Loughrea pass ferocious Larkin's test to seal hat-trick

Loughrea won a third consecutive Galway SHC title. Pic: ©INPHO/James Crombie

Galway SHC final: Loughrea 0-17 Tommy Larkin’s 0-16 

For all the talk of fairytales, a county final is no place for romance. Tommy Larkin’s understood this better than anyone, bringing all-out war in a bid to deny Loughrea a famous three-in-a-row. It wasn’t enough.

Niall Kelly’s side, with current Offaly manager Johnny Kelly among their backroom team, were never found wanting in will as a crowd of 7,800 got swept up in the fury of it all. A row at half-time in the tunnel and another midway through the second half had them trashing in their seats.

Loughrea passed that examination of nerve and in the end it was their skill that carried them up the steps of Pearse Stadium.

TG4 awarded man of the match to Jamie Ryan, a consistently sublime hurler in the Galway club championship, after he scored six of Loughrea’s last seven scores down the straight. There were exceptional frees, a sideline and a rare Eanna Murphy mistake punished mercilessly.

Tiernan Killeen could take issue with the wisdom of that award, all the same. He was immense throughout with five points from play including the winner. He created at least two of those late Ryan scores. The last point was brutal. With the clock deep in the red, goalkeeper Gearóid Loughnane gathered a loose ball and picked him out. Killeen slid in the dagger with cold precision. Red and black heads dropped all over the field as he wheeled away in front of the terrace, one finger aloft.

Tommy Larkin’s tore into the defending champions early on. It was full-throttle hurling, all relentless tackling and huge hits, and it had them 0-10 to 0-7 up at the turnaround. Their first four points all came from turnovers. Eanna Murphy strode out from his goal to bomb over a glorious long-range free from inside his own 45. Kevin McHugo, dominant early, fired over from inside his own half. His first point stemmed from a frantic ruck after a prolonged delay while Cullen Killeen received treatment.

When Conor Quinlan eventually restarted the game, Tommy Larkin’s devoured the ruck and McHugo broke free to rifle over. Ian Hanrahan was turned upside down by Ronan Murphy and had considerable difficulty retrieving his hurl. The message was plain: this title would be hard-earned.

What will haunt them are the chances that went begging in that spell. Colm Flynn flashed a goal chance outside the post and off the umpire. Jason Flynn had the chance to make it a six-point game but went for goal from a free. It was saved and Loughrea went straight up the other end to score. Murphy pulled off a remarkable double save to deny Killeen and Vince Morgan, but Loughrea would have been content to be only three down at the break. They finally drew level with 16 minutes remaining. From the 38th minute on, Tommy Larkin’s had nothing to live on but Flynn’s frees.

This is the sweet cruelty that makes and breaks these occasions. For there to be such wild joy, there must be ruin. That is what makes the day.

Loughrea captain Hanrahan acknowledged as much in his victory speech.

“Look, to Tommy Larkins, it was a ferocious battle out there. Ye are a serious club. Nothing I can say is going to make it any easier. I’m sure ye will dust yourselves down and go again,” he said, before turning to his own supporters.

“To see the blue and yellow here today, it inspires us as a team. We are very fortunate that ye get behind us every day. We have shown over the last two years we are well able to have a party. I’m sure tonight is going to top all of that.

“We can’t wait to see ye all back in Loughrea tonight. Up the town!” 

Scorers for Loughrea: J. Ryan 0-8 (0-4 frees, 1 s/l, 1 65); T. Killeen 0-5; Cullen Killeen, Caimin Killeen, V. Morgan, A. Burns 0-1 each.

Scorers for Tommy Larkin’s: J. Flynn 0-8 (0-4 f, 1 65); K. McHugo 0-2; R. Murphy, E. Murphy (f), A. Moran, C. Daniels, C. Gardiner, C. Slattery 0-1 each.

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

Subs: Darren Shaughnessy for McManus (half-time); Dylan Shaughnessy for Hanrahan, J. Shaughnessy for Burns (both 47); S. O’Brien for Keary (56); E. Coleman for Morgan (60).

TOMMY LARKIN’S: E. Murphy; K. Dervan, C. Nevin, E. Nevin; D. Duggan, R. Murphy, K. McHugo; C. Flynn, C. Hanley; J. Flynn, C. Daniels, C. Gardiner; A. Moran, B. Porter, C. Slattery.

Subs: B. Sheil for Slattery (54); C. Tuohy for Porter (57); J. Dervan for Flynn (64).

Referee: C. Quinlan (Salthill Knocknacarra).