Two days on from his wedding, Maher was in no mood for hugs and kisses when he was hauled down for a penalty with three minutes remaining and Loughrea six points adrift.
In the scramble which ensued, the full-forward felled two St Thomas defenders, lashing out at both Sean Skehill and Robert Murray with his hurl.
Fortunately for Maher, the referee didn’t act on the moment of madness and allowed him to take the penalty which he converted to bring Loughrea back within a score of levelling the match.
In one final twist, Maher had a chance to tie things up in the final moments but his 23-yard free was blocked and cleared by the St Thomas’ defence.
It is not the first time that Loughrea have been involved in county final controversy. Following an ill-tempered final in 2006, the club were forced to deny claims that they had deliberately set out to target Portumna star Joe Canning.
VIDEO: Loughrea's Johnny Maher lashes out in explosive Galway finale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohkfTX6dr0Y
YouTube Credit: heneghanconor24
LOUGHREA’S JOHNNY MAHER was at the eye of an explosive finale as St Thomas claimed their first-ever Galway SHC title in dramatic circumstances at Pearse Stadium yesterday.
Two days on from his wedding, Maher was in no mood for hugs and kisses when he was hauled down for a penalty with three minutes remaining and Loughrea six points adrift.
In the scramble which ensued, the full-forward felled two St Thomas defenders, lashing out at both Sean Skehill and Robert Murray with his hurl.
Fortunately for Maher, the referee didn’t act on the moment of madness and allowed him to take the penalty which he converted to bring Loughrea back within a score of levelling the match.
In one final twist, Maher had a chance to tie things up in the final moments but his 23-yard free was blocked and cleared by the St Thomas’ defence.
It is not the first time that Loughrea have been involved in county final controversy. Following an ill-tempered final in 2006, the club were forced to deny claims that they had deliberately set out to target Portumna star Joe Canning.
YouTube Credit: hockeyhurlingshinty4
St Thomas and Kilcormac-Killoughey make club hurling history
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Drama Galway GAA Galway SHC Loughrea GAA Pearse Stadium Robert Murray Sean Skehill St Thomas GAA