Flynn and Gardiner injuries in Tommy Larkins draw with Moycullen

Tommy Larkins 1-17

Loughrea 0-20

THE dead rubber meeting of top versus bottom in Galway Senior Hurling Championship Group 1 proved a largely low-key affair that delivered an exciting finale as Moycullen shot six of the closing eight points to earn a share of the spoils with table toppers Tommy Larkins at Pearse Stadium.

Diarmuid Davoren's levelling 65 came deep in injury-time after Colm Cunningham’s goal attempt was saved. In truth, it was just reward and a timely morale boost for Moycullen ahead of their relegation semi-final with Killimordaly.

With a last eight spot already guaranteed, Tommy Larkins fielded without county man Cian Daniels and though they left Pearse Stadium with their unbeaten record intact, injuries picked up by star forwards Jason Flynn and Conor Gardiner cast a shadow over their day.

Scorer of 3-19 across three group ties, Flynn left the action on 22 minutes and soon had his right calf strapped and iced. Gardiner, another key pillar of their attack, hobbled off in the closing stages to compound matters. Needless to say, their availability or otherwise will seriously impact their quarter-final prospects early next month.

Moycullen’s absentee list included captain Éanna Davoren, Éanna Noone and Fionn McDonagh, but they showed impressive battling qualities to recover and collect their first point of the campaign after falling 1-5 to 0-2 behind inside the opening quarter.

Jason Flynn blasted home a 20-metre free for a seventh minute Tommy Larkins goal after Moycullen were penalised for dissent. The 2017 All-Ireland winner came close to another soon after, his batted finish flying inches wide.

That Tommy Larkins would add only a dozen points from there to the finish was down to strong Moycullen defence, Flynn’s departure, and their own shooting inaccuracy as they clocked up a staggering 17 wides over the hour. Ciarán Ryan's charges weren't exempt from the malaise either, racking up 13 of their own.

1-8 to 0-8 was how it stood after a forgettable first half in which Ronan Murphy - the outstanding player on view by quite some distance - came up with three points for Larkins and James Bradley shot half of Moycullen’s tally.

The game’s only goal continued to give the Woodford-Ballinakill club scoreboard separation after the break with the deficit moving between two, three and four points until the closing stages.

Cathal Slattery, Kevin McHugo (frees), Colm Flynn and Ronan Murphy led the second half scoring for Larkins. Niall Mannion, Eamon Enright, Colm Cunningham, Mark Gillespie, and Mark and James Bradley kept Moycullen on their coattails.

The latter’s three points without reply closed the gap to the minimum late on and despite a fine Cormac Hanley score for Tommy Larkins, Moycullen drew level by the 59th minute following a brace from Diarmuid Davoren.

Colm Flynn looked to have won it for the misfiring Larkins until Davoren held his nerve in the game’s last action to ensure it ended in stalemate.

TOMMY LARKINS: É. Murphy; E. Nevin (0-1), C. Nevin, D. Duggan; C. Hanley (0-1), R. Murphy (captain, 0-5), K. McHugo (0-2, 0-2 frees); A. Moran (0-1), T. Lyons (0-1, free); J. Flynn (1-2, 1-1 frees), B. Sheil, C. Gardiner; C. Flynn (0-2), B. Porter, C. Slattery (0-2). Subs: K. Dervan, for J. Flynn inj., 22 mins; C. Tuohy, for Porter, 44 mins; Porter, for Gardiner inj., 56 mins.

MOYCULLEN: J. Molloy; Daire Davoren, Fiachra McDonagh, M. Molloy; E. Enright (0-1), M. Donohue, Diarmuid Davoren (0-3, 0-1 free, 0-1 65); C. Cunningham (0-1), M. Bradley (0-2); N. Mannion (0-2), J. Bradley (0-8, 0-6 frees), M. Gillespie (0-1); P. Kearns (0-1), C. Folan, M.M. Walsh (0-1). Subs: J. Kelly, for Kearns, 53 mins; L. Gannon, for Mannion, 58 mins.

REFEREE: Karol Collins

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH:

Ronan Murphy (Tommy Larkins)