Loughrea hold off Cappataggle to claim Galway SHC title for third time

Loughrea 1-15 Cappataggle 0-16

A 57th-minute goal from man of the match Anthony Burns was the moment of coronation as Loughrea held off neighbours Cappataggle to claim a third Galway Senior Hurling Championship title in Athenry this afternoon.

Winners in 1941 and 2006, 'The Town' proved the more efficient side on the day and were indebted to a terrific penalty save from goalkeeper Gearóid Loughnane that kept their lead intact at a key juncture early in the second half.

Burns, Tiernan Killeen and Shane Morgan came up with the bulk of Loughrea’s scores in a deserved victory as Cappataggle, appearing in their first ever final, were also left to rue shooting 12 wides.

Loughrea made their decisive move late in the first half when three unanswered points in injury-time opened an 0-11 to 0-08 interval lead.

They improved their position to 0-14 to 0-09 by the 40th minute as Cappataggle’s accuracy levels dipped and Loughnane went low to his left to save a Liam Collins penalty that would, if converted, have levelled matters.

Cappataggle closed to 0-15 to 0-13 and never ceased trying to turn the tide, but their chances of victory slipped away when Burns beat former Galway netminder James Skehill three minutes from the end of normal time.

Loughrea were in the ascendancy early on and points from Shane O'Brien, Burns, Caimin Killeen and Shane Morgan opened a 0-04 to 0-00 advantage.

Cappataggle struck back with five without answer of their own through two apiece from Niall Collins and David Malone, plus the first of four from play by Liam Collins..

The sides traded on parity five times during that opening half with Burns, Morgan and Tiernan Killeen the chief score getters for Loughrea. Ja Mannion came up with the pick of Cappataggle's tally