A WELL-taken Neil Keary 55th minute goal proved decisive in turning the tide for Loughrea in this highly entertaining Pier Head Restaurant Minor ‘A’ hurling championship final at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe on Sunday.

As the game entered its final minutes, St. Thomas’ looked on course to win back-to-back titles, but then a superb run and a great handpass inside by Johnny Coen, sprung from full-back to operate in midfield, set up the prolific Keary for his side’s third and all-important goal late in the game.

By this time, St. Thomas’ had led 1-14 to 2-9, but once Loughrea hit the front with Keary’s netbuster, they were not going to be denied. In the final five minutes, Leo Keary’s charges outscored the reigning champions three points to one, with Keary (2) and substitute Raymond McMahon tallying for the victors, while full-forward Anthony Kelly posted the sole riposte for Thomas’.

It was a thrilling end to what was a thoroughly enjoyable and skilful hurling decider. In many respects, Loughrea concluded the contest as they had started, racing into a 1-3 to no score lead in the opening seven minutes. Points from Patrick Hoban and Keary (free) settled the challengers early, before Keary bagged his first goal on six minutes.

A powerful shot from Hoban brought the best out of Thomas’ goalkeeper Patrick Skehill, who repelled the initial effort. However, he could do little to prevent the on-rushing Keary from pulling first time to the net for the opening goal of the contest. When Keary added a point a minute later, it looked as if champions Thomas’ were in danger of being whitewashed.

Perhaps they sensed it themselves, but in the ensuing minutes they finally jumped to life, rattling off four unanswered points through Cian Kelly, the excellent Conor Cooney (2) and Gabriel Egan in a six-minute spell to reduce the arrears to two at the end of a whirlwind first quarter.

However, just as St. Thomas’ were getting some sort of a foothold on the game, Loughrea ambushed the champions once again. A sweet cross-field ball from centre-forward Hoban created the opening for Conor Quinn, who was on hand to steer the sliotar to the Thomas’ net on 16 minutes.

Again, though, Thomas rallied, hitting 1-2 in the ensuing three minutes. First, Cooney struck over a great point, before Egan clipped over his second shortly after. Then, on 22 minutes, Cooney delivered in a probing ball, which eluded several players on both sides, before Stephen Murray latched onto it and dispatched the sliotar with the crispest of ground strokes to the Loughrea net.

It was no more than St. Thomas’ deserved as they had created the greater number of scoring chances, but incredibly they hit eight wides in this period compared to Loughrea’s one. As it was, Loughrea entered the interval in the lead, 2-4 to 1-6, after Keary tapped over a 29th minute free.

Nevertheless, there was plenty of speculation at the break on the outcome. St. Thomas’ were the reigning champions – they had the experience to see this one out – but a gritty and equally as stylish Loughrea now had the wind at their backs, and this was sure to be an advantage.

By the 41st minute, though, it was St. Thomas’ who had edged in front for the first time in the game. Despite points from Loughrea duo Daniel Quinn and Coen in the opening two minutes, Thomas’ rattled off similar efforts through Cooney (three frees) and Anthony Kelly to take a 1-10 to 2-6 lead.

A Patrick Hoban point sought to disrupt St. Thomas’ momentum, but further efforts from Cian Kelly and Anthony Kelly and Cooney strengthened the reigning champions’ stranglehold on the cup. Points from outstanding Loughrea centre-back Paul Hoban and Keary (free) again looked to break St. Thomas’s run, but Martin Fahy’s charges hit back again with a James Regan point on 54 minutes to maintain their two-point advantage.

However, then came player of the match, Keary’s second goal – Loughrea’s third – on 55 minutes and the dynamics of this contest changed as the victors outscored their opponents three points to one in the final five minutes or so.

For Loughrea, this victory – their sixth at this level in all – marked the 30th anniversary of their last minor win way back in 1979 and completed the second of a possible treble this year. Already with the Junior ‘A’ and minor titles in their back pocket, Loughrea now have the opportunity to add the senior crown to their collection this Sunday. What an achievement that would be.

Key to the minor victory, though, was All-Ireland minor winner Neil Keary, who tallied an impressive 2-6 on the day. He was ably assisted by the two Hobans – Paul and Patrick – while Johnny Coen played his best hurling when released from the confines of full-back. Of the remainder, Peter Quinn, Alan Cormican and Daniel Tully were also to the fore in a solid team performance.

For St. Thomas, defenders Darragh Burke and Cathal Burke, player of the match contender Conor Cooney and Anthony Kelly did well, while Cian Kelly, captain James Regan and Gabriel Egan also toiled diligently on the day.

Loughrea: A. Madden; G. Rooney, J. Coen (0-1), D. Tully; A. Cormican, Paul Hoban (0-1), P. Quinn; S. McCormack, I. Hanrahan; C. Quinn (1-0), S. Sweeney, D. Africano; D. Quinn (0-1), Patrick Hoban (0-2), N. Keary (2-6, 0-3 frees). Subs: R. Mahon (0-1) for Africano (55 mins.)

St. Thomas’: P. Skehill; P. Caulfield, S. Skehill, E. Daly; D. Burke, C. Burke, P. Connors; C. Cooney (0-7, 0-4 frees), C. Kelly (0-2); M. Gleese, J. Regan (0-1), S. Murray (1-0), P. Brady, A. Kelly (0-3), G. Egan (0-2).

Referee: C. Browne.