Sylane hurlers start provincial quest

Galway Premier Junior champions meet Moytura at Tuam Stadium

FRESH from their Premier Junior success in Galway, Sylane will embark on a fresh challenge outside the county boundaries when Mayo's Moytura are their opposition in Saturday afternoon's Connacht Junior Club Hurling Championship semi-final at Tuam Stadium (throw-in: 1.30pm).

It's a competition Sylane have won on three previous occasions in 2007, '15 and '17 - then representing the Galway as winners of the now defunct Junior 1 - and offers a golden opportunity to further improve on what's already been a successful season.

Their Division 3 League final success against Pádraig Pearses in the summer preceded a flawless run through the championship with defeats of Abbeyknockmoy, Micheál Breathnach, Ballinasloe and Kiltormer in the round-robin prior to Salthill-Knocknacarra, Ballinasloe and Abbeyknockmoy again in the knockout stages.

They trailed by three points well into the second half of last Sunday week's final, but Keelan Creaven's opportunistic goal and a combined 12-point haul from fellow forwards Sean Newell and Tomás Keane were key to a come-from-behind 1-17 to 0-18 victory over Abbey.

'Keeper Jake Hogan kept a timely clean sheet and was well protected by a defence made up of Adrian Lardner, Tom Kenny and Brian Igoe in the full-back line, and captain Oran Martin flanked by Stephen Burke and Oran Burke in the half line. Paul Ronan and Emmet Sweeney formed an industrious partnership at midfield with John Igoe, Ryan Keane and Shane Glynn completing a free scoring attack this season.

Weekend opponents Moytura captured the Mayo Premier Junior title at the expense of Claremorris by 1-15 to 1-11 at MacHale Park. Brendan Sheridan was their chief marksman with 10 points, Liam Mulally scored their goal, and Evan Heraty picked off three points.

It's their second season representing Mayo at the grade after losing last year's Connacht semi-final by 1-17 to 1-8 to Ballinasloe. The club draws its players from the south of the county and are under the management of former Kilnadeema-Leitrim clubman and current Mayo senior boss Ray Larkin.

Sylane have clocked up 15 wins from 15 competitive fixtures in 2026 and are favourites to add provincial silverware to the inaugural Phelim Murphy Cup. Naomh Eoin, who stunned reigning three in-a-row provincial champions Easkey in the Sligo decider, host Carrick Hurling from Leitrim on the opposite side of the draw at Markievicz Park on Saturday. The final is slated for seven days later at the Connacht GAA Centre.