Sunday, June 8th 2025 - Senior Hurling Championship - Fr. Tom Burke's vs Galway Boston

Fr. Tom Burke’s vs Galway Boston

Sunday, June 8th 3:30pm

Fr. Tom’s 1-20 | Galway Boston 1-23

The 2025 Senior Hurling Championship got underway in fine fashion at the Irish Cultural Centre, with Fr. Tom Burke’s and Galway Boston delivering a lively and high-scoring affair to get the summer hurling calendar up and running.

It was Galway who got the scoreboard moving with the opening point, but the Tom’s responded well with three in a row—Greg Thomas and Joe Flanagan both on target to settle their side into the contest.

Galway’s Eoin Morrissey pulled one back from midfield before a Thomas free pushed the Tom’s two ahead, 0-4 to 0-2. Brian Cahill answered with a free of his own for Galway, but Tom’s goalkeeper Aidan Howlin stepped up to nail two long-range frees, edging his side three points clear.

Shane Meehan sparked Galway into life with a fine point followed by a goal to turn the tide in the Tribesmen’s favor. The green flag gave Galway a one-point lead, 1-4 to 0-6.

Centre back Mark Fitzgerald added a point to Galway’s tally, but Paddy Langton replied in kind for the Tom’s. Meehan and Thomas traded scores again as the number 12s led the way for their sides from a scoring point of view. Thomas added two more to level the game at 0-9 to 1-6.

Meehan split the posts again from a free, but Thomas responded, and the deadlock continued. A 65 from Thomas nudged the Tom’s ahead again, and soon after Joe Flanagan struck for goal, pushing them four clear, 1-11 to 1-7. Meehan answered with a point for Galway, but the Tom’s closed out the half strongly with three more—Langton and Flanagan adding to the total.

Half-time: Fr. Tom’s 1-14 | Galway Boston 1-8

Galway came out flying after the restart. The maroon and white reeled off eight unanswered points, flipping the game on its head. Meehan, Robin Mounsey, and Eddie Ryan were all on the mark as Galway stormed into a 1-16 to 1-14 lead.

Thomas and Meehan continued their duel, each converting chances to keep the crowd on edge. The latter half of the second half was tit for tat with the Tom’s trying to close the gap between the sides but Galway continued to answer. Impactful substitute for the Tom’s, Mark Riordan who struck over two fine points.

With the game entering the final stretch, it was still point for point. Galway edged ahead again through quick ball into the forwards.

When the final whistle blew, Galway emerged three-point winners, 1-23 to 1-20, after an excellent contest that saw no shortage of skill, scores, and sharp hurling. If this opening round is any indication, there’s plenty to look forward to this summer.

The sides will meet again in two weeks’ time—Sunday, June 22nd at 3:30pm—in what promises to be another cracking chapter of the Northeast Senior Hurling Championship.

Full time: Fr. Tom’s 1-20 | Galway Boston 1-23

Teams & Scorers:

Fr. Tom Burke’s

Aidan Howlin (0-2), Evan Connolly, Gavin Rowsome, David O’Sullivan, Paddy Langton (0-2), Mark Quinlan, Jimmy Quilty, Aidan O’Malley, Michael Scully, Brian Cody (0-1), Sean Walsh, Greg Thomas (0-6), Joe Flanagan (1-2)

Subs: Mark Riordan (0-2) 

Galway Boston:

John Coleman, Aaron Morgan, Chris Thomas, Kieran Hanrahan, Mark Fitzgerald (0-1), Conor O’Dwyer, Eoin Morrissey (0-1), Eddie Ryan (0-1), Max Hackett, Robin Mounsey (0-2), Brian Cahill (0-4), Shane Meehan (0-9), Charlie Mitchell

Referee: Jonathan Hayes