Comeback-kid Cullinane inspires Craughwell to shock win

Craughwell 0-22 St Thomas’ 1-17

THE comeback-kid Adrian Cullinane was to the fore in Athenry on Saturday as Craughwell dumped St Thomas’ out of the 2014 Galway senior hurling championship title race and into relegation trouble.

Former inter-county player Cullinane, who hasn’t hurled competitively since last July, was a towering figure at centre-back, in the heart of his side’s defence, and driving Craughwell forward to record a shock win over the South Galway men.

The industry and honest effort of Jamie Ryan, who battled hard for puck-outs, chipping in with two points at wing-forward, was another highlight of this success, as was the point-taking master-class from Galway’s scoring machine, the on-fire Niall Healy, who landed an incredible haul of 13 points, including four from play. Craughwell had warriors all over the park as they suffocated St Thomas’, by dominating possession, and doing what Castlegar had failed to do to them the previous weekend – punish by taking their chances.

Craughwell had their homework done, and executed the game-plan diligently, with sticky defender Gerard O’Halloran quietening St Thomas’ main danger-man, Éanna Burke in the opening half, holding him scoreless from play; while the likes of Cian Larkin, despite a few wayward efforts, John Ryan, and big centre-forward Alan Callanan also played important roles in claiming this scalp.

St Thomas’ despite a brilliant display from Conor Cooney – the Galway star scored 1-11 in all – just couldn’t get motoring, and, starved of quality possession, struggled to get any flow or momentum into their game. It’s hard to believe that the All-Ireland senior club champions of 2013, the best team in the country two seasons’ ago, are now out of the championship and face a scrap with Pádraig Pearses and Liam Mellows, to avoid the relegation semi-finals.

John Burke’s charges certainly haven’t impressed this year, losing to Tommy Larkins, getting out of jail against Castlegar, and now an unexpected ambush by Craughwell, but the Galway senior championship will be a poorer competition without quality players like David Burke, Éanna Burke, Conor Cooney, et al featuring.

The unfairness of St Thomas’ effectively having to play a second relegation play-off, just six days after beating Castlegar, is quite cruel and will understandably rankle with the club over the summer. That debate is for the boardrooms and convention but the bottom line is – controversial championship format aside – St Thomas’ were second best here.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune