St Thomas’ book their spot in last eight with relative ease

St Thomas’ 1-16

Mullagh 0-12

A minute’s silence was held before the throw-in of the St Thomas’ and Mullagh game last Saturday afternoon in honour of James Regan’s father, and it was fitting that James was the first man to get his name on the scoresheet for Thomas’ as they secured their passage to the last eight with a routine victory.

Regan and Conor Cooney contributed two points apiece during the contest, but it was their colleague Eanna Burke who was the most outstanding Thomas’ player on show. The wing-forward kept his fine vein of form going from the Galway Intermediate’s run to All-Ireland success, scoring nine points against Mullagh, with seven of that total coming from play.

Loughrea is a relatively small pitch in hurling terms, and the tighter confines suited a man like Burke, who is able to pick off scores from distance. With himself, Cooney and Regan, St Thomas’ have forwards who can be match winners on their day, and this is something which will make them very dangerous opponents in the latter stages of the Championship.

Another potential match winner is David Burke, who lined out at midfield alongside his brother Bernard. The first half largely passed him by, but operating more in and around the half-forward line after the break, the Galway midfielder came into the game more as any post All-Ireland hangover he may have been suffering began to dissipate.

Further back, Darragh Burke and especially Sean Skehill commanded their lines, with Skehill making two superb catches in the final 10 minutes from full-back.

All told, St Thomas’ look a very good outfit, and their final Group C meeting with Portumna should be one to savour considering the recent history between the two. Although both clubs have already qualified for the quarter-finals and the points on offer won’t matter, the outcome of the game could well set the tone for the remainder of the Senior Hurling Championship.

Saturday’s loss ended not just Mullagh’s hopes of making the quarter-finals, but also Turloughmore’s, who were playing Killimordaly at the same time in Kenny Park. While the final scoreline looks relatively comprehensive in favour of St Thomas’, Mullagh actually started the game with menace, but lacked a finishing touch.

A total of 1-14 of St Thomas’ tally came from play, with all six forwards getting in on the act. Contrast that to Mullagh, whose only starting forward to score was Justin Gaynor. Mullagh badly missed the influence of Cathal Dervan, while Davy Glennon did make his return in the second half, but they still coughed up the chance to lay down an early marker to their opponents.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.