Athenry continue upward trajectory with win over Turlough'

AFTER Senior B success in 2024 and a knockout appearance on their return to Galway's top-level Senior Hurling Championship in '25, Athenry's re-emergence took another significant step forward with Saturday's opening round derby victory over Turloughmore.

They shipped early goals to Sean Linnane and Sean Loftus, but once Jason Rabbitte pounced to rattle the net and Cian Hannon followed suit soon after, the Niall Sunderland-managed and Rory Gantley-coached side never trailed.

Their 2-10 to 2-5 interval lead was reeled in by a strong second half Turlough' charge that levelled matters at 2-19 apiece entering injury-time. But inspired by Rabbitte, who had a magnificent duel with county teammate Cillian Trayers throughout, Athenry had the final say and showed impressive grit to eke out three of the game's closing four points.

Turloughmore put five goals past Oranmore-Maree when retaining their Division 1 title and after a Cillian Whelan effort was saved by Paddy Rabbitte, Eoin Brislane's side netted twice through Linnane and Loftus to move 2-0 to 0-3 in front after eight minutes. With Eoin Lawless influential and their defence tightening up, Athenry soon took over however. Jason Rabbitte powered onto a break and dispatched to the net with venom before the game's fourth goal by the 14th minute came through the excellent Cian Hannon, one of Athenry's four senior debutants.

Turlough' had led by three points but Athenry turned the tables and were 2-9 to 2-2 up by the 19th minute. Rabbitte (two) and Hannon tagged on points to their goals, while Cillian Lawless (two), Ronan and Ciaran Hardiman, Cian Burke and Eoin Hannon also found the target. Only a sharp Darragh Walsh stop from Cian Hannon prevented a 13-point margin.

An under-pressure Turlough' had scores from Conor Walsh and Sean Loftus before they enjoyed better return before the break as Sean O'Hanlon, Jamie Holland and Walsh (free) pointed with Cian Hannon landing Athenry's only score in the closing 13 minutes of action.

Athenry's five-point interval lead pushed out to seven when Cian Hannon moved onto 1-3 and Cillian Lawless fired over another. From there, Turlough' grabbed the initiative and reeled off a half dozen points with the wind through standout attacker Sean Loftus, Linnane, O'Hanlon and Walsh (free) to pare the deficit back to 2-12 to 2-11 by the 42nd minute.

In a major let-off for Athenry, O'Hanlon also sent a powerful drive past the post while Paddy Rabbitte also saved from Barry Callanan. The men in maroon kept their noses in front and scores from Cian Burke (free), Ronan Hardiman and two from sub Conor Lawless - a major contributor to Athenry's victory - left it 2-16 to 2-13 on 51 minutes after Holland's second and a Walsh 65.

It was rip-roaring fare and the Seans, Linnane and O'Hanlon, cut the gap back to one before Athenry's Jack Carr and Cian Burke (two, one free) left four in it. But Turlough' kept coming and were on terms in the 60th minute after four points without reply from Walsh (free), Linnane, Eoghan Conneely and Loftus, taking his tally to 1-5.

When leaders were needed, Jason Rabbitte took centre-stage setting up Cillian Lawless for the lead score that Cian Burke added to. And though a Conor Walsh free cut the gap, Rabbitte had the final say and sealed a confidence-fuelling victory for the 5/1 outsiders.

ATHENRY: P. Rabbitte; Conor Burke, S. Quirke (captain), M. Hardiman; Ciarán Hardiman (0-1), E. Lawless, A. McDonagh; Cillian Lawless (0-4), R. Hardiman (0-2); J. Carr (0-1), J. Rabbitte (1-3), S. Brady; C. Hannon (1-3), Cian Burke (0-5, 0-3 frees), E. Hannon (0-1). Subs: Conor Lawless (0-2), for Brady, 44 mins; N. McCarthy, for E. Hannon, 44 mins.

TURLOUGHMORE: D. Walsh; B. Connolly, C. Trayers, D. Loftus; J. Holland (captain, 0-2), D. Burke, K. Hussey; D. Whelan, T. Quirke; C. Walsh (0-6, 0-4 frees), S. O’Hanlon (0-3), C. Whelan; B. Callanan, S. Loftus (1-5), S. Linnane (1-3). Subs: L. Williams, for Connolly, 35 mins; M. Tarpey, for C. Whelan, 40 mins; E. Conneely (0-1), for D. Whelan, 57 mins; J. Kelly, for Hussey, 58 mins; D. Madden, for Quirke, 60 mins.

REFEREE: Conor Quinlan.

HERALD SPORT MAN OF THE MATCH: Jason Rabbitte (Athenry).