Forde rescues Turlough with injury time leveller

 THE margin for error in the current Galway SHC is slim and Saturday evening's Group C opener at Kenny Park confirmed the suspicion that whoever qualifies for the quarter final stage will really have earned it.

Turloughmore and Sarsfields contributed to a lively hour's hurling with the spoils eventually shared as Francis Forde cancelled out an Ian Skehill point in injury time. Unsurprisingly the issue was delicately poised all through and every little Sarsfields burst was responded to by an improving Turlough side.

Even when Micheal Donoghue's charges hit the front midway through an eventful second half, Sarsfields demonstrated character to remain in the hunt. Sarsfields forwards mightn't have performed with as much fluidity as they would have hoped to, but there were sufficient glimpses to ensure that they still harbour ambitions of plotting a path into the last eight of the competition.

Ultimately that is where everyone remaining hunt craves to be and it meant that tension crept into the Athenry air. With plenty at stake, an error strewn start was forgotten by most of the decent crowd by the end because the entertainment levels were high and the hurling was honest.

Two clubs who have been the dominant side in the county at different spells are simply working hard attempting to turn themselves into con tenders again and there was evidence to suggest they are moving in the right direction.

It was a match that could have went either way with a dramatic climax featuring opportunities, but when the respective camps reflect on this fixture a draw was a fair outcome.

Turloughmore brought their usual mixture of heart and honesty which meant that Sarsfields were never allowed settle and with Fergal Moore producing a near flawless full back display, the New Inn/Bullaun outfit didn't threaten Paul Dullaghan, who was crisp with the routine duties, enough.

At the opposite end of the field Kevin Hynes was sharp in Sarsfields' last line of defence, while custodian Fergal Hynes made some decent interventions when called upon.

For the full match report see this week’s Tribune