Beagh get the basics right in dismissing out of sorts Ardrahan

Beagh   0-13

Ardrahan             0-9

BEAGH did what they do best – deliver a typically controlled and measured performance – to secure a second consecutive SHC semi-final berth at the expense of a disjointed Ardrahan outfit in what can only be described as a ‘flat’ senior championship quarter-final encounter at Kenny Park, Athenry on Sunday.

Given the two-month break in proceedings following the Turloughmore controversy, the sentiment among many in relation to the county senior championship was that ‘the good was gone out it’ and this certainly was reflected in the quality of hurling on show.

It didn’t stop loyal hurling followers paying through the gates but the majority of neutrals in the crowd – and dare say some of these teams’ supporters – were in the end left deflated by what was, possibly, the worst senior hurling championship game this year.

In mitigation, both teams were coming in after an elongated break – there was no form to go on – while players’ mental and emotional stamina had to be strained given they were probably on the go between 10 to 12 months. That’s the commitment these guys are offering up for their clubs nowadays.

While there were a number of flashpoints in this contest – the sending off of Ardrahan corner-back Damien O’Shaughnessy on 37 minutes was one such incident – the game, overall, lacked spark and it never ignited to any great extent.

This was underlined by the low number of scoring chances created by both teams over the hour and, more so, by the final scoreline. If Ardrahan were told they would only concede 13 points going into this one, they would have been relatively confident of coming away with a result.

That said, going forward, Conor Dolan’s men were rudderless and the loss of former All-Star Iarla Tannian – one of the big losers from the whole Turloughmore fiasco – to injury in a recent inter-firms game definitely robbed the team of much needed momentum.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.