Davin grabs a hat-trick as Stars surge into last eight

Annaghdown 0-6

By Eanna O’Reilly at Kenny Park

TUAM Stars registered their third victory of the Senior Football Championship with a commanding success over Annaghdown on Sunday at Kenny Park. David Donnellan’s charges had far too much quality for opponents who suffered their third defeat and will now turn their focus towards the upcoming relegation battle.

On a day of torrential rain in Athenry, conditions were difficult for any free flowing football. However, Tuam Stars played with quality from the outset and had five points on the board by the end of the opening quarter.

The Stars set the pace from an early stage and looked capable of generating scores with every attack. Luke Davin opened the scoring with a point from 30-yards, before Gary O’Donnell doubled Tuam’s advantage two minutes later with a point from the right wing.

Annaghdown got off the mark with a close range pointed free from Frankie Burke, but Tuam struck for three consecutive points during the next five minutes to asset their dominance. The three scores came from the Tuam full forward line, who were razor sharp.

Brian Mannion pointed a free from the right wing, before Davin sent over his second score, after a pass from Gary O’Donnell. A well worked attacking move was then finished off by Jack Grugan to put Tuam into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead.

Annaghdown then had a goal chance at the other end when Darragh Meehan’s shot was well saved by Darragh Forkan. Four minutes later, the opening goal came, and it went to the Stars. A great move involving Ben O’Connell, Cian Mitchell, and Grugan set up Davin, who finished to the net.

At 1-5 to 0-1 down, Annaghdown badly needed scores, and Cian Heavey got their second point, after some good work from Eoin Reddington and Rory Gleeson. Grugan soon had his second point at the other end, before Gleeson pointed for Annaghdown, after playing a one-two with Enda Mullarkey.

Three minutes later, Ben O’Connell scored an excellent individual point, demonstrating great pace. O’Donnell then tallied his second, after a pass from Davin. The final score of the half came from Annaghdown’s John Lynn, who sent over an excellent score from 40-yards on the right wing.

It left Tuam ahead at the interval on a 1-8 to 0-4 scoreline. Annaghdown needed a strong start the second half, and Burke pointed his second free shortly after the resumption, following a foul on Olan Kelly. However, the Stars struck for their second goal five minutes later.

Pictured: Darragh Cunningham of Tuam Stars showing no shortage of determination against Annghdown's Aidan Burke during Saturday's Senior Football group encounter at Kenny Park. Photo: David Cunniffe.