Sports
McHugo leads the way for triumphant Tommy Larkins
Tommy Larkins 2-18
Gort 4-9
MOST games – at any level – are won on the back of the work of the collective but there are occasions when you just have to sit back and acknowledge the individual. Tommy Larkins’ victory over Gort in the U-21 ‘B’ county championship decider on Saturday certainly was one of those times.
For over the hour at Kenny Park, Athenry, Tommy Larkins midfielder Kevin McHugo was the proverbial ‘warrior poetic’ and his contribution in terms of his work-rate and skill level in open play – along with his tally of 11 points, nine from placed balls – was central to his side’s success.
On this evidence alone, McHugo, who has lined out for Galway at minor, U-21 and intermediate, certainly justified his selection on the senior panel for 2017. Indeed, if he continues to progress as he has been doing, the Larkins’ attacker could enjoy many more days like this at club and county.
On Saturday, he submitted an outrageous performance, jinking this way and that, showing superb wrists and, basically, mesmerising all and sundry with his skill level and energy. It was no coincidence either that when Gort looked to grab an equalising goal from a long range free in the third minute of injury-time that it was McHugo under the high ball minding house.
It would be remiss though not to mention a few others. Senior hurler Cathal Kelly was a solid anchor in the No. 6 shirt while, up front, Ronan Murphy and Conor Gardiner were also outstanding in their roles, scoring 2-1 and 0-3 respectively. Murphy, like McHugo, cut a wily figure while the fielding of Gardiner in this contest was as good as anything Waterford’s Austin Gleeson would produce.
Gort, too, also had some outstanding performers – as underlined by their tally of 4-9 and, of course, the close nature of the contest at the finish. To this end, the talented Leonard Gomes, who returned from Brazil in the last year, cut a dash in the wing-back berth and his lung-bursting run to set up Jack Commins for a great goal on 33 minutes showcased his potential.
In midfield, captain Gary Corless and Jack Grealish battled hard, with Grealish, in particular, doing some wonderful things throughout the contest. In attack, Aiden Helebert was always a threat – although he will be disappointed with a couple of frees he missed – while Commins’ tally of 2-1 suggested he may be ready to play a more prominent role at senior level next year.
This decider, as a whole however, was a bit of an enigma. After 25 minutes, the Woodford/Ballinakill side looked to be cruising to the title, leading 1-6 to 0-3, after Ronan Murphy struck for their opening goal as early as the first minute.
A succinct crossfield sideline cut from McHugo into space found Murphy and cutting inside he tested Gort goalkeeper Joe Flaherty before netting the game’s opening score at the second time of asking following a goalmouth scramble.
Full coverage in this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GALWAY United need to guard against any kind of complacency when they make the short hop down the M18 this Friday to take on Treaty United at the Markets Field (7.45pm).
The game is a meeting of the two form teams in the division, and as in previous meetings between the sides, will have an additional edge given the number of former United players in the home side’s ranks, and the pair of Limerick lads playing for United.
There might have been just the eight meetings between the sides since Treaty became the latest iteration to represent Limerick in the League of Ireland in 2021, and while United have yet to lose to the men in the candy-cane strips, there has never been more than a goal in four of their eight wins.
The most recent of those was back in February, when Rob Slevin scored the only goal of the game in Eamonn Deacy Park after a tough battle against a side who made a slow start to the season, before finally finding their groove in the past month.
Having taken just three points from their first six games before finally getting a win against Longford Town, they reverted to type with just one point from their next three games, but are now on a run of four wins on the spin, scoring 12 goals and conceding just one.
Their most recent win was a 3-0 victory away to Longford Town last Saturday, and they could have won by double that against the only side to have beaten United this season. That in itself is a warning.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Soccer Wrap with Mike Rafferty
While the Salthill Devon men’s team might have lost their grip on the Connacht Junior Cup that they held for two seasons, the club’s women’s side have picked up the mantle and on Sunday last in Headford were crowned provincial champions with a 4-3 win over Manulla.
Following midweek wins for Maree/Oranmore and Knocknacarra, the stage is now almost set for the semi-finals of the Michael Byrne Cup with Salthill Devon meeting St Bernard’s on Sunday in an outstanding quarter-final, with the winners advancing to a semi-final against Maree/Oranmore, while Colga will face Knocknacarra in the other last four contest.
Just one league issue remains to be decided, with the Championship runners-up position up for grabs, as Dynamo Blues have to win their two remaining games in order to overtake Colemanstown United who have finished their programme.
WOMEN’S CONNACHT CUP FINAL
Salthill Devon 4
Manulla 3
Ellerose O’Flaherty scored twice as Salthill Devon were crowned provincial champions with a win over a Mayo side who were losing in the final for the second year in succession.
Backboned by a number of players who previously had League of Ireland experience with Galway WFC, Devon suffered an early set back when Jess Nolan put Manulla ahead, before O’Flaherty levelled matters with a cracking finish on 20 minutes, which was quickly followed by a long-range free-kick from Aoife Walsh.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
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