AHL Team News: Galway v Cork

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The Galway Senior Hurling team to face Cork in the Allianz Hurling League Round 2 clash is announced. Game is Live on the TG4 app at 2.00PM with deferred coverage on TG4 TV at 5.25PM.

#riseagain #GAABelong #riseofthetribes

Important Match Day Information

On behalf of Galway GAA and the Pearse Stadium Committee we welcome all GAA Supporters to Salthill on Sunday.
This game will result in increased traffic in the Galway, Salthill and Pearse Stadium areas and we urge all
Supporters to arrive early, in order to avoid traffic congestion and potential delays entering the Stadium.
This is an all-ticket game and no tickets will be available to purchase at the ground on the day.
Tickets can be purchased on line and in Centra and SuperValu Supermarkets in advance of the game.
Please have your tickets available for scanning as you approach the Stadium.
Turnstiles will be open at the Main Entrance on Rockbarton Road, Arus Bothar na Trá on Dr. Mannix Road and at the back of the stand.
Gates will open at 12.30pm.
There are ample Car Parks in Galway City and Salthill and we encourage patrons to use these car parks and walk or take public transport to/from Salthill.
Car Parking will be available at St. Enda’s National School on Dr. Mannix Road (limited number)
and at St. Enda’s Secondary School on Threadneedle Road.
We ask all Supporters to arrive early, and to park legally and responsibly, at all times.
Finally, we appeal to all Supporters to be conscious, mindful and respectful to the needs of our neighbours and local residents.

Walsh Cup Galway vs Dublin

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The Galway Senior Hurling Team to face Dublin in the Walsh Cup is announced.

Game will be Live Streamed by ClubberTV, click to purchase stream here

 

No-nonsense Burke focused on winning all he can

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St. Thomas’ defender hurler, Fintan Burke, is much off the field like he is on it – no-nonsense.

When it’s suggested to him that some rival clubs in Galway like to undermine his own’s achievement of having won six county titles in the last seven years by pointing out they haven’t won an All-Ireland in that time, he’s not having any of it.

“Nowadays there’s a lot of stuff said that you just have to blank out and just put on your ear-muffs,” says Burke.

“Because opinions are like arseholes, everyone has one. You just have to let it fade into the background and get on with things. Records and all that craic, I’m not too worried about them now at the moment.”

He means that in every sense possible. He closes his ears to those who try to run St. Thomas’ down, and he’s not the type either to glory in what they’ve achieved.

Winning a fifth Galway title in a row is a serious piece of history for a club that draws its team from such a small area, but don’t expect Burke pat himself on the back any time soon.

“I haven’t really thought about it,” he says. “We’d probably be of the opinion that we’ll have enough time when we’re 40 or 50 sitting at a barstool and looking into a pint thinking about how great we were to win five-in-row, but while you’re here you might as well stay going.”

Conor Cooney, captain of St. Thomas lifts the cup after winning the 2022 Galway County Senior Hurling Championship Final Replay match between St Thomas and Loughrea at Pearse Stadium in Galway.

So how does this group of St. Thomas’ players stay going? Many of them have been on the road a long time now yet they come back year after year with their appetite for success apparently undiminished.

“It’s probably because of how tight the group is,” says Burke. “We’ve obviously had a lot of success the last five, six, seven years. But we’ve had a lot of tough days too. Ballyhale in Croke Park, even Ballyhale last year, Borrisoleigh, Ballyea, we’ve had a lot of disappointing defeats that probably brought us together and cemented our friendship as a group.

“In March, April, or May when you’re trying to get back training and you’re looking outside and it’s milling rain and you’re going training for nothing, essentially, for two months, that’s probably the days you draw on those defeats the most.

“Given the success we’ve had we know how good it is to win so it makes getting out there and doing it that small bit easier.

“Obviously there are days when you’d think it’d be easier to pull up the duvet and hide underneath it and just not go. But when we go training with the lads it’s enjoyable, there’s always that bit of craic. And you’d be looking forward to that as much as anything.”

St. Thomas’ desire to defeat Ulster and Antrim champions, Dunloy, this weekend and make it back to their first All-Ireland Final since 2019 is surely heightened by how disappointing that experience was.

Fintan Burke of St Thomas, Galway, pictured ahead of the AIB All-Ireland GAA Hurling Senior Club Championship Semi-Final, which takes place this Sunday, December 18th at Croke Park at 1.30pm. The AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships features some of #TheToughest players from communities all across Ireland. It is these very communities that the players represent that make the AIB GAA All-Ireland Club Championships unique. Now in its 32nd year supporting the GAA Club Championships, AIB is extremely proud to once again celebrate the communities that play such a role in sustaining our national games.

They didn’t hurl anywhere near their potential and were beaten on the day by 17 points, while a miserable afternoon for Burke was made much worse by the fact he ruptured his cruciate ligament in that game.

“Obviously if you look at our track record we’ve made a habit of not showing up for All-Ireland semi-finals or that Final,” he says. “I suppose you could make 100 excuses but the buck lies with us.

“I suppose, yeah, we were very disappointed, but I wouldn’t say we use it as a motivation. The biggest motivating factor for a lot of us is that these days won’t be around for ever and we’re not going to be as successful as we are at the moment forever.

“When some of the older lads call it a day we’re probably going to be under pressure numbers wise which is always going to happen. So I suppose it’s just about making hay while the sun shines really.

“There’s different motivating factors for us and one of them would be that a lot of lads in our panel don’t have an All-Ireland medal. Some of the older lads do but I don’t myself and that’s one you’d like to have in your back pocket before you call it a day.

“In fairness lads don’t be shy about telling you. If there’s a row in the hurling field that’s the first thing they’d be telling you, ‘where’s your All-Ireland club medal?’ It would be nice on a personal level for every lad on the panel who doesn’t have one to have one.”

By John Harrington

Setanta

Galway GAA Launch New Athletic Development Partnership with Setanta College

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Galway GAA have launched a new partnership with Setanta College that will focus on the delivery of athletic development programmes for the county’s underage development squads.

Covering both hurling and football, the design and delivery of the programmes will be carried out by coaches from Setanta. Leading the implementation of the partnership will be Galway native Des Ryan, who has previously worked as Head of Sports Science and Medicine at the Arsenal FC Academy and is now Director of Coaching and Performance at Setanta.

Chairperson of Galway GAA, Paul Bellew, said, “We are delighted to launch our new partnership with Setanta College. There is a firm commitment in Galway GAA to deliver a development pathway that maximizes the potential of our players all the way through to adult level, and this is a significant step forward in doing so in terms of athletic development, sports psychology and nutritional support. Setanta College’s expertise, educational focus and high support environment under the direction of Des Ryan aligns with our aims of assisting players both on and off the field. We look forward to working closely with Des and the team at Setanta in delivering on our shared aims.”

The partnership was officially launched at an event in the Clayton Hotel, Galway, where representatives from both Galway GAA and Setanta provided an overview of the structure of the new partnership to both players and parents. Also supporting the design of the athletic development pathway will be Lukasz Kirszenstein and Jonathan Harris-Wright, Lead Athletic Development coaches with the county’s Senior Hurling and Football teams.

Des Ryan, Director of Coaching & Performance at Setanta College, said, “We have a great interest in developing young people and players at Setanta so we are very excited to embark on this new partnership with Galway GAA. This project will be dual aspirational; firstly, we want all development players to enjoy Gaelic Games and play with their clubs for as long as possible. We also want to help every player be the best version of themselves. A number of players will go onto play for the county Minor, u20 and Senior teams and we will help them to be physically prepared for those challenges. The Athletic Development, Sports Psychology and Nutrition support provided by Setanta will focus on Health, Wellbeing and Physical Development. We will also ensure it will be a high-challenge and high-support environment.”

Setanta College is an internationally renowned provider of higher education in human performance and sports science headquartered in Ireland with a number of international locations. Recently, the college has expanded its offerings to include the development of performance structures through its consultancy practice Setanta Performance.

For more information on Setanta College, visit www.setantacollege.com 

Galway hurling stars remember Niall Donohue with a star-studded charity match

Galway hurling stars remember Niall Donohue with a star-studded charity match

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On Saturday 10th December, Galway’s biggest hurling stars will play the Niall Donohue Memorial Match in memory of the Kilbeacanty and Galway hurling star. The Leinster title winning team of 2012 will take on a 2017 All-Ireland winning selection at Kilbeacanty GAA Club.

Some of the most famous names in Galway hurling will be there, with funds raised going to support Jigsaw, the youth mental health charity, and Kilbeacanty GAA. The match will also be streamed online and will include expert panel for match analysis along with player interviews. Tickets for the match will be limited and are available on www.jigsaw.ie/hurlingforniall

“We are looking forward to playing in this memorial game to recognise our teammate and friend Niall Donohue. This game is also about raising awareness and funds to help meet the mental health challenges that affects many people in our families and communities”, said Tony Og Regan, spokesperson for the organising committee, and former county teammate of Niall.

Niall Donohue played for Kilbeacanty and Galway as a minor, under-21 and senior. In 2011, he won an under-21 All-Ireland before going onto win a senior Leinster title in 2012. Niall tragically died by suicide on 23rd of October 2013 at the age of 22.

His family, club, fellow players, hurling and county boards have organised the Niall Donohue Memorial Match to raise funds and awareness for Jigsaw, the youth mental health charity, and Niall’s own club Kilbeacanty GAA, in his memory.

Speaking at the launch of the Niall Donohue Memorial Match, Justin Fahey of Kilbeacanty GAA said, “We are very much looking forward to hosting the Niall Donohue Memorial Game in what will be a very special and poignant day for our club. It will be a great privilege to have Niall’s former Galway teammates from 2012 and the 2017 All-Ireland winning team play a game in his memory at our newly redeveloped grounds.

A core aim of this event is to raise awareness of mental health and suicide in young people. We are honoured to partner with the youth mental health charity Jigsaw which does invaluable work in communities to assist young people who may be struggling. Niall will never be forgotten in our club; he will always be our shining star and we will remember him at this special event on the 10th of December and we very much look forward to welcoming you all to Kilbeacanty”

Paul Bellew, Chairperson of Galway GAA said, “All in Galway GAA are proud to be involved in the Niall Donohue Memorial match on December 10th. I want to pay a special tribute to Justin Fahey and Kilbeacanty GAA Club, Niall’s family, and his teammates in coming together to initiate such a wonderful event that celebrates Niall’s memory. It is testament to his life, his legacy and the impact he continues to have in his club, community and across Galway GAA. The benefits of this occasion will make a significant contribution to mental health awareness and directly assist the provision of services for young people through Jigsaw, who we are delighted to be partnering with”

There will also be a series of activities taking place across the day at Kilbeacanty GAA Club and later that evening in McCarthy’s Bar, Kilbeacanty. These include an all-star panel discussion, monster auction, live music and much more. For more information, please visit www.jigsaw.ie/hurlingforniall

Speaking on behalf of Jigsaw, Justin McDermott said, “We are honoured to be a part of this wonderful match in memory of Niall. The commitment his family, club, county team-mates and the county board have shown in arranging this day reminds me of the commitment Niall always gave as a hurler. Thank you to everyone involved. Through this event you’re helping to support young people facing challenges with their mental health in Galway and across Ireland.”

If you have concerns about your own mental health, or a young person you know, the following organisations in Ireland offer help and support:

Jigsaw support young people aged 12 to 25, offering both online and in person mental health advice and support to young people, parents, and those who work with young people. Visit jigsaw.ie

50808 is a free text support service for moments when you are feeling overwhelmed or having thoughts of suicide and need support to get to a calmer place. Text HELLO to 50808 to start a conversation, any time – day or night.
ENDS

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Michelle Healy, Public Relations Officer, Galway GAA.

Tel: 087-2233982
Email: pro.galway@gaa.ie

St Thomas' Mark Caulfield celebrates at Pearse Stadium.

Thomas’ make it five-in-a-row

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A compelling contest unfolded in Salthill with St Thomas’ eventually earning a fifth Galway SHC title on the spin with St Thomas’ coming through on a scoreline of St Thomas’ 1-15 to Loughrea 0-17

Again Loughrea brought plenty of dash to an absorbing encounter, but Kenneth Burke’s team found a way. Resilient and resourceful until the end, Thomas’ answered the stern questions posed by an emerging Loughrea outfit.

Mark Caulfield’s 1-3, Conor Cooney’s relevance, and David Burke’s experience when it truly mattered late on steered Thomas’ over the line.

Loughrea will certainly reflect on what might have been. Two fiercely fought matches illustrated Loughrea’s potential and in a high quality opening 10 minutes they edged 0-5 to 0-4 ahead.

Then, though, Thomas’ pounced to net a goal that carried considerable weight in such a tight and tense battle.

Inevitably Conor Cooney was instrumental making the 11th minute burst that enabled Caulfield to make the Loughrea net dance.

Victor Manso added another Thomas’ point as they moved into a 1-5 to 0-5 advantage at the end of the first quarter.

Loughrea summoned a response reeling off four points on the spin courtesy of Jamie Ryan and Neil Keary (three) to nudge in front 0-9 to 1-5.

Tieran Killeen, Loughrea, and Eanna Burke, St Thomas’, in action during the Galway SHC Final replay at Pearse Stadium.

Caulfield, an influential figure, mined a couple of points before the break to ensure Thomas’ departed armed with a narrow 1-7 to 0-9 lead.

When the action recommenced it remained delicately poised. Tiernan Killeen impressed for Loughrea and his 47th minute point levelled matters at 1-11 to 0-14.

A splendid Oisín Flannery effort had Thomas’ ahead. Then Keary and Darren Shaughnessy rifled over points for Loughrea, who were briefly in front.

It was that type of game, but Cooney landed two pressure frees before Eanna Burke landed a beauty from play after Keary dragged a free narrowly wide. Thomas’ registered 1-15 from 25 shots and it was sufficient to ensure they remain perched on the Galway hurling summit.

Tiernan Killeen narrowed the gap in additional time, but Loughrea, efficient throughout themselves registering 0-17 from 26 attempts, just couldn’t nail a leveller as a crafty Thomas’ prevailed. Just about.

Scorers for St Thomas’: Mark Caulfield 1-3, Conor Cooney 0-4 (2fs), Eanna Burke 0-2, John Headd, Cathal Burke, Darragh Burke, Oisín Flannery, Bernard Burke, and Victor Manso 0-1 each.

Scorers for Loughrea: Neil Keary 0-5 (4fs), Jamie Ryan 0-4 (2fs), Tieran Killeen 0-3, Martin McManus 0-2, Darren Shaughnessy, Caimin Killeen, and Joe Mooney 0-1 each.

St Thomas’: Gerald Kelly; Cian Mahony, Fintan Burke, Evan Duggan; Cathal Burke, David Burke, John Headd; Bernard Burke, Darragh Burke; Victor Manso, Conor Cooney, Mark Caulfield; Damien McGlynn, Eanna Burke, Oisín Flannery.

Subs: Brendan Farrell for B Burke (54), Conor Headd for Manso (56).

Loughrea: Gearoid Loughnane; Paul Hoban, Johnny Coen, Kieran Hanrahan; Darren Shaughnessy, Oisín Coyle, Ian Hanrahan; Brian Keary, Tiernan Killeen; Jamie Ryan, Dylan Shaughnessy, Anthony Burns; Neil Keary, Martin McManus, Joe Mooney.

Subs: Caimin Killeen for B Keary (34), Shane O’Brien for Dylan Shaughnessy (40), Tom Hoban for Burns (58).

Referee: John McDonagh.

By Cian O’Connell at Pearse Stadium

Galway SHC Final: Thriller finishes level

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Brooks Galway Senior Hurling Championship Final – Loughrea 0-20 St Thomas’ 1-17

By Billy Coss at Pearse Stadium

A Tiernan Killeen point deep in added time secured a draw for Loughrea at the end of a thrilling Galway Senior Hurling Championship final with five in-a-row chasing St. Thomas’.

Kenneth Burke’s side looked to have timed their run to perfection when Éanna Burke, scorer of 1-4, took a Conor Cooney pass and gave the reigning champions their first lead of the contest after 63 minutes.

Loughrea lost forward Darren Shaughnessy to a second yellow card inside the final quarter, but showed admirable composure to work the levelling score with the game’s final play – Paul Hoban, ‘keeper Gearóid Loughnane, Brian Keary and Neil Keary all involved before Killeen hit the target.

Loughrea have been a model of consistency this season, winning the Division 1 title and reaching the final with the competition’s only unbeaten record. Chasing their third title, Tommy Kelly’s side made a dream start when Martin McManus, the competition’s top marksman from play, struck three points inside two minutes of the throw-in.

With Neil Keary deadly accurate from placed balls and Oisín Coyle and Ian Hanrahan also finding the range, they raced into a 0-6 to 0-1 lead. Slowly but surely, Thomas’ worked their way back into matters with two Darragh Burke points having a settling effect along with some terrific Conor Cooney free-taking from distance.

Though Thomas’ hit the final two scores of the half through Cooney and Oisín Flannery, Loughrea’s 0-12 to 0-10 interval advantage was well deserved after playing with the wind.

That margin was cut to one after the restart, but it was a buffer Loughrea maintained and indeed extended to lead by 0-18 to 0-14 after 52 minutes thanks to a run of scores from captain Ian Hanrahan, McManus, Neil Keary and Joe Mooney.

St. Thomas’ were in deep trouble despite having an extra man advantage, but their challenge sparked to life in the closing stages. Damien McGlynn broke free, drew the cover and teed up Éanna Burke to crack home the day’s only goal on 53 minutes. Burke would then follow up with the equalising point two minutes later.

In what was a pulsating finale, Jamie Ryan pushed Loughrea within sight of the Tom Callanan Cup once more only for Conor Cooney’s eighth converted free to level and a further Éanna Burke point to tilt the balance back in St. Thomas’ favour.

There would be a final twist in the tale as Loughrea worked a last gasp scoring opportunity and Killeen held his nerve to ensure the neighbouring clubs must return to Pearse Stadium to do it all again next Sunday.

Scorers for Loughrea: Neil Keary 0-9 (8f), Martin McManus 0-4, Ian Hanrahan 0-2, Oisín Coyle 0-1, Dylan Shaughnessy 0-1, Joe Mooney 0-1, Jamie Ryan 0-1, Tiernan Killeen 0-1.

Scorers for St. Thomas’: Conor Cooney 0-9 (8f), Éanna Burke 1-4, Darragh Burke 0-2, Oisín Flannery 0-1, Victor Manso 0-1.

Loughrea: Gearóid Loughnane; Johnny Coen, Paul Hoban, Kieran Hanrahan; Ian Hanrahan (captain), Oisín Coyle, Brian Keary; Jamie Ryan, Tiernan Killeen; Darren Shaughnessy, Dylan Shaughnessy, Anthony Burns; Neil Keary, Martin McManus, Joe Mooney.

Subs: Seán Sweeney, for Ian Hanrahan, 58 mins; Shane O’Brien, for Burns, 60+1 mins; Caimin Killeen, for Dylan Shaughnessy, 60+1 mins.

St. Thomas’: Gerald Kelly; Cian Mahony, Fintan Burke, Cathal Burke; Evan Duggan, John Headd, Mark Caulfield; Bernard Burke, David Burke; Victor Manso, Conor Cooney (captain), Darragh Burke; Damien McGlynn, Éanna Burke, Oisín Flannery.

Subs: Shane Cooney, for Caulfield, half-time; Brendan Farrell, for Manso, 46 mins; Conor Headd, for John Headd, 58 mins; Damien Finnerty, for Bernard Burke, 60+3 mins.

Referee: Shane Hynes.

Brooks Group Sponsored Senior Hurling Championship Final 2022

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Pictured at the Media Launch ahead of the County Senior Hurling Final are

L to R: Tommy Kelly (Loughrea Manager), Ian Hanrahan (Loughrea Captain), Liam Brady (Brooks, Sponsor), Conor Cooney (St. Thomas’ Captain), Kenneth Burke (St. Thomas’ Manager)

The showpiece of the Galway Senior Club Hurling championship takes place next Sunday.

Current county champions St. Thomas’ are striving for the elusive 5 in a row.

Loughrea are hoping to land the Tom Callanan cup after a 16 year wait since they last claimed the honours.

A game not to be missed!

St Thomas’ maintaining high standards

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“It took a bit of a twist alright,” Kenneth Burke laughs when asked whether becoming St Thomas’ manager at a young age was by accident or design.

“Obviously Kevin Lally was very successful in his three years there,” Burke adds. “He stepped down then. The club were looking to get someone and they weren’t finding it too easy to get someone. I suppose it was a bit of a poisoned chalice, nobody really wanted to take it because where else do you go?

“I knew there was still potential in the team, that there was nobody retiring. I just took a chance on it. I obviously know them very well, I played with them which can be good and bad. It was a bit of a mad decision at the time, but it has worked out so far.”

Undoubtedly demanding to maintain the high standards that have been set during the past decade, Burke still relishes the mission.

“If it is not a challenge it isn’t going to push you are make you better,” he replies. “I have great guys around me for the last couple of years, it is about getting people around you that will support you too. Cathal, Adrian, Tommy, and PJ, and other guys are doing massive work which helps.”

Tommy Fitzgerald’s impact as a coach perfectly illustrates how Thomas’ have been able to identify people from other counties – such as Dinny Cahill and TJ Ryan previously – to provide relevant guidance.

“We are trying to get a guy at the start that will push us on, that will give us another edge,” Burke explains. “Tommy has definitely done that.

Six Burke brothers won AIB All-Ireland Club SHC medals with St Thomas’ in 2013.

“He wouldn’t have known any of us at all, he’d have been looking at Galway hurling from the outside, probably knowing a bit. He has brought a different perspective, he has a different attitude, he has pushed lads on, and has made them better.”

St Thomas’ have claimed four Galway SHC titles on the spin, and six since winning for the first time in 2012. It is a remarkable time for the club, who came within a whisker of beating Ballyhale Shamrocks in a dramatic AIB All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final in January.

“Obviously after losing that game you’re thinking it is a long road to try to get back there,” Burke says. “We just took a few weeks off. After a couple of weeks the county lads went back playing with the county again.

“We regrouped, did a couple of sessions, we played the few league games just to get them back on the road. You have to make your target at the start of the year. We made little targets, getting ready for the group stages, to get them up to speed and to be as fit as we can, to try to get out of the group.

“Just to go that way, to build it from there. That is all you can do and try to bring on a few younger guys, to get them to be ready for the championship.

“You have a lot of guys there with a lot of miles on the clock so it is a balancing act to keep them fit and to get enough fitness into the younger guys to get them up to speed. It is challenging, but it is enjoyable too.”

Growing up in the Burke house hurling always dominated the conservations. Six brothers played in a team managed by father John in the 2013 AIB All-Ireland Club SHC success. David Burke captained Galway to All-Ireland glory in 2017.

St Thomas’ coach Tommy Fitzgerald and goalkeeper Gerald Kelly following the AIB All-Ireland Club SHC semi-final loss against Ballyhale Shamrocks in January.

The passion and desire can be traced back to the early years. “It was everything, every day of the week you were hurling with the club or the school or going off with the county,” Burke says.

“Then when the younger brothers came along they were all hurling too. There was always someone going somewhere to play a match or there was a match to go to. Someone was being brought to a match.

“It is very enjoyable, that is what we do. We have made massive friends down through the years with it and it is part of life. That is what we do.”

Sunday’s Galway SHC decider against Loughrea is the next tale in the Thomas’ story. Burke acknowledges that the familiarity with Loughrea adds an extra layer of intrigue. “It definitely does,” Burke responds.

“We all know each other fairly well, a lot of the guys went to school there bar the few that went to Gort. It gives another edge when lads know each other so well.

“They will probably be out with each other over the Christmas. Again it is just about who performs well on the day, and whoever gets over the line. You give your best, if it doesn’t get you over the line it doesn’t. That is all you can do.”

It is a policy that continues to serve St Thomas’ well.

By Cian O’Connell

Tommy Kelly enjoying Loughrea journey

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“It is all about the kids and the future of Loughrea,” manager Tommy Kelly says ahead of Sunday’s eagerly anticipated Brooks Galway SHC Final against a decorated St Thomas’ outfit at Pearse Stadium.

The past, present, and future of Loughrea have forged a meaningful connection. “That is the way we are looking at it, that the next generation will have a hurl in their hand again, to try to drive it on again,” he adds.

“We had a great U14 team this year, I think our senior team were looking up to them, they have shown us the way.”

Momentum has been generated by Loughrea with Kelly’s backroom sprinkled with players, who were involved when Loughrea last won a county title 16 years ago. “A good few of us have a medal out of ’06 in the backroom staff, and we are very proud of that – there was no guy brought into that management team just because they had a medal in their pocket, they were brought in because they were very, very good coaches, and they are top, top class,” Kelly remarks.

Several of them have operated training teams at inter-county level. “From Shane (Cusack), Greg (Kennedy), Gavin (Keary), and Nigel (Murray) – the hurling coaches – Alan Curley and Mike Quinn in the backroom staff and the medics have been top class too,” he says. “It is a unit with Kelvin our s and c coach too, it is a unit that has come together. I’m delighted because without those guys you have nothing.”

The experienced acquired by Kelly and the coaches matters. The well regarded Kelly has been involved with Clare and Dublin in recent years.

“It makes a big occasion nice and relaxed,” he responds. “I was lucky enough to be involved with Dublin for three years and with Clare for two years before that and with Cuala too winning the couple of All-Irelands with those lads. So it makes a big occasion comfortable for us.

“Gavin has great experience at inter-county level, Shane Cusack – a county minor winning coach, Nigel Murray, a county minor winning goalkeeping coach, Greg was with Dublin, Gavin was head coach with Clare and Dublin too.”

Nuggets of information and advice were gleaned. “100 per cent you pick up things under massive men like Mattie Kenny, a brilliant, brilliant manager,” Kelly replies.

“Donal Maloney and Gerry O’Connor in Clare – fantastic men. You learn so much from those guys.”

Johnny Coen remains a key performer for Loughrea.

Fortunate that so many from the club have been in an inter-county environment, Kelly recalls spending his childhood attending matches throughout the country. For decades his father, Tommy Snr, gave distinguished service to Galway GAA in a plethora of roles.

“We were reared in a GAA house,” Kelly says. “There was never going to the beach on a Sunday, it was always going to matches. If you weren’t going to matches you were training. Straightaway after mass, ‘Daddy where are we going?’

“You were loading up in the car, you could be heading to Monaghan for a National Football League game or you could be heading to Ballinasloe for a National Hurling League game. That was our winters and summers every Sunday.”

Tommy Snr had a significant influence. “He was at nearly every level – an unbelievable man,” Kelly says. “He was let do that, to follow his dream because of my mother. So there is a connection there too.”

Kelly acknowledges the rich contribution made to Loughrea too by his brother Brian also. “Up all along it was Brian, who probably introduced us,” Kelly says.

“He was my oldest brother, he passed away in ‘06, it was him that introduced the hurl to us. We only came to Loughrea in ‘66, within two years he was winning an U12 county final.

“He played for Galway in ‘73, he actually scored a goal and a couple of points in the 1981 intermediate hurling final to bring Loughrea up to senior.
That connection definitely runs deep. When you think back it is lovely.” Matches have been won and lost, but the memories will always linger.
So when Loughrea and St Thomas’ gather this weekend in Salthill there will be no shortage of sub plots. Thomas’ craft is respected by Loughrea.

“Our history in finals percentage wise isn’t what we would like it to be,” Kelly says. “Thomas’ is unbelievable, they haven’t been beaten in one.

“They have six won in the last 10 years, that is three times as much as we have ever won. We only have two – 1941 and 2006.
We have to try to get those numbers a bit better – that is our aim.”

By Cian O’Connell