Tommy Larkins book Galway Senior Hurling final spot after 55-year wait
THE match of the Galway senior hurling championship produced a seismic outcome when outsiders Tommy Larkins secured a place in the county final for the first time in 55 years after 2-26 to 1-27 extra time victory over Clarinbridge at Kenny Park on Saturday.
In a cracking and marathon semi-final, Larkins were also ending a poor sequence of results against a fancied Clarinbridge outfit which lost the physical battle and are now developing an unwanted status - just like Turloughmore - of being a nearly team.
A high-quality encounter saw Larkins carry the fight to their opponents from the off. They stormed into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead after eight minutes and you could see from their hunger and intensity, that they were sick and tired of losing to the 'Bridge.
Apart from a couple of short puck-outs as the contest progressed, it was route one hurling all the way. Their brilliant 'keeper Eanna Murphy repeatedly drove long into Clarinbridge territory where the likes of Cian Daniels, Conor Gardiner and Ben Porter were all a handful under the dropping ball.
Unlike Larkins, the 'Bridge weren't sufficiently road-tested on their way to the semi-final, possibly creating an illusion that Cathal Coen's charges were better than they actually are. They were hot favourites to carry the day but their admittedly stylish team came out second best against gritty and fired-up rivals.
The winners had heroes all over the field, not least Ronan Murphy who's terrific goal at the start of extra-time in a rehearsed move ultimately proved the game-breaker after his brother Eanna looked to have snatched victory in the dying seconds of normal time with an outrageous point from 'down town' only for Darragh Counihan to extend the semi-final by an extra 20 minutes with a brave effort straight from the puck-out.
In a contest of many twists and turns, your instinct now was that Larkins were vulnerable. They had been the better team, but their players wouldn't be human if, in those moments ahead of extra-time, the demons of the past began to stalk them. Not a bit of it, however.
READ FULL MATCH REPORT AND REACTION IN NEXT THURSDAY’S CONNACHT TRIBUNE
TOMMY LARKINS: E. Murphy (0-3, 0-2 frees); K. Dervan, C. Nevin, E. Nevin; D. Duggan, R. Murphy (captain, 1-0), K. McHugo; C. Daniels (0-1), C. Hanley; J. Flynn (0-13, 0-9 frees, 0-1 sideline cut, 0-1 65), A. Moran (0-2), C. Gardiner (1-3); C. Slattery (0-2), B. Porter (0-1), C. Flynn (0-1). Subs: C. Tuohy, for Dervan, 48 mins; B. Sheil, for Slattery, 57 mins; K. Dervan, for Duggan, 69 mins; C. Slattery, for Moran, 73 mins; T. Lyons, for Tuohy, 68 mins.
CLARINBRIDGE: C. Callanan; C. Bannon, P. McCann, M. Fallon; T.J. Brennan, J. Ryan, S. Bannon; D. Dunne, D. Counihan (0-1); A. Niland (1-3, 1-0 penalty), G. Lee (0-3), S. Ryan; D. Lee (0-1), E. Niland (captain, 0-15, 0-14 frees, 0-1 65), M. Kennedy (0-4). Subs: L. Leen, for Dunne, 30+2 mins; S. Murphy, for S. Bannon, 34 mins; C. Salmon, for D. Lee, 37 mins; C. Brennan, for Fallon, 57 mins; S. Kilduff, for S. Ryan, 66 mins; D. Dunne, for J. Ryan, 72 mins; D. Lee, for D. Counihan, 73 mins; C. Counihan, for G. Lee, 79 mins.
REFEREE: Kerril Wade.