St Thomas’ join exclusive club by completing terrific four-in-a-row

St Thomas’ 0-20

Clarinbridge 0-17

MAYBE now a great club team will get the universal acclaim it deserves. In emulating a feat only twice previously achieved in the history of the Galway hurling championship, St Thomas’ joined an exclusive club at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.

Only Castlegar in the late thirties and Turloughmore in the early sixties managed to complete the four-in-a-row, but St Thomas’ bridged that 57-year gap by maintaining their stranglehold on the Tom Callanan Cup in a high-quality decider.

In pulling off an achievement which eluded such powerful hurling dynasties as Sarsfields, Athenry and Portumna, the men from Kilchreest, Castledaly and Peterswell have extended a momentous period in the club’s history which has seen them claim six county titles in a decade.

St Thomas’ were made to work hard for their latest triumph by a gallant Clarinbridge outfit, but their big-day experience, together with an impressive defensive security – they now haven’t conceded a goal in their last five final appearances – were critical in keeping the challengers at bay.

A crowd estimated at more than 5,000 people were treated to a compelling battle for supremacy. The hits were hard and while Jarlath Niland’s charges backed away from nothing, the champions were, if anything, even more revved up – their hunger for more success particularly admirable given all they have already won.

Despite only three points separating the teams at the finish, St Thomas’ probably ought to have won by more. Clarinbridge had only kept in        touch for much of the second-half through Evan Niland’s      exceptional free-taking as their attack, which had sniped some terrific points in the opening 30 minutes, had become increasingly restrained.

They only managed two second-half points from play – and one of those came from Niland deep into injury-time – and failed to create a solitary goal chance over the near 68 minutes of action.

Clarinbridge were hanging in there but struggling to generate any momentum on the scoreboard. In contrast, St Thomas’ heads-up hurling, accurate distribution, and ability to free up their shooters was creating sufficient openings in the opposition’s half. They forced much of the pace on the resumption, with team captain Conor Cooney completing a great campaign with a Man of the Match display on the forty.

Cooney, who has been unfairly maligned at times at inter-county level, finished the final with 11 points to his credit, five of which came from play. He was the game’s most influential player, but there was sterling support up front from Eanna Burke, Oisín Flannery, James Regan and Darragh Burke who each split the posts twice. Regan was particularly prominent and also won a couple of vital second-half frees.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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