An Spidéal book place in Junior A decider

An Spidéal 1-14

Turloughmore   0-13

A Fiontáin Ó Cuanaigh goal in the opening minute of the second half set An Spidéal on the road to victory over a resolute Turloughmore outfit and secured the Connemara men a place in this year’s Junior ‘A’ hurling decider.

Played in ideal hurling conditions in Clarinbridge, An Spidéal, who won the J1 competition last year, underlined their championship credentials with a display of some note. Extremely effective at winning primary possession in the middle third, An Spidéal also had the players inside to hurt the opposition.

No more so than Ó Cuanaigh, who hit an incredible 1-5 from play, including that decisive 31st minute goal which followed good work from the equally influential Cillín Ó hEochaidh.

Indeed, when Ó hEochaidh caught the resulting puck-out and shot a neat point to put An Spidéal 1-11 to 0-8 in front, it appeared as if they might cruise their way to victory. However, they only hit three further points in the contest – not scoring for 20 minutes in that time – and this, no doubt, will be an area of concern heading into the decider.

In truth, Turloughmore did play their part, hitting five unanswered points between the 39th and 50th minutes with free-taker Joe Hession (three placed balls), full-forward Michael Costello and defender Shane Morris from a free the contributors.

That scoring burst left just one between the sides – 1-11 to 0-13 – and the game was back in the melting pot with 10 minutes remaining. An Spidéal, though, found their way back into the contest again, ably led by Ó Cuanaigh and another of their shining lights, Padraig Eoin Ó Curraoin.

They hit the last three points between them while Ó Cuanaigh could also have added another goal to his personal tally had Turloughmore goalkeeper Gary Hurney, who would have been disappointed to concede the first goal, not pulled off the most remarkable save on 57 minutes. It was brilliant.

At any rate, An Spidéal had done enough to get over the line on a day when every man performed. This included Galway senior football goalkeeper Maghnus Breathnach who proved to be a pivotal figure in settling the team and stemming the Turlough’ tide when he was introduced on 49 minutes.

While Turloughmore never lost sight of the opposition or the possibility of securing a result, there were times when An Spidéal, aside from their 20 minute lapse in the second half, were extremely authoritative in this contest.

They led 0-10 to 0-8 at half-time and where it not for the free-taking accuracy of Turlough’s Joe Hession, that An Spidéal advantage could possibly have been greater. As it was, the victors gave an exhibition under the puck-out and, in this respect, wing forward Padraig Eoin Ó Curraoin was like a human Hoover.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.