Galway Senior Hurling Championship Final

ST THOMAS' 1-14 TURLOUGHMORE 0-15

By John Fallon at Kenny Park, Athenry

St Thomas’ used all of their experience to capture their third Galway SHC title in a row when they edged out Tuloughmore in a thrilling contest.

They finished strongly to collect their fifth crown, having only won their first in 2012, and their ability to grind out results in tight games stood to them to thwart a Turloughmore side appearing in the final for the first time in 30 years.

The sides were level six times in a gripping contest but it was St Thomas’ who finished strongly to hit the final three scores of the game and clinch the title.

St Thomas’ opted for wind advantage in the opening half but the sides turned around level at the break.

Captain Conor Cooney gave St Thomas’ a dream start with a goal inside a minute when he pounced on a loose ball.

But Turloughmore, who had got off the mark with a point from Sean Linnane after just 18 seconds, didn’t panic and a couple of frees from Conor Walsh settled them.

Cooney responded with two frees for St Thomas’ but former Galway captain Fergal Moore tied the sides at 1-3 to 0-6 at the end of the opening quarter with his second point from distance.

Darragh Burke and his cousin Fintan Burke hit good scores for the champions and Cooney landed a third free but Turloughmore hit back.

Gary Burke got a good point from play and Sean Linnane and Matthew Keating also found the target to draw level by the break.

Turloughmore suffered a big blow before the interval when captain Daithi Burke limped off, although he came back on in the closing minutes.

James Regan and Walsh exchanged points after the restart before efforts from Gary Burke and Oisin Flannery pushed St Thomas’ 1-9 to 0-10 in front after 39 minutes.

Keating landed his second for Turloughmore and an exchange between Cooney and Barry Callanan left St Thomas’ 1-10 to 0-12 in front with ten minutes left.

Oisin Flannery and Linnane swapped points before a disputed effort from Sean Loftus was awarded and Turloughmore were level.

Linnane, a nephew of former Galway defender Sylvie, hit his fourth point of the contest to edge Turloughmore in front six minutes from time but not even the return of injured captain Burke could prevent St Thomas’ from finishing strongly.

Cooney pointed a free to equalise and then after Eanna Burke edged them in front, sub Brendan Farrell doubled the lead and the champions held on for victory.

Scorers for St. Thomas’: Conor Cooney 1-6 (6f), Oisín Flannery 0-3, Darragh Burke 0-1, Fintan Burke 0-1 (1f), James Regan 0-1, Eanna Burke 0-1, Brendan Farrell 0-1.

Scorers for Turloughmore: Sean Linnane 0-4, Conor Walsh 0-4 (4f), Matthew Keating 0-2, Fergal Moore 0-2, Sean Loftus 0-1, Gary Burke 0-1, Barry Callanan 0-1.

ST. THOMAS’: Gerald Kelly; Cian Mahony, Fintan Burke, Sean Skehill; John Headd, Shane Cooney, David Sherry; David Burke, James Regan; Evan Duggan, Conor Cooney, Darragh Burke; Eanna Burke, Oisín Flannery, Bernard Burke Subs: Brendan Farrell for Duggan (51).

TURLOUGHMORE: Mark Fahy; Mikey Morris, Ronan Burke, Mark Murphy; Daniel Loftus, Jamie Holland, Kevin Hussey; Fergal Moore, Daithí Burke; Conor Walsh, Sean Loftus, Matthew Keating; Barry Callanan, Gary Burke, Sean Linnane Subs: Niall Connolly for D Burke (30), Barry McDonagh for Keating (45), Daithí Burke for Callanan (58), Ronan Badger for G Burke (58).

Referee: Alan Kelly (Rahoon).