Carnmore………6-4 Turloughmore………4-3
Carnmore richly deserve to contest the Co. Galway under-21 Hurling Championship Final after their fine display in beating a tough Turloughmore side on Sunday. There was no quarter of any description given or taken in this hard hitting semi-final at Ballindereen. Both sides played fast and vigorous hurling.
To praise Padraic Fahy seems to be the common report when he takes the field in any grade, but on Sunday last he distinctively showed class superior to any other player. Without a doubt he laid the foundation for the side's success and a goat scored before the interval was reminiscent of All-Ireland fare. In the second quarter he had gone back to the defence to assist the travailing defenders. The gale prevented the ball from traveling into the Turloughmore danger section and the most Carnmore could do was to keep the scores at a minimum. Suddenly Fahy appeared in the center-field area where he collected the ball and headed goalwards. He approached the goals from the left and side stepping several players he sank the ball in the top of the net with a deft stroke amid a welter of hurleys.
Turloughmore played with the breeze in the opening half and before long Gerry Holland had a point. John Cullinane was harassed a good deal when attempting to raise the ball at centerfield and a swift change brought fluency into the Turloughmore movement! Padraic Fahy tried to bring the ball up field but no score ensued. The Turloughmore defence supplied the forwards well and boon Gerry Holland had another point. Jimmy Hughes began to settle down and from a long range free Padraic Fahy opened Carnmore account with a point.
Frank Burke collected from a cross in front of the Carnmore goals and slammed home a goal. Moments later Martin Murphy passed to Sean Holland who added another. Numerous wides followed for Turloughmore and the gale began to dominate. Trying from many angles the forwards could not raise a flag. Two unsuccessful Carnmore moves towards the goals gave Padraic Fahy the idea to break up field, before he had a remarkable major score.
Jimmy Hughes was much in evidence in the second half and as a result Padraic Fahy was free to help in wearing down the staunch defence. After two 21 yard free's, two seventies and much pressure Matty Cooney crossed to Pat Spellman who had a fine goal. Clever play by Seoirse Morris on the wing caused the full forward line to be well supplied. From seventy yards free John Long sent to Jim Hughes who spread-eagled the defence for a goal and the lead of one point. Turloughmore defence lapsed and Morris and Fahy combined to add a goal. Jim Duggan annexed a point, but Turloughmore revived sufficiently for Gerry Holland to reply with a goal, the token of their challenge.
A ding-dong struggle began with only two points between the teams. Had Turloughmore been able to whittle down the lead there might have been a different result. It was Pat Spellman who notched the decisive score, a goal from close range. Back came Turloughmore and from a square melee Sean Hession sent to the net. Carnmore pressed from the puck-out and were awarded a seventy. Paddy Fahy's shot went all the way to the net for the last score of the match.
The best players for Carnmore were Bill McDonagh, John Long, and Tom Walsh. At center field Jim Hughes played a captain's part in the victory and received much support from Jim Duggan. The best forwards were Padraic Fahy, Matt Greaney and Matt Cooney. For Turloughmore Billy Collins, Mick Morris and John O'Brien were the best defenders; John Cullinane and Frank Burke tried hard at center field. Best forwards were G. Holland, S. Hession and M. Murphy
Scorers:
Turloughmore: G. Holland 2-2; S. Hession and F. Burke 1-0; M. Murphy 0-1
Carnmore: Carnmore: P. Fahy 3-3; P J Spellman 2-0; J. Hughes 1-0; J Duggan 0-1
Teams:
Carnmore: M. Leonard, T. McDonagh, D. McDonagh, P. Kerrigan, T.Walsh, J. Long, P. Duggan, J Hughes, J. Duggan, M. Greaney. P. Fahy S. Morris, T. Spellman, M. Cooney, P. J. Spellman.
Turloughmore: T. Shaughnessy, T.O Brien, M. Morris, S. Costello, J.O Brien. Collins, B. Grealish, J.Cullinane, F. Burke, P. O'Brien, J. Rabbit, G. Holland.,M. Murphy, J. Badger, S. Hession.
Referee:
Mr. Aubrey Higgins