Ardrahan hang-on to claim the win

Ardrahan 1-13

Athenry 1-11

The opening game of the Salthill Hotel senior hurling championship group stages went Ardrahan’s way when they recovered from a half-time deficit to earn their expected win over a young Athenry side that battled gamely to the end at St Brendan’s Park, Loughrea last Friday evening.

The winners seemed to have wrapped up the victory when a Maurice Callanan 65 put them into a 1-13 to 0-11 lead at the end of normal time but a late Jack Carr goal set up a nervy finish for the leaders who had to withstand a couple of late attacks before referee Michael Haverty’s final whistle brought proceedings to an end.

Playing with the aid of a strong wind in the first half Athenry were slow to put some daylight between themselves and their opponents but eventually set up a 0-9 to 0-3 lead for the second period. The gap should have been bigger but they shot eight wides which ultimately proved costly.

When Ardrahan’s county star Jonathan Glynn blasted 1-1 on the resumption – and the point should probably have been a goal – it looked like curtains for Billy Caulfield’s men, but they had other ideas and although under pressure for much of the second half they refused to yield in the face of a wave of attacks.

However the concession of five points in a row between the 8th and 15th minutes allowed the south Galway men to get on top and there they stayed. While their victory was deserved, it was hardly a performance that would suggest they are ready to challenge for the title but they can probably improve significantly with further game time.

Athenry were dealt a blow before the game when defender Matthew Monaghan cried off with an injury and they were then dismayed to find that they would also have to line out without key forward Thomas Flynn, who was flying out to Ruislip the following day with the Galway football team to play London in the Connacht championship.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.