Disputed Kelly goal helps Thomas' get back on right track

St Thomas' 1-19Liam Mellows 1-13

Cian O’Connell at Kenny Park

DESPITE producing a determined display packed with courage and commitment at Kenny Park on Saturday evening, Liam Mellows were still sent into the senior hurling championship relegation group by a late St Thomas’ flourish.

Ponderous when losing to Turloughmore, Mellows were far more passionate in Athenry, but St Thomas’ are a club making significant strides and they had enough attacking punch to land a winning total. Mellows, though, can be satisfied that they made St. Thomas’ strain every sinew to secure victory and the complexion of a lively game was altered by a controversial 35th minute goal.

Mellows had a three point lead at that stage and though the city club protested that John Hughes appeared to be fouled when in possession, referee Leonard Fay waved play on with the sliotar spilling kindly for Anthony Kelly. The corner forward was able to lash a shot into the top corner net and Mellows' momentum was lost.

Tadhg Haran's efficiency kept Mellows in touch, but St. Thomas’ outscored them by 0-8 to 0-2 in the final 13 minutes and that was why John Burke's promising side will compete in the group stages.

Mellows can take plenty of positives from this plucky performance and will avoid the drop if they replicate such drive and desire in the tense tussles that now await them.

With Aonghus Callanan in Australia, hope rather than confidence was attached to Mellows' aspirations but Jeffrey Lynskey's players were all passion in the first period. Their energy certainly disrupted the warm favourites St.Thomas’, who only offered glimpses of their ability initially.

Mellows mightn't have been as slick as their South Galway rivals, but they were rugged and resourceful with Haran highly effective at full forward. Haran was sharp from frees, but he was influential in open play too hitting 1-7 in 30 minutes with each score carrying weight.

The opening quarter suggested that St. Thomas’ would deal with Mellows as James Regan and Bernard Burke buzzed around causing panic, while Conor Cooney was precise from dead balls. By the 15th minute, they led by 0-5 to 0-2, but Mellows responded.

Haran and Bernard Burke swapped frees, but then Mellows enjoyed a burst of supremacy as they struck 1-3 without reply to stun St. Thomas’. Haran nailed a free, then the industrious Brian Lee landed a point to trim the deficit down to the minimum.

Subsequently, St. Thomas’ custodian Patrick Skehill had a hand pass intercepted and Haran gathered the sliotar before unleashing a blistering shot to the roof of the net. Another point was added by the Mellows marksman as they suddenly held a 1-6 to 0-6 advantage.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.