GAA Round-Up: Tommy Larkins Return to Senior Hurling Final After 55 Years

By Sean Carley

In 1971, Apollo 14 landed on the moon, NASDAQ opened for trading, Dublin hosted the Eurovision Song Contest and Tommy Larkins won the Galway Senior Hurling Championship.

Tommy Larkins were just three years in existence when they beat Carnmore at Pearse Stadium to become the kingpins of Galway hurling. More than five decades have since passed their last final, but in two weeks’ time the Black and Reds will dine at the top table again. They will face the defending champions Loughrea, who survived a late scare in a weekend of pulsating semi-finals.

Senior Hurling Championship

Larkins stole all the headlines with a thrilling extra-time victory over Clarinbridge at Kenny Park, Athenry on Saturday (17 October) afternoon last.

The Woodford men led 1-12 to 0-12 at half time, with Conor Gardiner’s goal making the difference between the two sides. Larkins built up a six-point lead in the second half, but a quick reply and a goal from Clarinbridge’s Aaron Niland from the penalty spot tied the contest once more.

The sides traded scores until the end of regulation, sending the game into extra-time. Ronan Murphy put the ball into the back of the net just three minutes into the additional period to set the tone for the Tommies.

With last year’s quarter-final defeat to St Thomas’ still in recent memory, Larkins were determined to book their place in this year’s final, securing out a 2-26 to 1-27 victory at full time.

They can now look forward to their first county final in 55 years, which will take place on Sunday, 1 November in Pearse Stadium at 3pm.

Tommy Larkins’ upcoming final opponents, Loughrea, did not need extra-time to find a winner, but the last year’s All-Ireland finalists were in trouble when Craughwell built a three-point lead with nine minutes remaining.

However, Tommy Kelly’s side kept their cool, scoring nine points to Craughwell’s one to keep the title defence alive. Loughrea’s Jamie Ryan contributed seven points, while substitute Jack Shaughnessy added four to help their team to a 0-20 to 0-15 win.

Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship

Mullagh and Kilconieron will contest the Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship final on Saturday, 31 October at 3:30pm in Kenny Park, following two contrasting semi-final wins over the weekend.

After losing to Skehana-Mountbellew-Moylough in the opening round of this year’s championship, Mullagh completed a remarkable turnaround in a 2-26 to 1-14 victory over the same opposition in Duggan Park, Ballinasloe last Saturday.

Mullagh led by 0-14 to 1-8 at the interval, with Sean McDonagh’s tidy finish under pressure keeping Dessie O’Brien’s side in the contest. The second half was a different story, as Conor Dolphin led the Mullagh charge, finishing with 12 points on the day.

Liam Curley’s goal midway through the second period ended the game as a contest, putting the south-east Galway men 1-20 to 1-9 to the good. Cian Daly’s strike in stoppage time added some gloss on the scoreline for the victors, who now have their eyes set on returning to senior hurling after their relegation in 2024.

On the other side of the coin, Kilconieron’s bid to return to the top flight also remains on track after a 3-18 to 1-19 extra-time victory over last year’s Intermediate champions, Meelick-Eyrecourt.

Kilconieron trailed at the break, but a Keith Burke rebound kept them within touching distance at 0-9 to 1-4. James Downey’s penalty goal put Meelick-Eyrecourt ahead by 1-12 to 1-6 seven minutes after the restart.

By the final quarter, however, the sides were level. Three Kilconieron frees, two from Keith Burke and one from Shane Caulfield, were followed by a goal from Peter Martin to flip the semi-final on its head.

The sides could not be separated at the end of normal time, with the score tied at 2-13 to 1-16. Meelick-Eyrecourt did take a brief lead in extra-time, but Eoghan Mulleady’s goal in the 68th minute gave Kilconieron control. The Carrowbaun men never looked back, running out five-point winners.

Premier Junior Hurling Championship

Abbeyknockmoy will take on Sylane in the Premier Junior Hurling Championship final after both sides had too much for their opposition in their respective semi-final match-ups.

Michael Molloy was the star of the show in Loughrea on Saturday, hitting a mammoth 1-16 for Abbeyknockmoy to see them get the better of Kilbeacanty by 1-23 to 0-11.

Meanwhile, Sylane defeated last year’s Junior 1 champions, Ballinasloe, by 1-23 to 1-15. A goal from Keelan Creaven before half time proved crucial for the North Galway outfit, who will now look to return to Galway’s second tier for the first time since winning the competition in 2017.

The Premier Junior final will be played as part of a double header with the Senior final on Sunday, 1 November, with throw-in at 1pm in Pearse Stadium.