Keary’s late free earns Loughrea minors reprieve

Date Published: 06-Oct-2010

Gort 2-13 Loughrea 2-13

STEPHEN GLENNON

AT KENNY PARK

A NEIL Keary free in the third minute of injury-time preserved the title aspirations of reigning county minor champions Loughrea in this totally absorbing high noon semi-final showdown at Kenny Park last Sunday.

With their hold on the cup loosening with every second that lapsed in time added on, Loughrea were thrown a lifeline when centre-half forward Stephen McCormack was fouled, out near the right sideline, just inside the Gort half.It was by no means a ‘gimme’ for impressive freetaker Keary, despite the fact he had already 2-7, including six frees, on the board.

Yet, drawing on his minor inter-county and club senior experience, he showed nerves of steel to land the equalising score.While Gort may feel they missed an opportunity to some degree, for any neutral, it was the favoured outcome.

The hurling, for the most part, was top class, with each passage of play contested with an undeniable ferociousness.Indeed, the first period alone was nothing short of breathtaking and when the dust settled for the half-time break, Loughrea led 2-6 to 2-4. As the scoreline suggests, it was helter skelter stuff.

An Albert Mullins point got Gort off the mark on three minutes, but then Loughrea roused themselves to net two goals – the second a little fortunate – through Keary. The first of those scores was tallied on 10 minutes when the rampaging Stephen McCormack opened up the middle and set up Keary for an excellent effort.

Although Mike Mullins responded for Gort with a free, Loughrea registered their second goal shortly after when Keary had an attempt from distance that deceived Gort goalkeeper Cathal Broderick and landed in the opposition’s net.Again, though, Gort hit right back, with Pakie Lally tallying a neat point before the pacy Caelem Higgins set up Gerard Donohue for a cracking 16th minute goal to reduce the deficit to a single score, 1-3 to 2-1.