Loughrea senior hurling manager Tommy Kelly has lauded the efforts of his side in claiming a third Galway title on the spin, highlighting a case of the club now doing things the right way.
It was a nervy finish though, with Tiernan Killen firing over the winning point against Tommy Larkin’s, a club appearing in their first final since their sole success in 1971, at Pearse Stadium on Sunday.
Larkin’s will have huge regrets about not building a much bigger lead than 0-10 to 0-07 when they were on top in the opening half, not least their failure to put away goal chances.
Loughrea never panicked, only taking the lead for the first time 12 minutes from the end and trailing going into stoppage time before Killeen levelled and then landed the winner in a dramatic finish to secure the club’s fifth title.
Their latest success was always going to be hard won, with Kelly applauding the efforts of Larkin’s in getting back to a decider in what Kelly described as a “hard championship” to win.
In initially summing up Loughrea’s narrow victory, their coach told RTÉ Sport: “Tommy Larkin’s are a fine club and have been knocking on the door for the last number of years without getting to semi-finals or finals.
“They last won it in 1971 and there is a great connection between the two clubs. In ’71 Loughrea won the minor championship and in 2006 when we the senior Tommy Larkin’s won the minor. It’s fantastic for east Galway to have them back, to have them at the top table. Their team is made up of big strong lads.
“Galway is always a hard championship to navigate your way through and no matter who you play in the final it’s going to go down to a point or two. I think two points has been the margin in the more recent county finals, certainly in the last seven or eight.
Tommy Kelly: “The game was an hour long so no panic had set in”
Jamie Ryan top scored for Loughrea with eight points, with Kelly, in praising his contribution, saying: “He had his first baby boy three nights ago so congratulations to him. He was buzzing in the second half but we needed those performances right around the field.”
Loughrea’s mindset was no doubt instrumental in them eventually coming out on top, this in spite of Larkin’s dictating affairs in the opening half. There was no pressing the alarm button.
In assessing the mood at the break, Kelly revealed: “The game was an hour long so no panic had set in. We knew there was more in us but we also knew we working hard. After winning the last two county finals we knew this game would go down to the wire; we weren’t going to give up on it too easy.”
“1941 and 2006 were our other two victories and now we have three in a row won. It’s phenomenal, it’s huge for us.”
And then came that bullish assessment on Loughrea’s current standing.
“There was period of time when were struggling to get out of the group back in the 90s. Next thing you get a good group of guys and the coaching is getting better in the club. We were starting to do things the right way. This is the greatest Loughrea team of all time, simple as that.
“I’m lucky to be steeped in a GAA family. There was no beaches for us growing up in Salthill. It was either a league game in Monaghan in football or going to Kilkenny for a hurling match.
“When you grow up like that you are going to give back what I got out of the game. I’m now delighted to give a small bit back. We have a fantastic coaching staff and a great team on the sideline.”