Pearses have qualified for the Group stages of the Senior Hurling Championship after this hard earned Round 2 win over Carnmore in Athenry earlier this afternoon. Despite building up a big half-time lead, Pearses were hanging on at the end to subdue a late Carnmore onslaught. Pearses were first out of the blocks and aided by the strong breeze hit some excellent scores. Cyril Donnellan was rampant in his new centre-back role, also chipping in with three long range points in the opening 20 minutes. Tomas Flannery was on song in attack from both frees and from play. Carnmore were having to work harder for their scores, Barry Hanley the main contributor from placed balls. Flannery hit the net after 20 minutes and at this stage it looked like rout was on the cards. At half time the score stood at 1-9 to 0-4, Donnellan finishing the half with 4 points from play, Flannery with 1-4.
In the second half, as in the first, the wind proved an advantage for the team in possession. The extra pressure on the Pearses defence yielded frees, which were being converted by Hanley. The introduction of Emmet Ward at half-time gave Pearses a target man in attack and it was his goal midway through the second half that seemed to eliminate any doubt of a Pearses victory at that stage. Flannery added a great point into the gale. Carnmore never gave up though and George Hanley scrambled a goal as the game entered the final 10 minutes. The lead was being reduced bit by bit and in stoppage time John Paul O’Connell hit the net from 30 yards, to reduce the margin to just 1. Thankfully time had run out for Carnmore and referee Alan Kelly sounded the final whistle as the resulting puckout landed. Pearses now advance to the Group stages and Carnmore must slug it out in the Relegation dogfight.