Liam Mellows flatter to deceive but still reach knock out stages
Date Published: {J}
Tynagh /Abbey-Duniry 3-13Liam Mellows 0-16
Cian O’Connell
IN such a tight and well contested group championship match, a flash of skill was always likely to prove decisive and Kevin Broderick's excellent 49th minute goal was the crucial score at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.
This was a decent encounter as an understrength Liam Mellows produced a feisty performance, but evidence of Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry's continuing development was given too. Their cocktail of experience and youth has seen them impress since returning to the senior ranks and this merited win in Salthill offered a valuable injection of cofidence.
The past decade has featured exciting highs and some crushing lows for Liam Mellows, who remain intent on making an impact in the latter stages of the County Championship and they will clearly want to mirror the way they hurled for the first 25 minutes in Pearse Stadium when they contest the preliminary quarter finals.
It was then that Mellows did their best work denying Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry time and space to create chances, but ultimately lapses in concentration were punished by the victors. Considering the inter-county talent at their disposal, Mellows have planned and plotted for lengthy runs in this competition without ever truly delivering fully on their potential.
Clarinbridge's stunning return to form last year surely offers those who chased Portumna some optimism and the City outfit certainly adopted a high octane approach early on, flooding the middle third of the field with bodies.
That interesting policy left Brian Lee to plough a lone furrow inside, but there was a real earnestness to Mellows' hurling. True Aonghus Callanan's absence in attack left them short on scoring forwards, but Mellows competed intelligently.
But Brian Hanley's charges will rue the last five minutes of the opening period as in that spell there was a significant turnaround as Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry came thundering into the contest. Initially Mellows, repeatedly built road blocks which were becoming increasingly difficult to negotiate.
For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.