Peter Murphy: Poor final record is 'biggest fear' for Loughrea

2022: Darren Shaughnessy of Loughrea in action against David Burke of St Thomas during the Galway County Senior Hurling Championship Final match between St Thomas and Loughrea at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile

Loughrea’s poor Galway SHC final record is “the biggest fear” for their and the county’s former county goalkeeper Peter Murphy ahead of Sunday’s showdown in Athenry.

Just two victories in 12 final appearances tempers the enthusiasm around the town that their experience will be the difference against first-time SHC finalists Cappataggle.

Since their previous win in 2006 over Portumna, Loughrea have lost five finals – 2009, ’10, '12, 13 and ’22, No club in Galway has lost as many SHC deciders as they and irrespective of them being the only team undefeated in this year’s competition it is a wrinkle for Murphy.

“We have a fantastic juvenile set-up that is bringing on these players but the big day has tripped us up. It’s like inter-county hurling where there’s a tradition of Kilkenny, Cork and Tipp winning finals without playing well. Clare and Galway pick one off here and there every 15 or 20 years and we’re in the same situation in Loughrea.

“It is a problem and it’s my biggest fear going into Sunday. Cappataggle have nothing to lose in their first final. We have to keep them down because they have proved in the last couple of games they’re able to come back in games.

“We can look back on the years and blame this, that and the other but at the end of the day you have to go and win it and we haven’t in a lot of finals.” 

Murphy, who lined out for Galway between the posts in the 1985 All-Ireland final, believes the 2022 one-point replay loss to St Thomas’ was the most painful. Not because of that match per se but the one prior to it.

“That was the hardest one. The drawn game, Jesus Christ, we had it in our hands. Everybody still talks about the decision to send off our lad (Darren Shaughnessy) for a second yellow but even so we still have the game in our hands and we didn’t put it away.

“In our time playing, we were a really good group team but not one that you would say would get into a final and win a county title. But these guys have come up through the ranks and you’d expect them to put it together but it has to happen on the day.” 

Like this year where Shaughnessy, Anthony Burns and Tiernan Killeen have been excelling, Loughrea had a 100% record going into the 2022 final. They had also won the Division 1 title and last season were the favourites to end St Thomas’ reign only to come a-cropper in the semi-final against Turloughmore.

“Sometimes, things happen for you when you least expect it,” says Murphy. “Cappataggle took their opportunity against St Thomas’ but you could say they had a better team when they reached four semi-finals in a row (2017-20). They just couldn’t make the breakthrough.

“It should be a great occasion. Hurlers love playing in Kenny Park, it’s such a lovely venue, and I think it will add to the atmosphere and hopefully the hurling.”