Cooney cuts loose as county champs clear first obstacle

St. Thomas’ 1-15
Ardrahan 0-12

Alan Dooley at Kenny Park

NO more than six weeks on from heroically capturing the All-Ireland Club title, St. Thomas’ began the defence of their local and national crowns with an efficient performance that saw off Ardrahan in round one of the Galway senior hurling championship at Kenny Park, Athenry on Sunday.

A warm round of applause and an Ardrahan guard of honour greeted the Thomas’ men, but once the ball was thrown in by Alan Kelly, all niceties were quickly forgotten as Ardrahan strove to become the first side to knock the Kilchreest/Peterswell men off their now lofty perch.

The unbackable favourites had lost to Gort at this stage last year but, despite some early encouraging signs from Ardrahan, John Burke’s side rarely had to find their best form to pull away from their South Galway neighbours. With Conor Cooney punishing any indiscretions and looking a good bet already to top the scorer’s charts again this year, St. Thomas’ were never in danger once Ardrahan’s early promise faded.

Cooney struck for the killer goal four minutes from time when David Burke’s long ball in was expertly batted into his path by full forward Richie Murray. It was the sort of clinical finshing that Ardrahan sorely lacked throughout and while Iarla Tannian did stand tall at centre half back, his county colleague Jonathan Glynn had an off day and was well shackled by Robert Murray.

By contrast, Cooney was in the groove from the first whistle, notching up four points before the ten minute mark with two frees, a ’65 and a decent effort from play. Despite having only Damien O’Shaughnessy’s point to show for their efforts, Ardrahan were more than competitive as Tannian swept across the half back line to good effect.

Points from Richard Mullins and Maurice Callanan cut the deficit to one, before two goals chances were squandered as Glynn was crowded out when in a decent position before Callanan saw his goal-bound effort from an acute angle blocked by St. Thomas’ ‘keeper Patrick Skehill. A free soon after by Joe O’Leary levelled matters, before St. Thomas’ hit back with a good point from Richie Murray.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.