St. ThomasÕ on cloud nine!

St. Thomas’ 1-11Kilcormac/ Killoughey 1-9

STEPHEN GLENNON IN CROKE PARK

IT was a day for the history-makers and St. Thomas’ – following a gutsy final victory over Offaly and Leinster champions Kilcormac/Killoughey – were not to be left out of the limelight as they became the first Galway outfit to win an All-Ireland senior club hurling title at the first time of asking.

When you think of all the great Galway teams that have claimed the Tommy Moore Cup in the past – Castlegar, Kiltormer, Sarsfields, Athenry, Portumna and Clarinbridge – they all needed to test the waters at some stage before finally plotting a successful course to take them to the title.

In front of almost 29,000 people in Croke Park on St. Patrick’s Day, though, St. Thomas’ showed this does not always have to be the case and – on a day when St. Brigid’s of Kiltoom claimed a first ever football title for Roscommon and the Ireland women’s rugby team won a first ever Six Nations Grand Slam – they created their own little bit of history.

Was it pretty? Hell, no! Yet, it’s better to grind out a victory in almost sub zero temperatures, a torrential downpour and on a pitch that was as bare as a baby’s ‘you know what’ than to lose playing the type of free-flowing hurling that the Kilchreest/Peterswell outfit have shown they can produce on any day.

So, let’s forget about the negatives for a moment and bask in the glory of a tremendous, hard-fought victory, earned off the sweat of the brow of the many. To the fore was man of the match Richard Murray and just as he tallied the vital scores in the county final win over Loughrea, the former Galway star, once again, was proof of that old adage in that whatever about form, class is permanent.

St. Thomas’ had led at the half-time break by 1-7 to 1-5 following a topsy-turvy half, but when Kilcormac/Killoughey rallied in the third quarter to hit four unanswered points, the Galway champions suddenly were staring defeat in the face after falling two points in arrears.

As the old Bonnie Tyler tune went, St. Thomas’ were ‘Holding out for a Hero’ and he duly arrived when the game needed saving. Fine play by substitute Eanna Burke – who was also instrumental in swinging the contest back in St. Thomas’ favour – and Kenneth Burke presented Murray with the opportunity and he made no mistake with his 46th minute effort.

A little under two minutes later, St. Thomas’ – who went without being awarded a single free in the first quarter – finally claimed their first free of the second half almost 18 minutes in following a foul on Cathal Burke. In any event, St. Thomas’ made the most of it as Darragh Burke’s long range strike was plucked from the clouds by Murray and, in a flash, he steered his effort over the bar to tie the game at 1-9 apiece.

As noted, it wasn’t pretty but the Galway champions – who, in truth, looked that bit classier throughout – really put the shoulder to the wheel in what would turn out to be an incredible ten minutes.

In this time, two Kilcormac/Killoughey players would receive their marching orders and this was a reflection of the way Cork referee John Sexton officiated the contest – which, although uncompromising, was not a dirty one – and some of his decisions outside of the sending offs were questionable.

Of course, it’s easy to be critical of the referee but as much as the atrocious conditions could be used as an excuse to explain some of the calls, in equal measure, Sexton could have given the same benefit of doubt to Kilcormac/Killoughey midfielders Damien Kilmartin and Killian Leonard.

For more, read this week's Connacht Tribune.