Two close games expected in race for last four of senior hurling championship
MAIN MAN: Jack Lohan will be hoping to lead St. St. Dominic's to victory against Athleague in Ballyforan on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Gerard O'Loughlin
An intriguing contest with both teams genuinely feeling they can qualify for a crack at defending champions Four Roads in the following weekend’s semi-finals.
When the sides met in the group stages in mid-July at the same venue, Ryan Conlon’s 13-point haul was decisive in procuring a 0-20 to 1-11 triumph. But Conlon missed out on the Gaels’ recent 1-17 to 3-8 victory against Tremane through injury.
Fortunately, from manager Ronan O’Meara’s perspective, Finn Killion is also an accurate free-taker, and while Richard Walsh, Eoin Kiernan and Ciarán Mulry have been going well, their defence has conceded seven goals in four games.
Throw in the heroics of goalkeeper Brendan Quinn, who made a number of outstanding saves against Tremane, and it’s the sort of trend that spells trouble with Seán Canning and company about.
Like two buses coming along at once, Pearses have stitched successive championship wins together since that loss to the Gaels, having not won any championship game since 2022 up to that point.
Ronan Finn, Luke Corbett, Karl Feehily, Eoghan Costello, Darragh Finn, Seán Canning and Daniel Staunton have provided the shoots of encouragement in those wins against Athleague and Tremane.
Using how both teams fared against Tremane as a yardstick, there appears to be little between them.
Perhaps, Pearses — now that they appear to have turned a corner — have the greater momentum in their sails.
A big test for St. Dominic’s who have yet to show the sort of form that catapulted them into their first final in 23 years last season.
Not that Athleague are uprooting any trees in this championship but they’re dangerous opponents for Martin “Thady” Beirne’s outfit. In their heads, at least, they’ll expect to win.
Much of Dominic’s play is going through their full-forward Naos Connaughton and, so far, the supporting cast hasn’t caught fire like they did in 2024.
But a few tweaks can change that instantly, and with a half-backline containing Micheál Byrne and Jason Martin, Dominic’s have a platform to win enough primary possession in the middle third.
Athleague haven’t been great so far, but there were signs of encouragement against Four Roads where they always kept the defending champions honest a few weeks ago.
As ever, Darragh Heavery, Naoise Coyle, Cian Murray, and Ben and Jack McGahon remain an integral part of their hopes, but they’ve yet to fire on all cylinders.
Once again, it should be close. However, the scope for greater improvement is within St. Dominic’s ranks.
