Donnellan drives Pearses to surprise group victory

Date Published: 04-Jul-2012

Padraig Pearses 4-13

Tommy Larkins 2-12

Noel Carney at Kenny Park

THIS crucial Group A S.H.C. game at Kenny Park, Athenry last Saturday evening was always going to be a defining moment for these teams as they tried to catch unbeaten county champions Gort and it was Padraig Pearses who were happier at the finish as their victory puts them into a strong position for a place in the knockout stages.

The result means that Pearses now have two points after their two games and a win over Moycullen in their final group match would mean that Tommy Larkins would have to beat Gort, who head the table on maximum points after their opening two matches, and hope that the points difference would work in their favour.

While the Ballymacward-Gurteen men celebrated this badly needed win, their opponents will be kicking themselves after a bitterly disappointing first half performance that left a rampant Pearses, inspired by county star Cyril Donnellan, well in command on a 3-6 to 0-4 scoreline at the break. Donnellan, who started at centre-back, moved to midfield and repeatedly charged forward into attack. He notched 2-2 in that opening period and caused havoc with his penetrating runs.

It was by no means a one-man show though. Pearses were in a really determined mood throughout the field with the full-back line of Anthony Kenny, Tomás Kenny and the tigerish Padraig Raftery giving great protection to Fergal Flannery who was in confident form as made his play for the Galway goalkeeping slot. The displays of Kerrill Hardiman, who was outstanding, and dynamic midfielder Aidan Kilkenny were also important.

It was hard to see Tommy Larkins getting back into contention at that stage given their awful form in the opening half but, in fairness to them, they came roaring back with a thrilling second half fight-back despite conceding another goal to Tomás Flannery on the resumption. They were 4-6 to 0-4 behind following that ‘major’ but they refused to accept defeat without a battle.

In fact, if they had not been so wasteful in front of goal they might have turned a gallant defeat into a sensational victory. That would have been a real sickener for John Raftery’s charges who were simply brilliant in the first half before moving Cyril Donnellan to centre- half-back after the break to protect their lead. While that was understandable it weakened them as an attacking force and gave Larkins the impetus to mount a comeback.

Donnellan had been devastating in that first half as he warmed up for Sunday’s Leinster Final clash with Kilkenny. Proving that the ankle injury he received against Offaly in the provincial semi-final had fully healed, he burst through the defence and opened the scoring with a fourth minute goal that galvanised his team mates and they were nearly in for another but Tommy McDonagh’s final pass was intercepted.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.