Small margins as Larkins suffer heartbreaking exit

Tommy Larkins 0-12

John Fallon at Kenny Park

TOMMY Larkins, despite having won their opening two games, knew that a defeat in this one would leave them vulnerable to a championship exit but they could hardly have figured that the algorithm which would seal their fate would be so cruel.

One more point scored in this game, or in the wins over Loughrea and Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry, would have been enough to ensure their safe passage to the knockout stages but, a bit like Galway in the Leinster championship last year, failure to win their final round robin game was to have a devastating impact.

They finished level with Cappataggle and Loughrea on four match points each. Cappataggle ended up winning the group by virtue of a scoring difference of plus-seven, and with the other two deadlocked on plus-five, Loughrea secured the knockout spot by having scored a total of 59 points to Larkins’ 45.

The eight wides they shot in this one at Kenny Park in Athenry on Saturday proved costly. Five of them were hit by Jason Flynn but they can hardly blame this defeat on him. On the contrary, the fact that he scored all but two of his side’s points showed how they were far too dependent on him and for long periods it looked as if the county player, whose superb physique wouldn't have gone unnoticed by Galway manager Shane O’Neill in the stand, would carry them home.

But victory rested where it deserved and Cappataggle will get a huge confidence boost from this win, not least in the way they carved it out. Their short-passing game and excellent awareness of colleagues looked to be modelled on the Limerick system and given Tommy Larkins’ reliance on Flynn, they probably should have won more decisively.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app

The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.