For the fourth time, including replays, neighbours Loughrea and St Thomas’ will go toe-to-toe for Galway hurling’s biggest prize on Saturday evening in Pearse Stadium (6pm ). And if history tells us anything, the margins will once again be razor thin.
St Thomas’, chasing a ninth Tom Callanan Cup since 2012 when they won their first versus ‘The Town’, arrive as the unbeaten masters of the county final stage. Loughrea, the reigning champions, have timed their run to perfection and stand on the cusp of achieving back-to-back titles for the first time in the club’s history and landing a fourth championship success.
Former Galway minor and U20 manager Jeff Lynskey, who has also previously spent time involved in the Loughrea set-up, offers his thoughts to the Galway Advertiser ahead of this highly anticipated decider.
Momentum and lessons learned
“I think you have to say the two best teams in the county have reached the final,” Lynskey begins. “Thomas’ really opened up Craughwell in the semi-final and probably could have scored a couple more goals. They performed really well.
“I was hugely impressed with Loughrea against Turloughmore. Their touch, their running off the shoulder, their work-rate and their execution were excellent. They got brilliant scores from play in both halves, which tells you how sharp they are.”
Both sides have rediscovered their fluency after sluggish starts to the campaign. Thomas’ needed late drama to edge Tommy Larkins in their quarter-final but approached top gear in the semis. Loughrea, stung by a group-stage defeat to Craughwell, rebounded steadily and have since looked a side full of conviction and purpose.
The Liam Mellows clubman believes that Loughrea’s shock defeat to Craughwell might have been the making of them.
“They weren’t firing like they did last year. That can happen when you’ve had a great season. You’re finding your rhythm again, maybe trying to integrate younger players, looking for new combinations.
“Losing to their neighbours was probably the reset they needed. From there, they learnt their lessons quickly. Against Clarinbridge they found a way out of a rough patch — that last 20 minutes told you everything about their character. And in the semi-final, they were by far the superior team. They look to be coming right at the perfect time.”
Experience versus energy
If Loughrea are building momentum, Thomas’ are once again reminding everyone why they’ve dominated the past decade.
Conor Cooney’s scoring range and intelligence, he feels, make Thomas’ particularly difficult to contain. “Teams have a problem with him because he comes deep and can shoot from 80 yards. Craughwell let him drift too far and their full-back line had no protection. Thomas’ experience and game management really showed.”
That experience runs right through the side. “John Headd was solid the last day, Fintan Burke and Cian Mahony are back, and they’ll be dogged. Shane Cooney and Evan Duggan are steady in the half-back line, and David Burke is hurling really well — reading the game, distributing the ball superbly.
“In attack, Darragh Burke might not have the pace he once had but he still covers serious ground. Éanna Burke, we know what he can do. And Conor Cooney, when he’s wearing that Thomas’ jersey, is always capable of turning a game.”
The Loughrea full-back line will again be central to their chances. “Johnny Coen needs to find a bit of form, but Paul Hoban is really stepping up, and Kieran Hanrahan is probably the best pound-for-pound corner-back in the county. I’d imagine he’ll get the job on Victor Manso, who has been excellent.”
Where Thomas’ hold an edge, Lynskey says, is in those decisive closing stages. “It’s going to be an arm-wrestle for the first half. After that, it’ll come down to decision-making in the last 20 minutes and who uses the ball best when it matters most. That’s where Thomas’ have that bit of experience.”
But he believes Loughrea’s deeper bench could prove crucial. “The likes of Martin McManus, Gavin Maher, Neil Keary and Sean Sweeney can all make a huge impact. If Brian Keary is fit, that’s another big one. Thomas’ maybe don’t have the same options, so they’ll rely on their core of Darragh, David, Éanna and Conor to see them home.”
“I think it’ll be a draw and Loughrea to win the replay,” Lynskey says after a pause. “Thomas’ will keep themselves in it through sheer will and the hurlers they have. But the legs of Loughrea, the depth they’ve found, and the form they showed against Turloughmore — that could just carry them through.”
Jeff Lynskey Verdict: Loughrea win — after a replay.
