In-form Haran inspires Liam Mellows to vital win

 LIAM Mellows made a winning start in the senior hurling relegation play-offs when they defeated Carnmore at Athenry on Sunday evening.

The sides were level on no less than eight occasions by the three quarter stage, before four unanswered Mellows points saw the city outfit put sufficient daylight between the teams even if it did take an injury time Adrian Morrissey score to ensure Liam Mellows victory.

Tadhg Haran again impressed for Mellows and his eight points, five from play, were crucial in this victory over a Carnmore side that had T.J. Hynes operating to good effect on the forty.

David Collins started at centre back for Mellows on Hynes while John Lee was deployed to centre forward.

Carnmore started brightly and three early points through Hynes, Domhnaill Fox and Barry Hanley saw them 0-3 to no score in front inside as many minutes.

However with Haran, Brian Lee and Niall McInerney among their scorers Mellows were in front by the 12th minute while a John Lee point helped Jeffrey Lynskey’s side into a 0-9 to 0-8 half time lead.

After the interval, both sides hit a number of points with Barry Hanley’s seventh free levelling the sides as 0-12 apiece on 43 minutes.

Subsequently, Liam Mellows hit four points through Haran (3) and McInerney, scores that propelled them into a 0-16 to 0-12 lead and despite a late Carnmore rally the aforementioned points helped Liam Mellows claim a vital victory ahead of further games against Clarinbridge, Ardrahan and Kiltormer.