CAPPATAGGLE’S Cian Bowes (left) and Jack Keville of Liam Mellows tussle for possession during their Galway Senior Hurling Championship clash in Kilbeacanty. Photo: Joe Keane.

Mellows make winning return

Haran the star turn for Senior B Champions

Published: Fri 14 Aug 2026, 10:00 AM

Liam Mellows 2-20

Cappataggle 2-13

By Oisín Noone

At Kilbeacanty

REIGNING Senior B champions Liam Mellows marked their return to the top tier of Galway club hurling with an impressive victory over old foes Cappataggle on Saturday evening.

Ronan Elwood and Conor Kavanagh provided crucial goals, while Tadhg Haran once again produced heroics in a gutsy performance full of character from the city outfit.

There’s plenty of recent history between these two sides who clashed in three consecutive semi-finals beginning with Liam Mellows’ title-winning season in 2017, with the Ballyloughane-based club coming out on top on each occasion. Cappataggle won their most recent encounter, a group game in 2021, but Mellows’ dominance of the previous knockout meetings added another layer to this contest.

Both were missing some regulars. James Skehill bowed out of the Cappataggle goal after his two penalties helped rescue the club from relegation trouble last season, while Niall Collins and Donal Mannion are away. Mark Hughes is unavailable for Mellows through injury, while Eoin Finnerty was another absentee.

Neither side settled early, with four wides shared before Adrian Morrissey and Michael Garvey (free) opened the scoring. A huge boost for David Collins’ side arrived as Conor Elwood turned over possession before setting up his cousin, Ronan Elwood, for a close-range finish after 11 minutes.

Steven Creaven’s charges shot 15 wides in total, helping keep Liam Mellows’ lead intact. Losing Ja Mannion early to injury was another blow, while just one point from play between their starting forwards reflected an excellent defensive performance from Mellows.

Cian Bowes converted a free for Cappataggle before Haran responded with an excellent sideline cut. The Elwoods then added scores for Mellows, while Cappataggle responded through Declan Cronin and fellow defenders Darragh Dolan and Michael Garvey from distance.

Daniel Nevin took over frees from Garvey, while Liam Collins and David Malone pointed from play as Cappataggle finished the half strongly. Haran, Morrissey and Jack Hastings replied for Mellows, who led 1-8 to 0-9 at half-time.

Morrissey kept the scoreboard ticking over with close-range frees, as Mellows’ inside forwards continued to make things stick. Haran, who continued dropping deeper, only grew in influence.

Bowes and Morrissey swapped scores before a long-range free from Nevin found Michael Garvey, who swung for a clean connection and Cappataggle’s first goal after 37 minutes, briefly putting them ahead. The teams levelled twice in the following minutes before another exceptional cut from Haran put Mellows 1-12 to 1-11 ahead heading into the final quarter.

Hastings and Morrissey increased their tallies before Haran produced the game’s best score, winning possession in the corner-back position before driving down the line to put Mellows five clear. Bowes saw a goal chance flash wide before converting another free to end a ten-minute scoreless spell for Cappataggle. Haran then nailed another score from behind his own 45.

Malone recorded Cappataggle’s first point from play of the second half after 52 minutes, before scores from Conor Kavanagh and Morrissey pushed Mellows seven clear.

A hectic injury-time period followed with Michael Garvey’s late goal from a free pulling the deficit back to four. Mellows responded immediately, working the ball through Haran, Luke McPhilbin and Darren McPeake before Kavanagh finished well to seal an opening round victory.

LIAM MELLOWS: L. Dee; J. Keville, S. Morrissey, L. O’Donovan; E. O’Reilly, L. McPhilbin, B. Forde; S. Barrett, J. Hastings (0-2); D. McPeake, A. Morrissey (0-8, 0-6 frees), C. Hynes; T. Haran (0-6, 0-2 frees, 0-2 sideline cuts, captain), C. Elwood (0-2), R. Elwood (1-1). Subs: C. McDonagh, for Hynes inj., 14 mins; C. Kavanagh (1-1), for E. Elwood, 54 mins.

CAPPATAGGLE: M. Egan; D. Cronin (0-1), J. Garvey, C. Delaney; D. Dolan (0-1), M. Garvey (2-2, 1-1 frees), D. Malone (0-2); D. Campbell, E. Garvey (captain); D. Nevin (0-4, 0-4 frees), C. Bowes (0-2, 0-2 frees), R. Garvey; J. Mannion, Oran Finn, L. Collins (0-1). Subs: J. Smyth, for Mannion inj., 8 mins; P. Claffey, for Delaney inj., 24 mins; R. Clancy, for Finn, 53 mins; J. Coughlan, for Bowes, 59 mins.

REFEREE: Karol Collins.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH: Tadhg Haran (Liam Mellows).