St Thomas’s 0-19 Pearses 1-11: Despite never performing to the same level as Round 1 against Portumna, some missed scoring chances meant Pearses could have been closer to St. Thomas’s at the finish here. After a slow start, Pearses recovered to lead at half-time, but it was a strong third quarter by the 2016 County Champions that was the difference after half-time. They outscored Pearses 0-9 to 0-3 in this spell.
Both teams were guilty of wides in the opening quarter, with placed balls not going well for Pearses. Darragh Burke got St Thomas’s off the mark with a free and they led by 0-3 to 0-0 after 18 minutes. The lead could’ve been more but for two saves in the Pearses goal by Fearghal Flannery. Ronan Bellew got Pearses’ first point and it was Bellew again three minutes later who levelled the game, 0-3 apiece.
Thomas’s quickly reopened that three point lead in the space of four minutes, 0-6 to 0-3, with half-time approaching. The end of the first-half belonged to Pearses as they bagged 1-2 in the last seven minutes. Seán Hardiman pointed from play, before Cyril Donnellan broke in from the left wing and when the ball didn’t come to hand, he whipped it first time past Patrick Skehill in the St Thomas’s goal. He added a point from a tight angle soon after. Half-time: Pearses 1-5 St Thomas’s 0-7.
St Thomas’s levelled shortly after the restart and then took the lead from a Darragh Burke free. Tomas Flannery hit back with a Pearses one to level it again. Then six points in-a-row from the Kilchreest/Peterswell men opened a six point lead. James Regan (2), David Burke and Patrick Skehill (long range free) were among the scorers. 0-15 to 1-6 after 15 minutes of the second-half.
Flannery and Donnellan points either side of a Thomas’s one made it a five point game. Donnellan and Flannery would also go close with goal chances, Flannery’s effort flashing wide before Donnellan drew a save from Skehill. The final six points of the game would be shared evenly between the sides, with Colm Raftery going for goal but seeing his effort rise above the bar.
There were wins in the Group this weekend for Portumna and Gort. Portumna now top the table on 3 points after two games. Sarsfields, Turloughmore, St Thomas and Gort are all tied on two points, while Pearses are on 1. With three games left it’s still very much all to play for. Sarsfields are up next for Pearses, then Gort and Turloughmore.
Pearses: F Flannery; R O’Neill, K Donnellan, R Lally; L Murphy, S Raftery, B Egan; K Hardiman, S Hardiman (0-1); R Bellew (0-2), C Raftery (0-2), C Donnellan (1-2); C Fahy, T Flannery (0-4), J Gelston. Subs used: C Ward, E Cunniffe, G Lally.