Turloughmore live up to billing as major title contenders

Turloughmore 0-21

Craughwell 0-14

JOHN FALLON AT KENNY PARK

IT’S easy to see why there is such optimism in Turloughmore that they might be on their way back to a first county final appearance since 1990, but whether they are streetwise enough to oust champions St Thomas remains to be seen.

They will, undoubtedly, face a much sterner test than that offered by a Craughwell side who faded badly in the third quarter at Kenny Park in Athenry on Saturday afternoon. Craughwell’s cause was curtailed by a hamstring injury to Niall Healy which restricted the contribution of the former county star from play before he was forced to limp off early in the second-half.

They really needed him to be firing on all cylinders to thwart a Turloughmore side who looked very balanced. Fergal Moore and Jamie Holland ruled the roost in the half-back line and gave them a great platform, while behind them Ronan Burke effectively manned the edge of the square.

Daithi Burke will benefit from having a full game under his belt, while Daniel Loftus crowned a fine display with a couple of points. All six forwards scored from play for Turloughmore but they will face a tougher defence in the semi-final against St Thomas’ than that which Craughwell mustered on Saturday.

And yet Craughwell were right in the game at the break when they turned around trailing by 0-11 to 0-9. The sides were level five times in the opening 17 minutes before Turloughmore, moving the ball more smoothly, cranked up a couple of gears and pulled away. Conor Walsh pointed his second free and then got one from play to push Turloughmore 0-8 to 0-6 in front and efforts from Gary Burke, Loftus and Walsh extended the gap to five after 27 minutes.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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