Turlough live up to billing in high-scoring shoot-out

Turloughmore  2-25

Sarsfields 2-19

SLICK and sharp, Turloughmore looked every bit the part of title contenders as they picked their way through a resilient Sarsfields outfit in this hugely entertaining county senior hurling championship quarter-final at Kenny Park, Athenry, on Sunday.

This was Galway hurling at its best: crisp striking, succinct movement, handpasses off the shoulder, outstanding scores and, equally, at the other end, some fine defending, punctuated by several examples of strong fielding.

Referee Alan Kelly, too, played his part in officiating this fiercely contested championship clash. He called it when he saw it and, when possible, he allowed the game to flow to a natural rhythm.

Despite striking for two early goals through Conor Walsh and Sean Loftus, and playing some exciting hurling, Turloughmore struggled to shake off a Sarsfields outfit that hit a litany of superb points in the opening period to trail by just two, 0-15 to 2-11, at half-time.

In the third quarter, Turloughmore finally put a little daylight between themselves and their plucky rivals, outscoring Sarsfields by seven points to 1-1. Daithí Burke and Sean Linnane struck over two each, with Matthew Keating, Sean Loftus and Walsh (free) also tallying.

Linnane, in particular, deserves special mention. In all, the sharpshooter shot seven points from play and, throughout this contest, he was simply unmarkable. With the  impressive Loftus, who finished with 1-4, and Walsh, 1-5, 0-5 frees, also instrumental in leading the offensive lines, Turloughmore were fluid in attack – as underlined by their final total of 2-25.

At the back, Mikey Morris, Daniel Loftus and Jamie Holland toiled manfully but it was Kevin Hussey – not for the first time in this championship – who was the standout defensive player. The defence was ably supported by Daithí Burke outside them.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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