Pearses’ unbeaten record in this year’s Championship remained intact yesterday evening, when they pulled clear in the final quarter to see off the challenge of Tommie Larkins. The game was of little consequence to both sides, as their fate had already been decided andamp;ndash; Pearses through to the Quarter-Finals and Larkins out of the running for the County Cup.andamp;nbsp;Pearses fielded without Cyril Donnellan, carrying a knock from last week’s Leinster Final,andamp;nbsp;
The first score didn’t arrive until the ninth minute, from a Tomandamp;aacute;s Flannery pointed free. Jason Flynn replied for Larkins before that sequence was repeated to leave the score 0-2 each. Robbie Donnellan fired over a point from play before the Flynn v Flannery shootout resumed, the two sharing the next five points (three from Flannery) to leave the score at 0-6 to 0-4 in Pearses’ favour. Robbie Donnellan then rolled out ‘The Shuffle’ to work a goal chance for himself, but it was well saved by Cathal Touhy in the Larkins goal. Colm Raftery and Seandamp;aacute;n Hardiman tagged on points for Pearses to leave the half-time score Pearses 0-8 Larkins 0-4.
Larkins had their best period after half-time, landing four points on the trot to level the game. All bar one of these from Flynn. Then not for the first time this year, Cormac Ward pointed from play to stem the tide and push Pearses back into the lead. Flynn (2) and Flannery exhanged scores again to leave the game level 0-10 each in the 49th minute. However Larkins did not score again for the remainder of the game, while Pearses reeled off 1-5.
Tomandamp;aacute;s Flannery now at wing-forward hit the next four points, including two excellent efforts from play to open a four point lead, while Emmett Ward making his return from injury whipped the ball to the net following a goalmouth scramble. It was appropriate that Flannery had the final say as he split the posts with a long range free to seal the result. Pearses 1-15 Tommie Larkins 0-10.
The final margin was encouraging, as Pearses were without Donnellan, Emmett Wardandamp;nbsp;(for most of the game),andamp;nbsp;Kerrill Hardiman and Darragh Skehill. Tomandamp;aacute;s Flannery was excellent in stepping into the leadership role in Donnellan’s absence. Jimmy Gelston was full of running in midfield. Cormac Ward worked hard and Richie Lally was probably the standout player in a solid defensive unit. Enda Cunniffe, Brendan Egan and Niall Skehill all seen their first Senior Championship action of the year.
The Quarter-Final draw will now also include Beagh who yesterday qualified from our Group after defeating Kiltormer. Other teams in the last eight include Portumna, St Thomas, Ardrahan, Turloughmore, Castlegar and Loughrea.
Pearses: Fearghal Flannery; Anthony Kenny, Tomandamp;aacute;s Kenny, Padraic Raftery; Richie Lally, Shane Raftery, Tommy McDonagh; Enda Cunniffe, Jimmy Gelston; Colm Raftery (0-1), Cormac Ward (0-1), Seandamp;aacute;n Hardiman (0-1); Gary Lally, Robbie Donnellan (0-1), Tomandamp;aacute;s Flannery (0-11, 8f). Subs used: Ronan Bellew, Aidan Kilkenny, Niall Skehill, Emmet Ward (1-0), Brendan Egan.andamp;nbsp;