A FIERCE battle for possession between John Igoe (10) and Ciaran Fleming (11) of Sylane and Killimor’s Ronan Egan with referee John McDonagh keeping a watching eye during their Intermediate Hurling Championship tie in Ballinasloe.

Early Newell goal crucial as Sylane advance to last eight

Killimor left to rue wide count in narrow defeat

SYLANE made a mockery of their new-found Premier Junior status on Sunday with a spirited performance to beat Killimor and book their place in a fifth consecutive Galway Intermediate Hurling Championship quarter-final.

Sean Newell’s goal after just five minutes gave Ronan Higgins’ team a lead they never relinquished even if they had to hold out in the closing stages when a late Killimor strike was only inches wide of the post.

Driven by captain Oran Martin and John Igoe around the middle third, and with Newell leading the scoring charge, Sylane defied their third-place group finish to book a showdown with Beagh in this year’s final eight....

See our full coverage of the weekend hurling action in this week's edition of The Tuam Herald or buy our digital edition here