All-Ireland Inter-Firms Senior Hurling Semi-Final
Medtronic (Galway) 1-15 Carey Glass (Tipperary) 0-16
Galway Inter-firms kingpins Medtronic remain on course for an All Ireland double after their hurlers edged out Carey Glass from Tipperary last night in an entertaining semi final at D Sports Complex in Parteen, Co Limerick. A first half goal from Dean Higgins kept Medtronic within 2 points of their opponents at half time, but a strong second half in which Ger Farragher and Niall Healy were in sharp shooting form helped the Galway side to victory.
Early frees from Ger Farragher and Niall Healy put Medtronic 0-2 to 0-1 ahead after 6 minutes but Carey Glass were back on level terms a minute later and Medtronic did not lead again until the 56th minute. The Tipperary men had stretched their lead to 3 points when Dean Higgins scored a goal for Medtronic on 20 minutes to level the match after the ball broke inside the 14 and he finished well from a tight angle. A free and '65 from Mark McCarthy put Carey Glass back in front before the half time whistle to leave it Carey Glass 0-9 Medtronic 1-4 at half time.
Carey Glass started the second half well with a good run and point from Robert Byrne, but two pointed frees from Niall Healy reduced the lead to the minimum after 33 minutes. McCarthy restored the 2 point lead for Carey Glass, before Medtronic goalkeeper Andrew Fahy scored a point from a free deep in his own half on 36 minutes to make it a one point game again. It was tit for tat until Sean McInerney landed 2 points for Medtronic on 52 and 54 minutes to level the match and then Niall Healy put Medtronic in front with a point from a free on 56 minutes. McCarthy scored his 8th point to level the game again with a great score from his own half on 57 minutes but Niall Healy put Medtronic back in front with a good turn and shot and Dean Higgins scored the insurance point deep in injury time as Medtronic held on for the victory and a place in the All-Ireland final against Leinster champions Banagher Concrete from Offaly.
Medtronic: Andrew Fahy (Clare 0-1), Fergal O'Grady (Clare), James Collins (Turloughmore), Paddy McHugo (Tynagh Abbey Duniry), Gary Grealish (Carnmore), Martin Corcoran (Meelick Eyrecourt), Eamonn Cleary (Sarsfields), Ger Farragher (Castlegar 0-4), Dean Earls (Killimordaly), Dean Higgins (Castlegar 1-2), Dan Loughnane (Cappataggle), Damien Dolan (Carnmore), Sean McInerney (Oranmore Maree 0-2), Niall Healy (Craughwell 0-6), Cillian Hurney (Turloughmore)
Subs: Brian Callanan (Turloughmore), Kevin Briscoe (Mullagh), Sean Hardiman (Pearses), Kevin Kelly (Meelick-Eyrecourt), Padraic Kearney (Turloughmore)
Carey Glass: Kevin Flynn (Nenagh Eire Og), Justin Conroy (Portroe), Shane Maher (Nenagh Eire Og), Conor Fitzgerald (Carrig Riverstown), Kieran Cahill (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Jack Peters (Kilruane MacDonaghs), Conor Byrne (Portroe), John Horan (Kildangan), Robert Byrne (Portroe)(0-5), Mark Gennery (Portroe 0-1), Brian Tuite (Nenagh Eire Og), James Ryan (Portroe), Mark McCarthy (Toomevara 0-8), John Sheedy (Portroe 0-1), David Gleeson (Portroe 0-1)
Subs: Noel O'Halloran (Portroe), Kevin O'Halloran (Portroe), Barry O'Connell (Kildimo/Pallaskenry), Martin Fogerty (Burgess), John O'Brien (Burgess), Kieran Ryan (Burgess), John Maher (Kildangan), Nigel Flood (Portroe), Paul Bourke (Shannon Rovers)
Referee: Ger Hoey (Clare)
