Galway SHC: Conor Cooney inspires St Thomas' to third title
St Thomas' captain Conor Cooney celebrates with the cup following the Galway SHC final win over Turloughmore. Picture: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile
St Thomas’, a club with just over 200 houses on a narrow stretch between Gort and Loughrea, have joined the superpowers of Galway hurling after winning their third title in a row after a pulsating final at Kenny Park in Athenry.
They only won their first title in 2012 but have now chalked up five, and only trailed twice briefly by a point as they maintained their unbeaten record in Galway finals.
And having introduced teenagers Oisin Flannery, John Headd and Evan Duggan, they are already a side that’s revolving and could well add to their trophy haul in the coming years.
“They are an exceptional group, a great club,” said manager Kevin Lally, a Padraig Pearses clubman who has now overseen the three-in-a-row triumph.
“The way they’ve applied themselves over three years, the standards they’ve set, the way that they’re constantly driving standards, pushing us, driving us, driving the club, they are a credit to themselves and to the club.
“This is a club with just 200 houses and to win three in a row is a tribute to their spirit and character.
“I tip my hat to them, they’re phenomenal. We went to battle seven days ago and the come here today in dirty conditions, it doesn’t matter there’s no excuses. Guys like Fintan Burke, Cian Mahony, Dave Sherry, John Headd, he’s a kid who got his Leaving Cert two weeks ago. Oisín Flannery got his Leaving Cert two weeks ago. To a man they’ve been absolutely outstanding, I’m delighted for them,” added Lally.
The sides were level six times in a gripping contest which lived up to expectation but the experience St Thomas’ have gleaned since they won their first title stood to them as they finished strongly to deny a Turloughmore side back in the final for the first time in 30 years.
Turloughmore were in with a great chance of victory when they turned around level at 1-6 to 0-9 having played against the breeze.
They got a perfect start with a point from Sean Linnane after just 18 seconds but the decisive score of the match came inside the opening minute when Conor Cooney blasted low to the net for the champions.
“The goal was a great help, especially on a windy day a goal can make a massive difference,” said captain Cooney. “A long ball broke and I got on to it and I finished it.
“We knew we were solid at the back, Fintan (Burke) was outstanding again, and we weathered it at the end,” he added.
Indeed, Fintan Burke’s displays in his adopted position at full-back throughout the championship will not have gone unnoticed by Galway manager Shane O’Neill, who was present with his management team in the stand.
Burke was inspirational, strong in the air and on the ground, but it was a disappointing day for the man who has manned that position with aplomb for Galway in recent years with four-time All-Star Daithi Burke limping off before the break.
The Turloughmore captain re-appeared in the dying moments of the game but he was unable to secure the one major medal which has eluded him in his dual career.
His midfield partner Fergal Moore, the former Galway captain, hit a couple of points from distance into the wind but St Thomas’ have learned not to panic.
They held an edge in the third quarter before Turloughmore rallied with Sean Loftus levelling before Linnane, a nephew of former Galway defender Sylvie, hit his fourth point to edge them in front with six minutes left.
But it was St Thomas’, with 2017 All-Ireland winning captain David Burke winning some good ball in midfield, who finished strongly and after Cooney hit his sixth free, they secured the title thanks to points from Eanna Burke and sub Brendan Farrell.
C Cooney 1-6 (6f), O Flannery 0-3, Darragh Burke 0-1, F Burke 0-1 (1f), J Regan 0-1, E Burke 0-1, B Farrell 0-1.
S Linnane 0-4, C Walsh 0-4 (4f), M Keating 0-2, F Moore 0-2, S Loftus 0-1, G Burke 0-1, B Callanan 0-1.
G Kelly; C Mahony, F Burke, S Skehill; J Headd, S Cooney, D Sherry; David Burke, J Regan; E Duggan, C Cooney, Darragh Burke; E Burke, O Flannery, B Burke
B Farrell for Duggan (51).
M Fahy; M Morris, R Burke, M Murphy; D Loftus, J Holland, K Hussey; F Moore, D Burke; C Walsh, S Loftus, M Keating; B Callanan, G Burke, S Linnane
N Connolly for D Burke (30), B McDonagh for Keating (45), D Burke for Callanan (58), R Badger for G Burke (58).
Alan Kelly (Rahoon).
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