Senior Hurling: Galway v Fr. Tom Burke's

Galway 2-16 Fr. Tom Burke’s 2-16

There was a minutes silence observed in honor of Pat Ahern and Sean Cormican who both passed away recently.  Galway retired the number 8 shirt in honor for Sean Cormican, and the second midfielder will now wear number 14.

Galway started strong and finished strong to earn a draw against Fr. Tom Burke’s and a place in the semi-final next Sunday.  With Tom’s having taken a six point lead late into the second half, Galway introduced Aaron Fogerty for the final 15 minutes and their fortunes turned.  Galway turned the deficit into a one point lead and it was Niall Burke who had to salvage the draw for Tom’s with a late point.

Ross King shoots for Fr. Tom's.

Galway got off to the faster start.  The tribesmen had six points on the board before Tom’s got going.  Rory Hickey, Luke Allen, and Stephen Roche pointed before Hickey got on the end of a ball across the face of goal to bury the ball into the net.  Galway’s back line were fighting for every ball, the tribesmen were flying, and Tom’s yet to get started

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Once Tom’s started they moved quickly.  Ross King got them off the mark with a point, and another two goals and four points had Tom’s quickly in the lead.  Niall Burke at center forward was the man on the spot for Tom’s and had a hand in both goals.  Burke put the first away himself, firing the ball into the far corner.  He set David O’Mahoney up for the second and put three points over the bar himself.  Galway on the other had missed a handful of good scoring chances in the lead up to half time.  By the break Tom’s held a 2-8 to 1-5 lead.

The second half saw Galway start brightly again, notching a goal and two points to Tom’s one point.  The goal was Hickey again, pulling on a loose ball from inside the 14.  Tom’s back line tightened up however.  Keith Kennedy at center back was around everything that dropped within a 30 yard radius of his position.  Also at corner back Sean McClelland was tight on his man and cleared several balls.

While Stephen Roche does likewise at the other end for Galway.

With the game entering the final quarter Tom’s held a five point lead.  Niall Burke had floated three points over the bar.  Murray and Stephen Roche brought the gap to a goal and Galway then had a golden chance to level the scores after Murray was fouled in the box.  Aaron Fogerty’s penalty was tapped wide of the posts by Alan Keating however, and Galway had to settle for a point from the ensuing 65.

Galway had some juice in the tank for the finale.  Substitute Fogerty was the main man for Galway down the stretch.  The Lisdowney club man tallied the final five points for Galway as the tribesmen finished the game strong and coming up to full time led by a point.  Niall Buckely saved the point for Tom’s, but it was enough for Galway to save themselves a playoff game in the middle of the week.

Galway:  E. Walsh, P. Dwyer, O. Teagle, C. Wafer, R. O’Hanrahan, W. Walsh, S. Roche, O. Keevers, L. Allen, J. McDowall, D. Murray, B. Whelan, R. Hickey.  Tom’s:  A. Keating, S. McClelland, C. Burgin, C. Joyce-Power, K. Kennedy, C. Burke, D. Costello, K. Dunn, S. Howley, N. Burke, S. Driscoll, D. O’Mahoney, R. King.

By Rory O'Donnell