A warning there in Sean Kelly’s current form about the risks in flogging a young lad. Joyce, NUIG and Moycullen all to blame.
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Patrick Egan will play a lot for Galway going forward.
The modern game retired a Gary Sice from intercounty GAA.
And lads think it’s grand as it is.
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It’s absolutely freezing though as well as wet.
Corofin manager seems a gent.
Better team won on the day. Some of the experienced leaders stepped up from TAD.
MD should really have a look at the Power chap for TAD, great display.
A young Kinvara outfit. They’ll learn.
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I was only talking about him to someone the other day. Very impressive at underage and he has maintained that level. A very exciting prospect.
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Fri, 08 Nov, 2024 - 18:00
Christy O’Connor
Loughrea hoping to bury the pain of the past
When Michael Cusack, the founder of the GAA, was principal of the national school at Lough Cutra, near Gort, in the 1880s, Cusack was very familiar with the hurling traditions of south Galway where he had many friends including William J Duffy, then an MP for Loughrea.
When the idea of uniting all Gaelic games under the one banner was agreed, a deputation that included Duffy and two other men from Loughrea - John P McCarthy and John Sweeney - called on Dr Patrick Duggan, Bishop of Clonfert, at his home in Loughrea, inviting him to become patron of the new organisation.
The bishop, however, was 71 and not in good health. He was delighted to hear about the new movement, and promised his full support, but advised the deputation that they seek a younger man, suggesting Dr Croke, the Archbishop of Cashel. So the honour of hosting the foundation of the GAA on November 1 1884 went to Dr Croke’s home ground of Cashel, rather than Dr Duggan’s Loughrea.
That significance of that missed opportunity only became more apparent over time but missing out has become a modern metaphor for Loughrea – especially when it comes to county finals in Galway.
The club was founded as far back as 1884 but, despite its huge tradition, and its location as a hurling hub in the middle of the Galway hurling heartland, Loughrea have only won two county titles in their entire history, 1941 and 2006.
Paul Hoban of Loughrea looks dejected after the 2022 Galway SHC final defeat to St Thomas’. Photo by Ray Ryan/Sportsfile
And yet, only one other club – Portumna – has reached more county finals in the last 25 years. Even St Thomas’, who have dominated the last decade, have not reached the same amount of county finals as Loughrea. The huge difference is that Thomas’ have won all eight of their finals, whereas Loughrea have lost seven of the eight finals they’ve reached since 2003.
Some of those defeats were harrowing losses, with the 2010 final against Clarinbridge the hardest of all to stomach. Loughrea were ahead by three points with time almost up in the replay in Athenry, before three unanswered Clarinbridge points took the match to extra-time. The defeat was more agonising again for Loughrea as Clarinbridge went on to win the All-Ireland.
The last time Loughrea were on this stage two years ago was another painful experience. They looked to have the game wrapped up until a late Éanna Burke goal forced Loughrea to scramble a replay, which Thomas’ won by one point.
Amongst the Liam MacCarthy counties, only one other club has lost as many county finals in the last 25 years. Incredible as it may seem, that club is Ballygunner, who lost eight Waterford finals.
On the flipside, Ballygunner have reached 24 of the last 26 county finals, winning 16, including the last 11 in-a-row. So they have certainly redressed the numbers by burying the pain of the past.
And Loughrea know now that there is only one way to assuage their previous heartbreak when they meet Cappatagle in Sunday’s final in Athenry.
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I was chatting to a chap from Thomas’ and he said i hope Cappy bate the shite of ye. Said we were like the England football supporters, mouthy cunts who’ve won fuck all.
Peter Murphy: Poor final record is ‘biggest fear’ for Loughrea
Just two victories in 12 final appearances tempers the enthusiasm around the town that their experience will be the difference against first-time SHC finalists Cappataggle.
2022: Darren Shaughnessy of Loughrea in action against David Burke of St Thomas during the Galway County Senior Hurling Championship Final match between St Thomas and Loughrea at Pearse Stadium in Galway. Pic: Harry Murphy/Sportsfile
Fri, 08 Nov, 2024 - 06:01
John Fogarty
Loughrea’s poor Galway SHC final record is “the biggest fear” for their and the county’s former county goalkeeper Peter Murphy ahead of Sunday’s showdown in Athenry.
Just two victories in 12 final appearances tempers the enthusiasm around the town that their experience will be the difference against first-time SHC finalists Cappataggle.
Since their previous win in 2006 over Portumna, Loughrea have lost five finals – 2009, ’10, '12, 13 and ’22, No club in Galway has lost as many SHC deciders as they and irrespective of them being the only team undefeated in this year’s competition it is a wrinkle for Murphy.
“We have a fantastic juvenile set-up that is bringing on these players but the big day has tripped us up. It’s like inter-county hurling where there’s a tradition of Kilkenny, Cork and Tipp winning finals without playing well. Clare and Galway pick one off here and there every 15 or 20 years and we’re in the same situation in Loughrea.
“It is a problem and it’s my biggest fear going into Sunday. Cappataggle have nothing to lose in their first final. We have to keep them down because they have proved in the last couple of games they’re able to come back in games.
“We can look back on the years and blame this, that and the other but at the end of the day you have to go and win it and we haven’t in a lot of finals.”
Murphy, who lined out for Galway between the posts in the 1985 All-Ireland final, believes the 2022 one-point replay loss to St Thomas’ was the most painful. Not because of that match per se but the one prior to it.
“That was the hardest one. The drawn game, Jesus Christ, we had it in our hands. Everybody still talks about the decision to send off our lad (Darren Shaughnessy) for a second yellow but even so we still have the game in our hands and we didn’t put it away.
“In our time playing, we were a really good group team but not one that you would say would get into a final and win a county title. But these guys have come up through the ranks and you’d expect them to put it together but it has to happen on the day.”
Like this year where Shaughnessy, Anthony Burns and Tiernan Killeen have been excelling, Loughrea had a 100% record going into the 2022 final. They had also won the Division 1 title and last season were the favourites to end St Thomas’ reign only to come a-cropper in the semi-final against Turloughmore.
“Sometimes, things happen for you when you least expect it,” says Murphy. “Cappataggle took their opportunity against St Thomas’ but you could say they had a better team when they reached four semi-finals in a row (2017-20). They just couldn’t make the breakthrough.
“It should be a great occasion. Hurlers love playing in Kenny Park, it’s such a lovely venue, and I think it will add to the atmosphere and hopefully the hurling.”
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Congrats @mikehunt. A deserved win for ye in the end. Mad that Loughrea have only won their third county title.
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Well done @mikeenhunt
A great day out in Galways favourite hurling venue.
Cappy certainly had their chances to win this game but Loughrea got more return out of their possession. Liam Collins had a great final for Cappy but he’ll be thinking about that penalty miss for a while.
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Great crowd there today.
Pity there isn’t a footprint big enough in it for a county ground.
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