Galway 2-19
Clare 1-12
Fintan O’Toole reports from Páirc Uí Chaoimh
THE GALWAY MINOR hurlers had the honour of triumphing in the first inter-county fixture at the redeveloped Páirc Uí Chaoimh this afternoon and they achieved that victory at their ease against Clare in this quarter-final tie.
A blistering shot to the net by Jack Canning in the 22nd minute after he was set up by an incisive run from Ben Moran, helped put Galway in the ascendancy.
The Jeffrey Lynskey managed side were in front 1-7 to 0-7 at the interval and they put the issue beyond doubt when they outscored Clare by 0-6 to 0-2 in the third quarter of the game.
The second goal arrived late on for Galway when substitute Evan Fahy finished clinically to the net in the 54th minute to set up a semi-final date with Kilkenny on 6 August in Croke Park.
Galway were full value for this success. They started brightly as they went in front 0-4 to 0-1 after 13 minutes but Clare bounced back with their best forward Gary Cooney rifling over some point and they had cut the gap to 0-6 to 0-5 by the 22nd minute.
However Galway then pounced for the Canning goal and the same player pointed on the cusp of half-time to leave them three clear. It was the third quarter which saw Galway’s best work with Conor Walsh, Sean Bleahane and Donal Mannion all clipping over points.
The Fahy goal killed off Clare’s challenge although the Banner did grab a consolation goal at the finish when Cooney slammed home a shot.
Scorers for Galway: Jack Canning 1-3, Conor Walsh 0-5 (0-4f), Enda Fahey 1-0, Sean Bleahane 0-3, Donal Mannion 0-2, John Fleming, Conor Fahey, Ben Moran, Martin McManus, Conor Elwood, Shane Ryan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: Gary Cooney 1-3, Keith White 0-3, Diarmuid Ryan, Aidan McCarthy, Cathal Darcy, Gearóid Cahill, Breffni Horner, Riain Considine 0-1 each.
Galway
1. Darrach Fahy (Ardrahan)
2. Darren Morrissey (Sarsfields – captain)
3. Daniel Loftus (Turloughmore)
4. Caimin Killeen (Loughrea)
5. Ronan Glennon (Mullagh)
6. Conor Caulfield (Kilconieron)
7. Mark Gill (Castlegar)
8. John Fleming (Meelick Eyrecourt)
9. Conor Fahy (Padraig Pearses)
15. Martin McManus (Loughrea)
11. Conor Walsh (Turloughmore)
12. Ben Moran (Tynagh Abbey Duniry)
13. Donal Mannion (Cappataggle)
14. Jack Canning (Portumna)
10. Sean Bleahen (Ahascragh Fohenagh)
Subs
Clare
1. Eamonn Foudy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
2. Cian McInerney (Inagh-Kilnamona – captain)
3. Ross Hayes (Crusheen)
4. Bradley Higgins (Kilmaley)
5. Diarmuid Ryan (Cratloe)
6. Cian Minogue (Bodyke)
7. Aidan McCarthy (Inagh-Kilnamona)
8. Cathal Darcy (Kilmaley)
9. Killian McDermott (Clarecastle)
10. Gearoid Cahill (Corofin)
11. Tiernan Agnew (Sixmilebridge)
12. Keith White (Inagh-Kilnamona)
13. Gary Cooney (O’Callaghan’s Mills)
14. Breffni Horner (Crusheen)
15. Riain Considine (Cratloe)
Subs
22. Colin Haugh (Ruan) for McDermott (half-time)
23. Tom O’Rourke (Kilmaley) for Considine (44)
18. Eoghan Wallace (Clarecastle) for Cahill (48)
21. Eoin Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona) for White (58)
19. Lee Brack (Clarecastle) for Darcy (58)
Referee: John O’Brien (Laois)
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