Mountain to climb for Pearses outfit against Cork men

STEPHEN GLENNON

GALWAY champions Padraig Pearses will make their bid for a place in the All-Ireland club intermediate hurling decider when they face Cork outfit Ballymartle in the penultimate stage of the competition at Templetuohy, Tipperary this Sunday (2:30pm).

Having secured the Galway championship with a 1-10 to 1-8 win over Killimor last November, Pearses subsequently added the Connacht title to the silverware cabinet when accounting for a plucky Ballyhaunis side in the provincial final a week later.

However, Pearses will be acutely aware that their hurling will need to be taken to the next level if they are to continue their winning ways when they face a Ballymartle outfit that has been nothing less than impressive throughout their county and Munster expeditions.

In the Cork intermediate decider, they accounted for Tracton on a scoreline of 2-14 to 0-13, with their goal poacher supreme, Dan Dwyer tallying the two goals. Interestingly, it was the club’s first Premier Intermediate title; they had lost the previous year’s showcase to Douglas by four points. Indeed, aside from winning an Intermediate ‘A’ crown in 2006, they had not appeared in an intermediate decider since 1954.

However, since claiming the county title last October, they have gone from strength to strength. After defeating Hospital Herbertstown of Limerick in the Munster semi-final, they then carried out a demolition job on Borrisokane of Tipperary in the provincial final, winning 2-14 to 0-8. Once again, Dwyer was the hero, scoring 2-1 in the 12-point victory.

On that evidence alone, one would have to favour Ballymartle. That said, it would be a surprise if a spirited Padraig Pearses side are to be found wanting on the day, particularly as they boast of quality players like Galway senior Cyril Donnellan, former Galway minor goalkeeper Fergal Flannery and the prolific attacking duo of Thomas Flannery – who captains the side – and Jimmy Gelston.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.