Sarsfields v Craughwell
Clarinbridge v Gort
Tommy Larkins v Turloughmore
