Inside Track: Tommy Larkins raise the roof in greatest win for years

The players themselves were understandably whooping and hollering at the end of a titanic struggle. Days like this are momentous, especially for teams who rarely experience them. Larkins had been the better team and the semi-final should probably have not gone to extra-time, but in a perverse way it made their 2-26 to 1-27 win all the more noteworthy.

After Darragh Counihan had snatched a draw for Clarinbridge in the dying moments, you would have expected them to drive-on in extra time. But the team’s composure had already been rattled by the incessant hassling of their opponents, and those additional 20 minutes were in keeping with what had gone before. Larkins were still forcing the pace, carrying the fight, and in no mood to countenance anything other than victory.

The importance of Portumna neighbour and Offaly manager Johnny Kelly joining Niall Kelly's backroom team can't be under-estimated and after their late heroics against Turloughmore, the Larkins camp must have had a sense that they were as good as what was left out there. Certainly, there was no inferiority complex on show on Saturday.

But they didn't make it easy on themselves. When Flynn stood over a close-range free in the 38th minute, Larkins were 1-16 to 0-14 in front and though the former county player has been netting from these type of opportunities throughout the championship, he unwisely went for goal. It looked like Mikey Fallon stopped the sliotar on the line.

And when the Bridge soon equalised, Flynn giving in to temptation appeared even a worse call. But how can you be critical of a player who finished the match with 14 points, including two crackers from play and a terrific sideline cut? He was also denied a goal in the first-half by an outstanding save from Chris Callanan – a play in which there was a four-point swing as Aaron Niland superbly split the posts from the resulting clearance.

Still, Larkins were not to to be denied. Eanna Murphy was magnificent in goal, while Conor Nevin, Darren Duggan, Kevin McHugo, Adrian Moran, Conor Gardiner, Cian Daniels, Conor Slattery and their inspirational captain Ronan Murphy were among those central to Larkins' best display in decades. Now, it is all about getting back to earth quickly for the biggest game of all.

Clarinbridge will be bitterly disappointed at not living-up to expectations again. They didn't get the anticipated bounce from their county contingent, though Aaron Niland was an exception. Cathal Coen's team also lost the physical battle and they lacked leaders when the exchanges were going against them.

Sunday's semi-final saw Loughrea dig themselves out of a significant hole with their best 10 minutes of the championship. Trailing Craughwell by 0-14 to 0-11 down the home stretch, nothing much was happening for them but when the need was greatest, the champions came up with the answers.

Shooting nine of the last 10 points took some doing for an injury-hit squad who again look to be timing their run to perfection. The introduction of young Jack Shaughnessy proved a game-changer. He rattled over four points near the end as Loughrea's hurling finally began to flow. They would dearly love to complete a title hat-trick and what a final it promises to be. Craughwell gave it their all, but were far too reliant on Ciaran Leen's frees, with their only two points from play coming from All-Star elect Tom Monaghan.

​Football Final

A third county senior football final between the clubs in six years offers Salthill-Knocknacarra the chance to gain revenge for their narrow defeats to Moycullen in 2022 and 12 months ago at Pearse Stadium on Saturday night, but most observers give Finian Hanley's charges little chance of turning the tables on the champions.

On form, however, it's a logical conclusion. For we can never remember a team dismantling their opponents in the ruthless style that Moycullen have done since the title-race hit the knock-out stages. They hammered Mountbellew-Moylough by 3-25 to 0-13 in the quarter-finals before routing Annaghdown by 30 points last Sunday week.

These are two clubs with a proud tradition, but Moycullen just swept both challengers aside in a style which suggests Cathal Clancy's team is at the peak of their powers in chasing a fourth county title in seven years. With Peter Cooke back, Dessie Conneely shooting the lights out, Niall Walsh almost impossible to tie down, and the Kelly brothers in sparkling form, the title holders are going to take some stopping. Furthermore, they are thriving under the sport's new rules.

On paper, Salthill-Knocknacarra should prove Moycullen's toughest test of the year. With Matthew Thompson back in the fold, All-Stars Rob Finnerty and John Maher going strong, and the likes of Daniel O'Flaherty and Cathal Sweeney – who retired injured in their close semi-final call against Corofin – with loads of inter-county experience as well, the city outfit have a third of a county team at their disposal.

And that's the problem. Salthill are not nearly as well-balanced as Moycullen and their defence is far from bombproof, but having had a much tougher route to the final will stand to them. Yet, it's hard to be not impressed by the champions' current displays and Moycullen look to have taken their form to new levels of excellence. Salthill will be competitive but a fourth county title will prove beyond them.