St Thomas’ show their quality to dig out the win

Athenry 1-20

By David Connors at Kenny Park

St Thomas’ backed up their pre-match favouritism to reach the quarter-finals, but the 2024 All-Ireland champions were certainly made to earn it by an impressive Athenry outfit, who continue to ride the wave of momentum from last year’s Senior B triumph.

Though Thomas’ were backed by a second-half breeze, Athenry had moved two points in front by the 47th minute. But instead of capitalising on that promising position, St Thomas’ struck back with a trademark purple patch - hitting five unanswered points in just six minutes - to go three clear, a lead they would maintain until the final whistle.

Their key figures were to the fore during that critical phase: Darren Farrell, Éanna Burke, Victor Manso, and a brace from evergreen David Burke contributed to a vital scoring burst that helped guide the Peterswell/Kilchreest men directly to the quarter-finals in four weeks’ time.

While Thomas’ emerged victorious, the main subplot of the game was the outstanding display from Athenry attacker Jason Rabbitte. In front of the watchful eye of Galway senior boss Micheál Donoghue, Rabbitte produced a tour-de-force performance, accounting for 1-14 of his side’s total.

Of that tally, 1-11 did arrive from placed balls, but the majority of which were earned through fouls committed on Rabbitte himself, including a 39th-minute penalty that he dispatched with aplomb.

David Sherry, Cathal Burke, and Shane Cooney all had spells marking the rangy forward, but to little effect. Eventually, manager Cathal Daly was forced to introduce Fintan Burke for his first minutes of the campaign.

To his credit, Burke brought much-needed power and stability, and his introduction coincided with the champions regaining a grip on the contest. Thomas’ are managing a growing absentee list, which now includes Cian Mahony, John Headd, Bernard Burke, and Oisín Flannery - the latter two look unlikely to feature again this championship.

Athenry weren’t at full strength either it must be said. Cian Burke, their chief scorer in recent seasons, was absent. However, Rabbitte’s sensational form meant that loss wasn’t as significant as it might have been in the past.

Pictured: It is a battle for possession as St Thomas’s Evan Brady fins himself sandwiched between Athenry's Conor Burke and Shane Quirke in Athenry on Sunday. Photo: Joe Keane.