Tommy Larkins tops in low key derby

Tommy Larkins 0-16

Kilnadeema-Leitrim 0-12

A Tommy Larkins side who dominated this ‘derby’ from start to finish still made hard work of seeing off a determined Kilnadeema-Leitrim challenge in a disappointing senior hurling championship group game at Loughrea on Saturday evening.

The Woodford men only wrapped up the win when reliable free-taker Jason Flynn fired over a free to give them a four point cushion deep into injury time, which was surprising given how much control they exerted on proceedings over the hour.

They were almost left to rue a litany of wasted chances – which resulted in a dozen wides – when Kilnadeema-Leitrim defender David Tierney had a 20 metre free blocked down on the line with over 63 minutes on the clock.

Tierney came agonisingly close to snatching a draw for the 2013 Intermediate champions, before Stephen Page took off on a strong run and won the free at the other end to seal the deal for the pre-match favourites.

These neighbours had never met before in senior championship hurling, but for much of the contest it was hard to believe there was much at stake as the game was played out at a pedestrian pace in front of a small crowd.

Larkins threatened to break clear when they led by 0-8 to 0-2 by the 20th minute, but the expert free-taking of young Brian Molloy kept Kilnadeema-Leitrim in touch while midfielder Damien Donoghue produced a sparkling second half display – scoring three points from play.

There was a glaring lack of intensity to the early exchanges, with Flynn and Molloy firing over frees at either end before Kevin Hooban and Flynn’s second score from a placed ball gave Larkins a two point advantage.

Full report in this week’s Connacht Tribune.