Shaughnessy goals take Loughrea into Galway final with neighbours Cappataggle

Darren Shaughnessy of Loughrea. Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Galway SHC semi-final: Loughrea 3-16 Clarinbridge 1-16 

Two goals from Darren Shaughnessy were key as Loughrea set up a novel Galway SHC final with neighbours Cappataggle after seeing off the challenge of a Clarinbridge side who were far too dependent on county player Evan Niland for scores.

Loughrea, who won only their second Galway title in 2006 after a gap of 65 years, have been runners-up five times since then and will be hoping they can push on from here and claim the Tom Callanan Cup in two weeks.

They struck before the break to build a 2-11 to 0-9 interval lead after an opening quarter where the sides were level seven times.

A couple of points from Tiernan Killeen put the first bit of daylight between them before a long delivery from Brian Keary was superbly flicked to the net by Shaughnessy for his opening goal after 20 minutes.

Loughrea built on that after Niland and Neil Keary had exchanged points and Keary was again the creator for Shaughnessy to fire home his second goal two minutes from the break.

The sides twice exchanged points in the early stages of the second-half at Kenny Park in Athenry before Clarinbridge got a lifeline when Cian Salmon found the net and another free from Niland cut the gap to 2-13 to 1-12 after 42 minutes.

Another Niland free got the gap down to a goal before Burns, Shaughnessy and Cullen Killeen hit points to lead by six with just over five minutes remaining.

Two more points from Niland and a second of the game from Gavin Lee set up an exciting finish as Clarinbridge came in search of an equalising goal.

But it was Loughrea who rattled the net at the other end to book their place in the final for the 13th time — ten losses and two wins to date — when Burns fired home their third goal of the contest.

Scorers for Loughrea: Darren Shaughnessy 2-1, A Burns 1-3, T Killeen 0-4f, Caimin Killeen 0-2, S Sweeney 0-2, N Keary 0-2, I Hanrahan 0-1, Cullen Killeen 0-1.

Scorers for Clarinbridge: E Niland 0-11 (0-10f, 0-1 ’65), C Salmon 1-0, G Lee 0-2, J Ryan 0-1, D Lee 0-1, L Leen 0-1.

LOUGHREA: G Loughnane; P Hoban, J Coen, K Hanrahan; S O’Brien, S Morgan, B Keary; I Hanrahan, S Sweeney; Caimin Killeen, T Killeen, J Mooney; A Burns, Darren Shaughnessy, N Keary. 

Subs: Cullen Killeen for Sweeney (43), J Ryan for N Keary (46), Dylan Shaughnessy for Mooney (62), M Murray for I Hanrahan (62).

CLARINBRIDGE: A Bindon; S Murphy, C Bannon, D Dunne; TJ Brennan, O Salmon, C Lee; S Kilduff, C Donoghue; L Leen, G Lee, D Lee; M Kennedy, E Niland, J Ryan. 

Subs: C Salmon for Leen (35), D Counihan for Kilduff (40), C Counihan for Ryan (56).

Referee: John Keane (Rahoon).