Loughrea remain on course for third Galway SHC title in a row with win over Craughwell

Ciaran Leen scored 0-13 frees but it wasn't enough to beat their spirited opponents.

Galway SFC semi-finals: Loughrea 0-20 Craughwell 0-15

Loughrea came with a late surge to remain on course for their third Galway title in a row when they saw off neighbours Craughwell at Kenny Park in Athenry.

Craughwell, beaten in the 2015 decider replay by Sarsfields in their first county final appearance since 1932, seemed poised to set up a showdown with Tommy Larkins when they came from behind to lead by 0-14 to 0-11 with just six minutes remaining.

But Loughrea showed all the experience of champions. They didn’t panic and took control when it mattered most, reeling off seven points without reply in nine minutes.

Ciaran Leen hit his 13th free to cut the gap to a goal in the fourth and final minute of injury-time but Loughrea sealed it with late points from Jack Shaughnessy and Cullen Killeen.

Loughrea held an edge throughout the opening half but had to be content with a 0-10 to 0-9 interval lead.

Eight of the Loughrea points came from play while all but a point of Craughwell’s tally came from frees.

Craughwell didn’t score from play until two minutes from the break when All Star nominee Tom Monaghan, who hit 0-9 from play in the quarter-final win over Sarsfields, finally escaped the shackles of Alan Kelly to fire over a point.

The champions opened up a 0-6 to 0-2 lead after eleven minutes with two points from Jamie Ryan and one apiece from Cullen Killeen, Martin McManus, Johnny Coen and Caimin Killeen.

Ciaran Leen and Joseph Mooney traded points before Leen hit four frees in a row to tie the sides at 0-7 apiece after 23 minutes.

McManus and Ryan found the target for the champions before Monaghan got their only score from play and Leen took his haul to eight pointed frees, but Loughrea led at the break thanks to a good score from Anthony Burns.

Craughwell dominated the third quarter but were dependent on four frees from Leen and a second point from play by Monaghan to lead by three heading into the closing stages.

But that’s when Loughrea showed their mettle. County U-20 player Jack Shaughnessy came on to shoot four points on a day when they had nine scorers to Craughwell’s two.

They are now into an 11th county final in the past 24 years, but they have only won three of those and will hope to become the eighth club in Galway to string three senior hurling titles in a row.

Scorers for Loughrea: J Ryan 0-7 (0-5f), J Shaughnessy 0-4, M McManus 0-2, Cullen Killeen 0-2, Caimin Killeen 0-1, J Coen 0-1, J Mooney 0-1, A Burns 0-1, T Killeen 0-1.

Scorers for Craughwell: C Leen 0-13 (0-13f). T Monaghan 0-2.

LOUGHREA: G Loughnane; P Hoban, J Coen, S Morgan; B Keary, T Killeen, J Mooney; I Hanrahan, A Kelly; Caimin Killeen, Cullen Killeen, J Ryan; A Burns, M McManus, V Morgan. 

Subs: J Shaughnessy for Morgan (42), Darren Shaughnessy for McManus (49), Dylan Shaughnessy for Hanrahan (53), S O’Brien for Caimin Killeen (63).

CRAUGHWELL: S O’Halloran; G O’Halloran, M Horan, P Monaghan; A Callanan, R Howley, K Molloy; O Quirke, T Leen; D McCartin, T Monaghan, J Ryan; C Leen, A Prendergast, N Kelly. 

Subs: C Geoghegan for Horan (7), C Gilligan for McCartin (37), L Keane for Geoghegan (46), I Leen for Quirke (56), A Clarke for Kelly (58).

Referee: Paul Fahy (Carnmore).