Loughrea strike dramatic winner to reach Galway SHC semi-finals

The champions will now meet Turloughmore in the semi-finals at Pearse Stadium

FINAL FLOURISH: Galway star Tiernan Killeen struck late to settle the affair. Pic: INPHO/Ryan Byrne

Champions Loughrea came from seven points down against the wind with 20 minutes remaining to oust Clarinbridge and advance to the semi-finals of the Galway SHC.

Loughrea, who won their third Galway crown last year, only took the lead for the first time in the game in the third minute of stoppage time when Tiernan Killeen took his haul to 0-12 — half of them from play — with a free from 50 metres.

They will now meet Turloughmore in the semi-finals at Pearse Stadium on Saturday week, while Craughwell will meet their neighbours St Thomas’ in two games which will be played for the first time under lights at the Salthill venue.

Clarinbridge seemed poised for victory when they led by 2-6 to 0-7 at the break despite playing against the breeze at Kenny Park in Athenry, with Aaron Niland getting both goals, the first of them from a penalty.

But Loughrea kept plugging away after the restart despite being 2-10 to 0-9 behind after 40 minutes, with a goal from Anthony Burns igniting the revival which ended with Killeen’s dramatic winner at the death.

Former All-Ireland club champions St Thomas’, seeking their ninth crown since winning their first in 2012, edged out Tommy Larkins by 1-18 to 0-19 in a thrilling finish.

Tommy Larkins seemed poised for their first semi-final since 1982 when they struck four points in a row in the dying moments with Kevin McHugo edging them in front in the fourth minute of added time.

But St Thomas’, whose bid for seven-in-a-row last year ended at the quarter-final stage when they lost to Cappataggle, struck for a late winner when Conor Cooney put Victor Manso through and he blasted to the net.

There was also a dramatic finish when Adam Clarke was the hero for Craughwell when he struck the winning goal in added time in extra-time to oust former All-Ireland club champions Sarsfields by 2-24 to 3-19 in a thriller.

It looked like Diarmuid Mac Carthaigh had won it for Sarsfields moments earlier with a goal after being set up by John Cooney but Clarke hit back with the winner at the death.

Turloughmore, seeking their first Galway SHC crown since 1985 and who were defeated in the 2020 and 2023 finals, advanced to the semi-finals of this year’s competition when they saw off Oranmore/Maree by 5-16 to 0-21.

Turloughmore’s ability to strike for goals at key moments proved decisive on an evening when former All Star Daithi Burke landed a couple of good points from distance.

Turloughmore trailed by 0-13 to 1-6 at the break having played against the wind, with a goal from Cillian Whelan.

A long effort from Jamie Holland ended up in the net when Sean Loftus closed in on goal to cut the gap to two in the third quarter and they pushed on from there with Dara Whelan finding the net ten minutes from time before they wrapped up the victory with two goals from Barry Callanan.

Galway SHC semi-finals: Loughrea v Turloughmore; Craughwell v St Thomas’. Galway IHC semi-finals: Kinvara v Beagh; Meelick/Eyrecourt v Ballygar.