Big game experience could see Loughrea claim its third title

STEPHEN GLENNON

Galway minor defender Paul Hoban is a serious injury doubt for Loughrea for their county senior hurling championship final meeting against Clarinbridge in Pearse Stadium this Sunday (2:30pm).

Hoban has been a permanent fixture in the right half back berth for Loughrea during their current campaign and he has, in particular, performed consistently in this role in the knockout stages. However, after sustaining an arm injury, the gritty defender was forced to miss Loughrea minors’ semi-final defeat to Gort last weekend.

He is now in a race against time to be fit for Sunday’s senior decider, with Loughrea mentor Joe Sweeney admitting there is a doubt over his participation.

“Paul is doubtful, but he was to see a specialist Wednesday morning and we will know more then,” said Sweeney, who gives Hoban a favourable chance of lining out, describing the teenager’s odds as 70-30.

As for Clarinbridge, their chief injury concern, centre-half back David Forde, has recovered from a hamstring injury he sustained in their semi-final victory over Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry almost three weeks ago. With fellow defender Jamie Cannon also returning from suspension, it means manager Micheál Donoghue will have a full complement to pick from.

No doubt, though, after Portumna, Loughrea have been the form team in the last decade, contesting four finals – all against recent kingpins Portumna. Of those four, they have won just one, 2006, which, amazingly for a town of its size, was only their second title in the club’s illustrious history.

Indeed, despite winning their first title in 1941 – defeating Army 5-3 to 2-1 – Loughrea have not always enjoyed the best of occasions on county final day. In their first senior decider way back in 1909, they lost out to Craughwell and they would suffer further losses in 1949 to Ardrahan and in 1951 to Ballinasloe.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.