Loughrea shake off Castlegar in Galway SHC preliminary quarter-final

It was the introduction of Ryan on 40 minutes, though, that breathed new life into the county champions at a time when they trailed Castlegar by two points. Within minutes, he reduced the deficit to the minimum with a neat score and he continued to tally four more, including one from a free, with what was almost a man of the match performance. Suffice to say, Loughrea would not have won this game without him.

However, for pure graft, the nod goes to full-forward Darren Shaughnessy. He caused the Castlegar defence untold trouble with his ball winning ability and his late score to push Loughrea four points clear deep into injury-time was just reward for a workmanlike display.

Credit to Castlegar, though. As one has come to expect, they gave it everything and, assisted by the breeze in the opening period, led 1-12 to 1-9 at half-time. With the sides level, their goal arrived five minutes into first half stoppage time, when Jack Coyne raced onto breaking ball from a Liam O’Reilly puckout and dispatched to the net.

With the imposing Greg Thomas, Farragher (four frees, 65, sideline), Darragh Neary (2), Cillian Callaghan, Donal Barry, and Coyne all pointing in the first half, the goal firmly established a foothold for Castlegar heading into the second period.

As for Loughrea, they arguably lacked a certain consistency in their play in the opening period. What they did well, though, was work the short puckout and it was off such a play that Tiernan Killeen shot their first goal on just six minutes.

By the end of the opening quarter, they led 1-5 to 0-4, courtesy of points from Shane Morgan (sideline cut), Brian Keary, Killeen, Vince Morgan and Anthony Burns. However, despite Killeen, Shane Morgan (free) and Jack Shaughnessy (two frees) adding further points in the second quarter, they were still outscored by Castlegar 1-8 to 0-4 in this spell. It left Loughrea with some work to do in the second half.

Jack Shaughnessy did convert three frees in the 10 minutes after the restart, but with Farragher (free), Coyne and Callaghan keeping the scoreboard ticking over, the champions began to realise they were in a serious fight to preserve their title aspirations.

Enter Ryan and McManus, and with Caimin Killeen and Vince Morgan also chipping in with points, Loughrea generated sufficient momentum – and scores – to get them over the line and qualify Tommy Kelly’s charges for a tasty quarter-final clash against an up-and-coming Athenry outfit.

Castlegar, on the other hand, bow out, but not without honour. Despite a heavy loss to St Thomas in the group stages, in their group victory over Oranmore-Maree, their draw against Sarsfields, and this knockout tie against Loughrea, they showed that they have the potential to go deeper in this competition in the future.

LOUGHREA: G. Loughnane; P. Hoban, J. Mooney, J. Coen; S. O’Brien, S. Morgan (0-1, frees), B. Keary (0-1); I. Hanrahan (captain), T. Killeen (1-2); J. Shaughnessy (0-6, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), A. Kelly, Caimin Killeen (0-1); V. Morgan (0-2), Darren Shaughnessy (0-1), A. Burns (0-1). Subs: J. Ryan (0-5, 0-1 free), for B. Keary, 40 mins; Dylan Shaughnessy, for S. Morgan (temporary)., 49 mins-FT; M. McManus (1-1), for J. Shaughnessy, 49 mins; N. Keary, for Burns inj., 59 mins; G. Maher, for C. Killeen, 60+3 mins; S. Sweeney, for O’Brien, 60+4 mins.

CASTLEGAR: L. O’Reilly; G. King, C. Ryan, D. Barry (0-1); M. Gill, S. Neary, M. Connolly (captain); S. Moran, C. Callaghan (0-2); C. Corcoran, G. Farragher (1-8, 0-6 frees, 0-1 65, 0-1 sideline cut), D. Neary (0-2); J. Coyne (1-2), G. Thomas (0-1), O. Connolly. Subs: D. Carroll, for Corcoran, half-time; R. Creaven, for O. Connolly, 43 mins; D. Higgins (0-1), for Coyne, 56 mins; C. Joyce, for Gill, 60+3 mins; M. Casey, for Callaghan, 60+3 mins.

REFEREE: David Staunton.