Sylane prove too strong for Moytura in Connacht Junior Hurling semi-final

The men in black and amber are now unbeaten in 16 games across league and championship this season and will be aiming to become the first Galway club since 2021 to lift the Connacht Junior Hurling Championship title. Sylane are no strangers to provincial success, having previously won the competition in 2015 and 2017.

Kilnadeema-Leitrim native Ray Larkin, who guided Tooreen to four successive Connacht Intermediate Hurling Championship titles, was in charge of Moytura. The Mayo side featured players from the parishes of Shrule, Glencorrib, Ballinrobe, Kilmaine, The Neale, Cross, Clonbur and Partry. This was their second year competing in the provincial championship, having suffered an 11-point defeat to Ballinasloe at the same stage last year.

Sylane made a blistering start, with Shane Glynn finding the net in the opening stages after Cathal Burke played the sliotar across his path. Moytura initially appeared to have done enough to deny Glynn, but the Sylane forward made no mistake at the second attempt, driving the sliotar past goalkeeper Gary Hopkins. Ryan Kelly and Brendan Sheridan responded with points for the Mayo champions, leaving them trailing 1-0 to 0-2 after four minutes.

Ronan Higgins’ side quickly began to assert their dominance, registering six unanswered points through John Igoe (three), Sean Newell (two) and Ryan Keane to establish a 1-6 to 0-2 advantage by the 18th minute. Thomas Holleran replied for the visitors, but Moytura struggled to make the most of the breeze as the contest began to slip away from them. Larkin’s side suffered a real setback when they lost Mayo hurler John Heraty to injury on 20 minutes.

Newell and Paul Ronan combined to create Sylane’s second goal, with Ronan eventually gathering possession before drilling a superb effort past Hopkins. The Division three league champions continued to dominate the closing stages of the opening half, outscoring their opponents by 2-4 to 0-1 in the final ten minutes.

Newell, Glynn, Oran Martin and Keane all contributed to Sylane’s commanding advantage, while Glynn struck his second goal of the afternoon before the interval as Higgins’ charges entered the dressing room leading 3-10 to 1-4.

Any hopes of a Moytura comeback were quickly extinguished after the restart as Sylane registered 1-5 without reply in the opening stages of the second half. Igoe continued to cause problems for the Mayo defence and the wing-forward raised Sylane’s fourth green flag, while Keane and Newell kept the scoreboard ticking over.

Moytura were awarded a penalty in the 44th minute, offering them an opportunity to reduce the deficit, but Sheridan's effort sailed over the crossbar.

With the result beyond doubt, Higgins began to empty his bench, introducing Fleming, Monaghan, Burke, Lardner and Furey as Sylane continued to maintain their intensity throughout the final quarter.

Keane, Igoe and Newell continued to add to Sylane’s tally, with Newell turning provider for their fifth goal in the closing stages. The forward picked out Keane, who finished from close range to put the finishing touches on a comprehensive 29-point victory for the North Galway club.

Sylane captain Oran Martin produced an impressive display in defence, while Paul Ronan and Tomás Keane contributed a combined 1-4 from midfield. Further forward, Newell, Igoe and Shane Glynn were particularly influential, contributing 3-16 between them as Sylane comfortably booked their place into next weekend’s provincial final.

However, Higgins will be looking for his side to improve their accuracy in front of goal after registering 19 wides.

SYLANE: Jake Hogan; Adrian Lardner, Tom Kenny, Brian Igoe, Emmett Sweeney, Oran Martin (0-1), Oran Burke; Paul Ronan (1-1), Tomas Keane (0-3), John Igoe (1-8, 0-1 free), Ryan Keane (1-1), Sean Newell (0-7, 0-4 frees); Darragh Mahon, Shane Glynn (2-1), Cathal Burke (0-1). SUBS: Ciaran Fleming for Sweeney (35), Ross Monaghan for Kenny (43), Stephen Burke for Oran Burke (42), Shane Furey for Glynn (46), Darragh Lardner for Adrian Lardner (53),

MOYTURA: Gary Hopkins; Ger Lynagh, Conor O’Malley, Evan Heraty (0-1, 0-1 65); Ryan Kelly (0-1), Finn O’Loughlin, Michael McDonnell; Ruairi Gilvarry, John Heraty; Thomas Holleran (0-1), Brendan Sheridan (0-3, 0-1 penalty, 0-1 free), Shane Holleran; Brian Collins, Liam Mullaly, Conor Doyle (1-0). SUBS: Patrick Burke for John Heraty (20, injury), Mikey McDonagh for Kelly (39) David Lynagh for Thomas Holleran (43), Shane McGahon for O’Loughlin (58), Patrick Burke for Gilvarry (58).

REFEREE: Michael Connolly.