Loughrea VS 3-8 Athenry VS 0-11Two late goals from Niall Healy helped reigning champions Loughrea to retain their All-Ireland VS hurling title after they were pushed to the limit by a tenacious Athenry side at Duggan Park, Ballinasloe, yesterday. Full forward Healy sent a low drive to the net to put his side in front with just 90 seconds to go and then he sealed the win with a brilliantly-executed strike four minutes into injury time.
Loughrea picked off some good scores to ensure that Athenry's 0-6 to 0-4 interval advantage looked precarious in the breezy conditions. But Athenry, led by centreback Michael Donnellan, defended superbly and were in strong contention until the dying minutes.A sweet strike to the net from Healy hauled back their advantage after 39 minutes, but a gritty Athenry side kept battling until succumbing to Healy's double blow.
LOUGHREA VS: M Herlihy; S Burke, C Dervan (0-1), M Broderick; P Holland, G Ryan, D Nevin; K Briscoe (0-1), L Geraghty; F Burke, K Burke (0-3), E Holland (0-1); D Reilly (0-1), N Healy (3-1), D Clarke. Subs: D White for Clarke (31 mins), F Coone for F Burke (52 mins).
ATHENRY VS: E Collins; E Rooney, B Costello, T Moran; V Hynes, M Donnellan (0-1), E Daniels; B Cullinane, K Conlon (0-1); D Rooney, E Morrissey, N Callanan (0-2), K Hardiman (0-1) j Brady (0-5), S Hardiman (0-1). Sub: M McMahon for Morrissey 46 mins.
Referee: A McDonnell (Tipperary)
