St Thomas’ 1-28

Gort 0-15

By Mike Rafferty in Kilbeacanty

ON the first weekend of the county senior hurling championship, St Thomas’ made a real statement with a comprehensive defeat of neighbours Gort as a power packed second half display allowed them saunter away to a comfortable success in front of a huge crowd in Kilbeacanty on Friday evening.

Four points clear after facing the considerable elements in a competitive opening half, the former kingpins gradually began to pull away on the resumption as they asserted total control over proceedings on their way to a 16-point victory.

Though the wind played a big factor in Gort’s favour in the opening half, they also cannot look back on it with any great satisfaction. They got all their scores from long range efforts and frees, but from a hurling point of view it was St Thomas who provided the exhibition, as stick work, passing and movement was their forte.

Gort dropped an extra man into a sweeper role with the outcome that Shane Cooney had literally the freedom of the park at centre back at the other end of the pitch and seldom came under any great pressure. Against the wind, St Thomas’ were able to execute the short puck out continuously, then play their way out from the back and retain possession.

The outcome was that the Peterswell outfit were allowed to play at will, while a turning point in each half was also a factor in their favour. They were just two points clear when a Conor Cooney penalty extended their advantage on 25 minutes, while the dismissal of Gort’s Greg Lally for a pull on Shane Cooney on 44 minutes left them chasing shadows for the remainder of the game. Thereafter, the winners tagged on the next 12 points in succession, while Gort only added one further point deep in additional time.

It was Brian Regan’s charges who got the opening two scores of the day as Aiden Helebert pointed a free, before Lorcan Walsh popped over a point on the run. An effort from the left sideline by Shane Cooney opened the St Thomas account, before a Conor Cooney 65 and a free edged them ahead.

Subsequently, St Thomas’ always showed the ability to work the ball through the channels as scores by Eanna Burke, David Burke and Conor Cooney (free), kept them in front, although replies by Richie Cummins, Helebert (free) and Paddy Commins ensured exchanges remained competitive at 0-6 to 0-5.

Pictured: St Thomas’ attacker Justin Flannery shows a clean pair of heels to Gort’s Jack Linnane during the Senior A encounter in Kilbeacanty on Friday evening. Photos: Joe Keane.