Inside Track with John McIntyre

THE demons of the past will be stalking Loughrea ahead of Sunday’s Galway senior hurling showdown against first-time finalists Cappataggle at Kenny Park – a backdrop which cranks up the pressure on Tommy Kelly’s talented charges.

In 12 past county final appearances – 14 if you include the 2010 and 2022 replays – Loughrea have only managed to get over the line twice. 1941 was the club’s breakthrough year but their second title didn’t follow until 2006 when edging out Portumna (1-13 to 0-15) in a fractious encounter at Pearse Stadium.

A stamping incident involving Joe Canning cast a cloud over Loughrea’s triumph, but they remained a competitive force over the following few years when falling short in the finals of 2009, 2010, 2012 and ’13. A few lean seasons followed, and the club lost its way somewhat in terms of being serious challengers for the Tom Callanan Cup.

There was sterling work going out at under-age level, however, and the fruits of that labour were evident when a young Loughrea team playing pleasing hurling on the eye took St Thomas’ to a replay in the 2022 county final. That progress fuelled hopes that the following season would see a third senior title come to the parish, but Turloughmore put a halt to their gallop in the semi-finals.

But it’s hard to keep a good team down and Loughrea are back in the final after a 100% campaign which saw them overcome a fancied Clarinbridge outfit not once but twice. They got a bit careless in their quarter-final against Castlegar after building up a big early lead, but a late goal from Anthony Burns bailed them out of trouble.

Though they’ve had to deal with injury problems – notably the sidelining of Martin McManus for the year with a ruptured cruciate – Jamie Ryan is back in the fold after a serious thumb injury sustained against Antrim in the Leinster championship. The talented attacker has been introduced as a substitute in Loughrea’s last two games and his return to fitness is a big boost.

They are a seasoned outfit by now. Paul Hoban, Johnny Coen, Neil Keary and Ryan have loads of experience, while Tiernan Killeen, Shane Morgan, Darren Shaughnessy and Burns are all stylish young players in a team captained by the reliable Ian Hanrahan. The likes of Brian Keary, Joe Mooney and Sean Sweeney will also be hoping to exert a major influence on Sunday.

Pictured: John Derran of Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry securing possession against Joshua O’Connor of Kinvara during Sunday’s Galway Intermediate hurling final at Kenny Park. Photo: Joe O’Shaughnessy.