St Thomas’ cruise to unexpectedly easy victory over disappointing Larkins

St. Thomas’ 2-15

Tommy Larkins 1-8

Eanna O’Reilly in Gort

DEFENDING champions St. Thomas’ had a very comfortable victory over a hard working but limited Tommy Larkins team in round two of the senior hurling championship in Gort on Sunday.

The title holders were rarely under pressure after an evenly contested opening ten minutes, after which they took control of the game and showed flashes of the sort of quality which has seen them claim silverware in recent years.

The game started at a fast pace with possession fiercely contested around the middle third. Jason Flynn opened the scoring with a free in the first minute, before Darragh Burke landed a huge free from behind his own 65 to open St. Thomas’ account.

He converted another free a minute later before Shane Cooney got the first score from play to make it 0-3 to 0-1. Colm Flynn responded for Tommy Larkins with a good score from the right wing, before Darragh Burke converted a 65 to give his team a two-point lead once again.

By the tenth minute, Tommy Larkins had restored parity with two converted frees from Jason Flynn. However, the next score was the catalyst for St. Thomas’ taking control and reflected the quality in their side.

Darragh Burke delivered a ball into Conor Cooney who showed great control before passing to David Burke, who laid the ball off to Colin Fallon, who blasted to the net. Tommy Larkins got the next score when Jason Flynn converted a free after a foul on the hard-working Colm Flynn.

The Woodford/Ballinakill side, however, were guilty of hitting some bad wides, while they also struggled to find any openings in the St. Thomas’ rearguard.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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.