Kerins and Joyce are county’s ace marksmen

Date Published: 30-Nov-2010

STEPHEN GLENNON

CLARINBRIDGE’S Mark Kerins and Killererin’s Padraic Joyce have finished their respective championships as the Advertees/Connacht Tribune Top Scorer award winners.

Former All-Star Joyce secured the accolade, along with the Top Scorer From Play award, following Killererin’s superb run to county final glory in October, while Kerins dramatically snatched the SHC Top Scorer’s crown from defending champion Joe Canning – by a single point – after his side claimed the spoils, after a replay and extra-time, against Loughrea in the county decider a fortnight ago.

Canning, though, has secured the Top Scorer from Play award, ahead of Clarinbridge duo Eoin Forde and Alan Kerins. Interestingly, Clarinbridge have no less than four players featuring in the Top Scorer from Play category, namely Forde, the two Kerins, and Paul Coen.

While that may bode well for Clarinbridge as they head into the All-Ireland Club series next Spring, what should be a concern for Galway senior hurling manager John McIntyre is that only five of his panel – Canning, Forde, Johnny Coen, Joe Gantley and Damien Hayes – feature in the Top 10 Scorers From Play.

Indeed, of the overall Advertees/Connacht Tribune SHC Top Scorers, only four feature on the Galway panel, again namely Canning, Niall Healy of Craughwell, Ger Farragher of Castlegar and Mullagh’s Niall Cahalan. It could be argued that this in itself reflects the shortfall of inter-county attacking talent in Galway at present.

Then again, Galway football manager Tomás Ó Fátharta looks to have much the same problem, with only the two Joyces – Padraic and Nicky – Caherlistrane’s Cormac Bane and Mountbellew/Moylough newcomer Cathal Kenny featuring in the overall SFC Top Scorers order of merit.