Despite a second half recovery by Tommy Larkins, Pearses held out for an 8 point win over the fancied Woodford/Ballinakill side in this Senior Hurling Championship tie in Athenry on Saturday evening. Pearses played with the wind in the first half and hit three goals that Larkin’s never fully recovered from. Cyril Donnellan again led from the front. He started at centre-back, but a spell at centre-forward yielded 2-2. Goalkeeper Fergal Flannery came forward to find the net from a 21 for the third goal not long before half-time. Pearses led at the interval on a scoreline of 3-6 to 0-4.
Larkins having the second half wind advantage, needed to start eating into that 11 point deficit as quickly as possible. But a deft piece of skill from Tomandamp;aacute;s Flannery had a fourth goal on the board with 5 minutes gone in the second half and Pearses now led by 4-6 to 0-6. However, Tommy Larkins gradually begun to crawl back into this game. They struck for their first goal when danger man Jason Flynn was quickest to react to a ball that came back off the post, finishing to the net. They hit a second goal later in the half, but Pearses had kept the scoreboard ticking over with some economical shooting, to finish 8 point winners. This game, like the Carnmore game, was a game of two halves. The wind playing a major part. Pearses made better use of the elements and this time protected their lead to better effect.This result now leaves Group A wide open. The remaining group matches will see Gort play Larkins and Pearses play Moycullen, who will be keen to make amends for their previous two losses. With Gort practically qualified (due to scoring difference) it really leaves the final quarter-final spot between Tommy Larkins and Pearses. Both sides bascially have to win and have a better scoring difference than the other to make the Quarter-Finals.