Turlough' prove too strong for Mellows

Brislane's side overcome concession of first half goals

Turloughmore 0-22

Liam Mellows 2-9

TURLOUGHMORE endured a mixed afternoon in front of the posts but made it three wins on the bounce in Sunday's Galway Senior Hurling Championship preliminary quarter-final with Liam Mellows in the Athenry sunshine.

The score was much tighter than it might have been for Eoin Brislane's dominant side who clocked up 20 wides over the hour and conceded what, from their perspective, were two preventable first half goals from Conor Elwood and Adrian Morrissey that kept last season's Senior B champions in touch until late on.

Weakened by the absence of their captain and spiritual leader Tadhg Haran, Liam Mellows lacked cutting edge up front against a strong Turlough' rearguard led by man of the match Cillian Trayers, Daithí Burke and Cillian Whelan. Scores arrived from all sectors for the winners with defenders Luke Williams, Dan Loftus and Trayers getting in on the act alongside their entire midfield and forward units.

Sean Loftus sent over four points to take his impressive campaign tally up to 1-20, while Sean O'Hanlon and Matthew Tarpey followed next in the scoring charts from play. Sean Linnane returned to the team and his impact went far beyond the solitary point beside his name at the finish.

Championship is a results-driven business and Turlough' move forward with their objective achieved and a date with Tommy Larkins in the last eight. They led 0-12 to 2-4 after a first half in which their conversion stood at 48 per cent between wides, drop shorts and O'Hanlon and Tarpey goal attempts that were denied by the sharpness of Liam Mellows netminder Louis Dee.

Conor Elwood swept home the opening goal for Mellows on four minutes after Turlough' failed to clear the danger. Despite shooting a half dozen early wides, the men in all black had edged in front, 0-6 to 1-2, by the quarter-hour mark thanks to efforts from Luke Williams, Tarpey, one of the scores of the half from Tom Quirke, Sean Loftus and Conor Walsh (two frees). Adrian Morrissey and Ronan Elwood pointed in reply for Mellows.

Turlough' were scoring in bursts with an early four without reply followed by another three unanswered after Ed O'Reilly registered for Mellows. Daniel Madden, Sean O'Hanlon and Dan Loftus stretched the gap to 0-9 to 1-2. Only superb defending from Daithí Burke prevented Mellows forward Cian McDonagh from breaking through on goal. At the other end, O'Hanlon drew a fine save from Dee.

Despite having the lion's share of possession, Turloughmore's lead was down to just one by the 29th minute. Sean Loftus and Walsh (free) scores were answered by the dead ball prowess of Morrissey who converted frees either side of winning and burying a 26th minute penalty after Mellows dispossessed Turlough' as they attempted to build from the back.

Cillian Trayers came one with several memorable catches over the hour and after Matthew Tarpey's strike was diverted out for a 65 by Dee, Conor Walsh left Turlough's interval margin at 0-12 to 2-4.

Wind-aided, Turlough's advantage fluctuated between three and five points as the second half progressed. Dara Whelan, Sean Loftus, O'Hanlon and Tarpey scores had them 0-16 to 2-6 in front with Morrissey placed balls continuing to keep Mellows in the hunt.

Morrissey went low and cleared the Turlough crossbar by a matter of inches with a close-range free before adding another from play as the scoreline stood at 0-19 to 2-8 on 51 minutes as the influential Linnane and Conor Walsh (two frees) made matters more comfortable for Turlough despite a rising wide count that eventually hit 20. Mellows, in comparison, finished with six.

The closing nine minutes plus added time delivered just three more scores. Two came from the winners as Cillian Trayers sent over one of the best of the day and Sean Loftus obliged from a late free. Morrissey was the chief marksmen for Mellows and brought his return up to 1-7 before Turlough' held firm in the face of late pressure.

TURLOUGHMORE: D. Walsh; L. Williams (0-1), C. Trayers (0-1), D. Loftus (0-1); C. Whelan, D. Burke, J. Holland (captain); D. Whelan (0-1), T. Quirke (0-1); C. Walsh (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), S. O’Hanlon (0-2), S. Loftus (0-4, 0-1 free); M. Tarpey (0-3), S. Linnane (0-1), D. Madden (0-1). Subs: E. Conneely, for D. Whelan, 48 mins; A. O’Shaughnessy, for C. Walsh, 54 mins; E. Ó Loingsigh, for Madden, 58 mins; B. Connolly, for Burke, 59 mins; K. Hussey, for C. Whelan, 60 mins.

LIAM MELLOWS: L. Dee; L. O'Donovan, S. Morrissey, J. Keville; E. O’Reilly (0-1), L. McPhilbin, B. Forde; S. Barrett, J. Hastings; C. Hynes, A. Morrissey (1-7, 1-0 penalty, 0-5 frees), C. McDonagh; D. McPeake, C. Elwood (1-0), R. Elwood (0-1). Subs: C. Kavanagh, for McDonagh, 41 mins; S. Killeen, for Hynes, 52 mins; J. Kenny, for McPeake, 60 mins.

REFEREE: David Earls.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH:

Cillian Trayers (Turloughmore).