Sports
Big blow to St. Thomas’ as key man Cooney suffers recurrence of foot injury
AFTER an interesting, if not topsy-turvy opening round of the senior hurling championship – which generated its fair share of upsets – the formbook for the second series of games would appear to have been well and truly torn to shreds.
Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry, Padraig Pearses, Tommy Larkins, Sarsfields and Ardrahan all secured favourable results in the first round despite the pundits – and the bookmakers – indicating they would struggle to harvest any point from their respective ties.
It means they can all strengthen their stranglehold on a top two finish in their groups should they build on those results this weekend although for Padraig Pearses and Ardrahan, who face each other on Saturday, their meeting could well make or break their season given the quality of opposition in their section.
Of course, the result that raised the most eyebrows in the opening round was Portumna’s demolition of Turloughmore on a 2-18 to 0-6 scoreline, Damien Hayes and Andy Smith netting the four-time All-Ireland club champions goals. They face an improving Killimordaly outfit this Saturday.
The second round also signals the return to action of former All-Ireland club winners St. Thomas’, who had a bye in the first round, as they face Turloughmore, stung by their opening day defeat, in a tricky opener for them.
The last remaining side to enter the championship race is 2014 intermediate champions Cappataggle. They face neighbours Sarsfields, who were impressive 13-point winners over 2014 semi-finalists Beagh first day out.
Elsewhere, there are a number of intermediate games down for decision, with last year’s junior A winners Annaghdown commencing their campaign with a tie against Kilbeacanty. (See fixtures).
SATURDAY
Tommy Larkins v Carnmore
(Kenny Park, Athenry 5pm)
Corner forward Stephen Page (hamstring), forced to withdraw in Tommy Larkins’ victory over Craughwell, is expected to be fit and back in contention for selection this weekend. The set-up will also be buoyed by their U-21s excellent quarter-final win over Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry last weekend. Peter English, Kevin McHugo and Jason Flynn are among their form players at the moment.
Carnmore were competitive in their opening round clash against Castlegar but, ultimately, suffered a 1-18 to 0-13 defeat. Out of that, defenders Anthony Daveron and Ciaran Murray and forward Barry Hanley are all nursing knocks but should be fit to play. Midfielder Donie Fox, though, is unavailable for this one.
Verdict: Tommy Larkins.
Last meeting: 2013 (Second Round) Tommy Larkins 0-15, Carnmore 0-10.
Match odds: Tommy Larkins 1/8; draw 12/1; Carnmore 5/1.
Ardrahan v Padraig Pearses
(Kenny Park, Athenry 6:30pm)
Inspired by the returning Cyril Donnellan, Padraig Pearses caused an upset when dispatching Clarinbridge in the first round. A number of players picked up knocks and strains in that game but manager Martin Tierney is hoping they will have cleared up by the weekend. Corner forward Conor O’Grady is struggling though to shake off a bug. Shane Raftery, Cormac Ward, Sean Hardiman and Keith Donnellan continue to be long term concerns.
Ardrahan, already without Pat Holland (hip) and John Greene (shoulder), have now corner forward Stephen Whelan added to the list after he broke his hand in their opening day draw against champions Gort. While initially disappointed with that result, having led for most of the game, it could still prove an invaluable point for Tom Helebert’s charges.
Verdict: Ardrahan.
Last meeting: 2014 (First Round) Ardrahan 2-10, Padraig Pearses 0-9.
Match odds: Ardrahan 4/6; draw 15/2; Padraig Pearses 11/8.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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