St Thomas' 1-13 Liam Mellows 0-14
St Thomas' became the first club to retain the Tom Callanan Cup in over a decade with a stirring second half comeback in a final played under near darkness in Pearse Stadium.
Former Galway Under-21 captain Fintan Burke made a Lazarus like comeback, after tearing his cruciate in their All-Ireland final hammering at the hands of Ballyhale Shamrocks on St Patrick’s Day, to inspire his side to victory as they continue their perfect final record in Galway senior deciders.
Burke was thrust into attack and clipped over two second half points as well as teeing up Eanna Burke for the crucial final point of the game to seal victory for his side.
Liam Mellows deservedly held a four-point advantage at the interval, 0-11 to 0-7, in a period where they registered just a single wide and scored 11 points from their 12 attempts at the posts in a thoroughly impressive first period display.
Veteran David Collins was lording it on the 45 early doors and delivering quality ball into a forward division where the likes of Conor Elwood, Conor Kavanagh and Tadhg Haran in razorsharp form and causing a Thomas' rearguard no end of headaches whether it was drawing fouls or finding the target themselves.
Kevin Lally’s Thomas’ outfit, despite enjoying the lion’s share of territory, only scored seven points from 16 efforts, in a half where they accumulated seven wides and had an Eanna Burke shot cannon off the crossbar which was subsequently cleared by the Liam Mellows defenders.
But Louis Mulqueen’s men failed to build on a superb opening half and only registered three points second half points all from Haran frees as they fell to Thomas’ for a second year running.
The Peterswell-Kilchreest men reeled off the first three points following the restart through the Burkes - Darragh, Eanna and Bernard - but a Haran free on 49 minutes stretched Mellows’ advantage back to two points.
Midfield duo of Galway captain David Burke and James Regan were to the fore in the second half revival as they came up with big possessions and turnovers time and time again and drove their side on to victory.
In the 51st minute, Eanna Burke, following a pass by county star Conor Cooney, rattled the back of the net to give Thomas’ the lead for the very first time.
Sharpshooter Haran equalised just a minute later but two Fintan Burke points down the home stretch and Eanna’s late effort in stoppage time ensured there would be no way back for the Ballyloughane club.
They’ll now take on the Munster champions in the All-Ireland series.
St Thomas’: James Barrett; Cian Mahoney, Sean Skehill, David Sherry; Donal Cooney, Shane Cooney, Cathal Burke; James Regan, David Burke (0-01); Conor Cooney, Darragh Burke (0-05, 0-04f), Bernard Burke (0-02); Eanna Burke (1-03), Brendan Farrell, Oisin Flannery.
Subs: Fintan Burke (0-02) for Farrell (39), Evan Duggan for Bernard Burke (63).
Liam Mellows: Kenneth Walsh; Cathal Reilly, Sean Morrissey, Liam O’Donovan; Stephen Barrett, David Collins, Mark Hughes; Adrian Morrissey, Jack Forde (0-01); Jack Hastings, Conor Elwood (0-02), Ronan Elwood (0-01); Tadhg Haran (0-09, 0-07f, 0-0165), Aonghus Callanan, Conor Kavanagh (0-01).
Subs: Brian Leen for O’Donovan (HT), Mike Conneely for Callanan (55), John Lee for Forde (61).
Referee: Christy Browne.
