Loughrea 5-21

Cappataggle 2-21

(After extra time)

Mike Rafferty at Duggan Park

LOUGHREA collected their third Division 1 senior hurling title in succession in Ballinasloe on Sunday morning, with a victory that was somewhat less decisive than the closing scoreline would indicate. Having survived a real scare in the second half of the game, a blistering 4-6 contribution in the 20 minutes of extra time eventually got them over the line as the Cappataggle challenge wilted.

Now this was a game with no shortage of drama, as Loughrea were comfortably the better team in the opening half and by the early stages of the second half had stretched their advantage to eight points, but when Liam Collins got the first of his two goals to level matters on 55 minutes, all the momentum was with Cappataggle.

Thereafter, despite taking the lead on two occasions, Cappy appeared to get caught in the headlights when in sight of the winning post and on numerous occasions fluffed great opportunities to put some distance between the sides. They were as competive as ever, but their inability to get over the line will stay in the memory bank for a time after this.

In contrast, Loughrea really upped the anti in the second half of extra time and three goals eventually allowed them gain a flattering but, at the same time, merited win. They weredominant in the opening half as Cappataggle stood off them and allowed them free reign with the puck outs. Shooting was poor at both ends, with the losers scoring just one point from play, but fired six efforts well off target, while the winners were only a little better with 1-1 from play as the free taking of Neil Keary and Niall Collins kept the scoreboard ticking over otherwise at the respective ends.

Loughrea set the pace from the early exchanges as Keary with three frees, Sean Sweeney (free) and Luke McInerney got points on the board, while just Lewis Coughlan and Collins (free) responded at the other end. The big score of the opening half came on 15 minutes when a quick puck out by Gearoid Loughnane ended up with McInerney and he applied the finish to put them 1-5 to 0-2 ahead.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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