Galway SHC Final: Loughrea retain title
Joe Mooney, Loughrea, and Darren Farrell, St Thomas', in Galway SHC Final action. Photo by Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile
Galway SHC Final
Loughrea 1-15 St Thomas' 1-14
Loughrea retained the Galway SHC title at Pearse Stadium on Saturday evening.
A solid opening period performance was key for Loughrea, who accumulated a 0-11 to 0-6 advantage at the break.
After the restart St Thomas', who had never previously been beaten in a western senior decider, narrowed the deficit.
A goal from Darren Shaughnessy following an Anthony Burns assist was vital for Loughrea.
Thomas' thundered back as Conor Cooney crashed home a goal from a free, but Loughrea survived.
Initially, Loughrea spurned plenty of scoring chances, but a burst of points before the break was key as Tiernan Killeen, Shaughnessy, Burns, and Vince Morgan were prominent.
It meant that Loughrea went in five clear at the turnaround, but Thomas' displayed trademark battling qualities.
Burns, who finished with a five point haul from play, was a significant influence, while Shaughnessy contributed handsomely with 1-2.
Thomas' relied on Conor Cooney, who clipped 1-10, but Loughrea did enough to prevail.
