Pandamp;aacute;draig Pearses Senior hurlers play Kiltormer tomorrow (12pm in Loughrea) in their first group game of the Championship. Both teams have qualified via Round 1 of the knockout qualifiers. Kiltormer defeated Tynagh-Abbey-Duniry in Round 1 and are this year under the guidance of former Offaly and Birr legend Brian Whelehan. If he has managed to instill any of his own qualities as a player in this Kiltormer side they will be a tough nut to crack. They will be looking to the likes of Keith Kilkenny, David Hayes and Conor Ryan to lead them. It promises to be an entertaining clash and hopefully Pearses can reverse the result of the side’s last meeting back in 1993.
Here is a Connacht Tribune excerpt from the 1993 clash.
Kiltormer 2-11 Pearses 1-9: A rousing display by Pearses in their final group match at Ballinasloe on Sunday proved just not enough to bring off a shock against a Kiltormer side for whom victory secures their place in the Championship Quarter-Final. The Gurteen-Ballymacward contingent who made up the bulk of the crowd, at least in volume, were in full voice as they cheered their heroes off the pitch after a first half which provided good value for money andamp;ndash; and ended with Pearses within a point of last year’s All-Ireland Club Champions. They had good reason to be hopeful, for a spirited Pearses had spent the previous quarter practically camped in the Kiltormer half and would have been in front at half time, but for a glorious chance of a late goal being wasted. Dreams of forcing a three-way playoff in the group faded as Kiltormer closed them down more in the second half and a Martin Staunton goal 10 minutes into the second half proved to be the point of no return.
Pandamp;aacute;draig Pearses: Pandamp;aacute;draig Burns; Emmett Lydon, Gerry McDonagh, Frank McDonagh; Dermot Lydon, Seamus Lawless (0-1), John Jenkins; Francis O’Brien (0-1), Joe Carr; Joe Fahy (0-1), Dermot Hillary (0-2), Kieran Hillary (0-2); Tony O’Brien, Mick Carr, Tom Brien (1-4). Sub used: Seamus O’Neill for Dermot Lydon.