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.