Richie Cummins's late goal put Gort in the County Cup Hurling C'ship final but the 'Bridge and Craughwell must meet again

By NOEL CARNEY Gort - 1-1 St. Thomas's  - 0-10 [gallery link='file' columns='4' orderby='rand'] A LATE Richie Cummins goal proved crucial as a physically stronger and more experienced Gort side made sure of a place in the Cooper's County Senior Hurling Championship final by wearing down a promising young St. Thomas's outfit in the final few minutes after an exciting game played in terrible underfoot conditions at Kenny Park, Athenry last Sunday. [private] That decider will give winning manager Mattie Murphy a chance to add yet another title to his impressive list of achievements but he does not yet know which team will provide the opposition as the other semi-final between All-Ireland champions Clarenbridge and Craughwell was abandoned at half-time due to the worsening weather. Rain fell consistently for most of the day and got even heavier approaching the start of the second match so that the already wet pitch collected more surface water with the 'Bridge holding a 0-5 to 0-2 lead. Playing conditions which were bad during the first game of the eagerly awaited double bill were then so dangerous that it was decided to call the game off in the interests of player safety. Some supporters in the fine crowd of about 2,500 may have felt that neither contest should have gone ahead but the match that went ahead was a credit to both teams and to referee Christy Browne who officiated with common sense. They treated the spectators to a gripping encounter that was always in the balance until the Richie Cummins 28th minute goal that stretched the one-point margin to four and effectively sealed victory. That crucial score provided the talented young attacker with deserved redemption as he had missed a golden opportunity only minutes before when he drove wide with a first time pull on the edge of the square. St. Thomas's attacked in droves from then on but despite nine minutes of stoppage time drama and tension the Gort defence held firm. Although it is Gort who deservedly go through to the final, St Thomas's can be well satisfied with their progress this year and their spirited show in this game. Scores were level five times and had the Castledaly-Kilchreest-Peterswell combination availed of more of their chances, especially in the first half when they dominated play early on but shot seven wides, they might be still in the competition. The lively Bernard Burke had given them a two-point lead early on and even though Gerard O'Donoghue pulled one back at the other end his Galway minor colleague Darragh Burke made it 0-4 to 0-1 after a quarter of an hour through scores from a 65 and a long free. Gort, settling into the game, saw Gerry Quinn drove over five placed balls in reply, interrupted only by one from Conor Cooney who then added one from play after collecting an Enda Tannion delivery. A massive effort from his own half of the field by centre-back Brian Regan then sailed over to give Gort a 0-7 to 0-6 lead at the break. As you would expect in a derby game between two South Galway rivals and with a coveted place in a County final at stake, the exchanges after a quiet enough first half grew more physical as the game progressed. Referee Christy Browne and his officials were kept busy but they did the job admirably and with common sense, showing a number of yellow cards, but never doing so for petty fouls and they allowed for the conditions. Gerry Quinn doubled the Gort advantage from another free when play resumed but St. Thomas's with Conor Cooney now at full-forward and James Regan on the wing had drawn level by the tenth minute through Bernard Burke and Kenneth Burke. The score of the game from Andy Coen â€â€ a free not too far out from his own goalmouth â€â€ edged Gort ahead again but the Saints were proving dogged opposition and it was no surprise when a long range Darragh Burke free went over to tie it again with 15 minutes remaining. Richie Cummins missed a glorious opportunity to net the opening goal of the game by driving wide with only James Barrett to beat, but St. Thomas's missed a couple of chances to close the gap and were punished when Gerry Quinn hit a fine point from play. Gort's goal followed when a powerful run and delivery by Aidan Harte reached Cummins who made no mistake and it was 1-10 to 0-9. St. Thomas's laid siege to the Gort goal in time added on and Darragh Burke left just a goal between them with his own fourth point. Conor Cooney blasted a low free goal-wards but the rock solid Gort defence held firm and victory was confirmed when former Galway senior Ollie Fahey pointed at the death. Among Gort's better players in a strong team display were Peter Cummins, Andy Coen, Mark McMahon, Brian Lally, Aidan Harte, Gerry Quinn, Jason Grealish and Richie Cummins. St. Thomas's had fine performers in goalkeeper James Barrett, Robert Murray, James Regan and all six Burkes. Gort: P. Cummins; A. Coen (0-1 free), M. McMahon, M. Cummins; G. Lally, B. Regan (0-1), J. Grealish; S. óg Linnane, S. Forde; G. Quinn (0-7, six frees), A. Harte, P. Killilea; R. Cummins (1-0), O. Fahy (0-1), G. O'Donoghue (0-1). Subs: K. Killilea for Forde, M. Nestor for O'Donoghue, A. Mullins for Quinn. St. Thomas's: J. Barrett; J. Kelly, Robert Murray, S. Burke; Darragh Burke (0-4, two frees, one 65), D. Cooney, C. Burke; K. Burke (0-1), David Burke; G. Murray, E. Tannion, C. Cooney (0-2, 0-1 free); A. Kelly, J. Regan, B. Burke (0-3). Subs: Richie Murray for G. Murray, S. Skehill for A. Kelly, G. Murray for Skehill. Referee: Christy Browne (Ballinasloe). Herald Sport Man of the Match: Andy Coen (Gort). [/private]