Loughrea back in familiar spot after easy win

Date Published: 31-Oct-2012

Loughrea 1-12

Turloughmore 0-7

STEPHEN GLENNON AT KENNY PARK

LOUGHREA’S unbeaten run in the 2012 Salthill Hotel senior hurling championship may have continued with an emphatic victory over a disappointing Turloughmore outfit at a wet and cold Kenny Park, Athenry on Sunday, but what was even more impressive was that this victory saw them qualify for the county decider for an astounding sixth time in nine years.

While that’s a remarkable statistic in itself, no one knows better than Loughrea that it will count for nothing if they don’t take home the Tom Callanan Cup next day out – for just one title win in their last five showings is too scant a return for a team that has oozed consistency in the championship over the last decade.

In any event, Eamonn Kelly’s men are well poised now after delivering yet another commanding performance in which they led this semi-final contest from start to finish. Indeed, you could say that this game was well and truly done and dusted once Loughrea’s astute goal poacher Kenneth Colleran found the net on 19 minutes, finishing off a superb move involving another two of the Town’s outstanding contributors, Johnny O’Loughlin and midfielder Emmett Mahony.

That score pushed Loughrea into a 1-2 to 0-2 lead after Turloughmore had gained parity with their opponents for the one and only time in the game. For all intents and purposes, the goal was undoubtedly a statement of intent from a team that has this great ability to keep contests tight and, at the same time, win the tight margins themselves.

They are also shrewd readers of the game, taking into account the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition while also adapting to heavy conditions and, indeed, proficiently using the elements to their advantage at times.

For instance, one could have been critical of Loughrea for conceding 11 frees in the opening half – to Turloughmore’s seven – but, in truth, what the Town did was ensure their opponents could not build up any momentum in the middle third – as Turlough’ had done to great effect against Portumna – and so ensured Micheal Donoghue’s men were limited, by and large, to difficult frees with a wet ball from distance.

Interestingly, two regrets Turlough’ supporters had leaving the ground was that, firstly, it was not a fine day – it may have suited their side better – and, secondly, that their team was unable to deliver a performance of note.

On the first count, the Loughrea of 2012 are as comfortable on dry ground as they are in the atrocious conditions at Kenny Park on Sunday, while, on the second, Loughrea – bar none – are the masters of controlling championship clashes in Galway, smothering opposition players and executing their own game plan accordingly.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.