Turlough outpoint Ardrahan to take second place

O'Hanlon and Loftus top score from play for Division 1 champions

Turloughmore 0-20

Ardrahan 0-13

TURLOUGHMORE scored the final five points of Sunday afternoon’s contest with Ardrahan at Kenny Park to claim second place in Group 4 of the Galway Senior Hurling Championship.

Both sides had already secured a preliminary quarter-final berth behind table-toppers Athenry coming into the weekend. The game naturally lacked intensity in some respects. The rain that fell incessantly for the opening six minutes of the tie didn’t help matters either in that regard, with only a few patrons braving the terrace side of Kenny Park.

Ardrahan dropped off the Turlough puckouts, allowing the likes of Cillian Trayers and Daithí Burke to distribute the ball before they engaged, and led 0-3 to 0-1 in the first quarter with points from Enda Gardiner, Donagh Fahy (free) and Cian Callanan. Minus Sean Linnane, who scored six of Turloughmore’s impressive 39-point tally in round two against Killimordaly, a trio of converted frees from Conor Walsh had Turlough ahead by minute 20.

Ardrahan were short a key player themselves in Galway hurler Cianan Fahy. They left five balls short into Turloughmore ‘keeper Darragh Walsh’s hands in the first period, but were level coming towards the break after points from Gearóid Giblin and two more Donagh Fahy frees cancelled out replies from Daniel Madden and Sean O’Hanlon.

O’Hanlon’s run and score in minute 26 was the best moment of the half and Turlough entered the changing rooms with a 0-8 to 0-6 lead. Sean Loftus had five first half possessions in his battle with Ardrahan full-back Michael Walsh and scored two late points.

Turlough got more joy playing through the lines in the second half scoring into the scoreboard end. With Daithí Burke freed up to cover in front of Trayers and find passes from centre-back, Loftus, Madden, O’Hanlon and Walsh had them into a 0-12 to 0-8 advantage by minute 40.

Both sides hit 12 wides in the tie. Enda Gardiner and Sean Gardiner were shining lights for Ardrahan in the second half, but Turlough seemed to have a response to any time the team in blue tried to reel them in.

When Ardrahan goalkeeper Darach Fahy (free) and Enda Gardiner pointed, Walsh (free) and Matthew Tarpey responded for Turlough. Enda Gardiner and Donagh Fahy (free) then scored for Ardrahan, before Walsh’s fifth free of the game left Turloughmore 0-15 to 0-12 in front with 51 minutes played.

Enda Gardiner’s third point of the half soon after proved to be Ardrahan’s final score as Turloughmore put the seal on victory and second place. Eoin Brislane’s side shot for home with O’Hanlon, two Conor Walsh frees, and points from midfielders Tom Quirke and Dara Whelan.

That final score from Whelan came after the dual player, who plays his football with Claregalway, went on a solo run breaking out from defence after Jason Kennedy had a shot at goal blocked in the sixth minute of injury-time.

It's Liam Mellows next for Turloughmore. Ardrahan will meet Craughwell.

TURLOUGHMORE: D. Walsh; L. Williams, C. Trayers, D. Loftus; J. Holland (captain), D. Burke, E. Conneely; D. Whelan (0-1), T. Quirke (0-1); C. Walsh (0-8, 0-7 frees), S. O’Hanlon (0-3), M. Tarpey (0-1); B. Callanan (0-1), S. Loftus (0-3), D. Madden (0-2). Subs: E. Ó Loingsigh, for Madden, 41 mins; A. O’Shaughnessy, for Tarpey, 57 mins; B. Connolly, for Conneely, 60+1 mins; J. Kelly, for S. Loftus, 60+4 mins.

ARDRAHAN: Darach Fahy (0-1, free); C. Cosgrove, M. Walsh, J. Bourke; B. O’Connor, L. Forde (captain), A. O’Flynn; C. Callanan (0-1), Donagh Fahy (0-4, 0-4 frees); J. Kennedy, G. Forde, G. Giblin (0-1); E. Gardiner (0-3), S. Gardiner (0-3), I. Lynskey. Subs: G. Fitzmaurice, for Donagh Fahy (temporary), 11-13 mins; M. Gardiner, for Giblin, 48 mins; G. Fitzmaurice, for G. Forde inj., 58 mins; C. Brennan, for Bourke inj., 60+1 mins.

REFEREE: John Keane.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH:

Daithí Burke (Turloughmore).