Gantley brothers to the fore in clear-cut win over struggling Kiltormer outfit

Beagh 1-16

Kiltormer 0-6

David Killarney  in Loughrea

BEAGH claimed their first victory in the hurling championship on Saturday night thanks to a resounding 13-point victory over Kiltormer in Loughrea. Ten points from the Gantley brothers spearheaded a convincing win with six other scorers also contributing in a good day all round for the men from south Galway.

The black and amber side’s stop-start beginning to the championship eventually resulted in a win following a loss and a draw to Tommy Larkins and Killimordaly respectively. The defeat for Kiltormer means that it is a third loss in a row for Dara Glynn’s men with group leaders Tommy Larkins the next fixture for a team flirting with relegation.

Beagh started the match off brightly and went two points in front through a free from Rory Gantley and a great strike from Adrian Tuohy after gathering up a loose ball 40 yards out. Centre back Keith Kilkenny hit back for Kiltormer with an excellent free from inside his own ’65 before Darren Hopkins levelled up the game with a point from 50 yards after a great run by full back Shane Staunton.

Kevin Keehan then put Beagh back in front with a close range free after midfielder Jamie Diviney was brought down cynically by Patrick Cormican as he was bearing down on goal. Beagh extended the lead through Joe Gantley after a quick free from brother Rory eventually ended up with the full forward who struck over.

Kiltormer’s high work rate was keeping them toe to toe with Beagh as Cormican fired over a fine score from 50 yards after being found by corner forward Michael Dolan to bring the deficit back to one point. Subsequently, two frees from Gantley ensured his team continued to force the pace amid signs that Kiltormer were struggling to maintain their early intensity.

A quick free from Gantley then led to Padraig Landers firing over his first of the night as referee Peter Murphy sent the teams in for half time with Beagh up by four points. With Kiltormer struggling to create chances, it was Beagh who were proving the more clinical of the two with their opponents looking light up front.

Kiltormer’s Diarmuid Claffey opened the scoring in the second period with a free after being fouled. The corner forward was moments later involved in a controversial incident on 36 minutes when Claffey appeared to have got his side level with a goal only for referee Murphy and his umpires to give Beagh a puck out after the ball was adjudged to have gone wide and not through a hole in the corner of the net. Joe Gantley then rubbed more salt into Kiltormer’s wounds with a point from all of 70 yards to increase Beagh’s advantage.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.