Galway 2-17
Clare 0-17
JOE CANNING BAGGED 1-8 as Galway saw off Clare at Semple Stadium this afternoon to book their place in another All-Ireland SHC semi-final.
The Tribesmen bounced back from their Leinster final defeat against Kilkenny to set up a second successive August collision with Tipperary in three weeks’ time.
Goals in either half from Conor Cooney and Canning proved crucial as Galway ended Clare’s season at the quarter-final stage.
Clare boss Davy Fitzgerald was well enough to patrol the touchline after undergoing minor heart surgery during the week but this was a disappointing showing from the Banner County.
At half-time, wind-assisted Galway had built up a seven-point lead to protect, leading by 1-10 to 0-6.
The goal was a tonic in the 15th minute, as Conor Cooney drilled a shot past Andrew Fahy at the Clare goalkeeper’s near post.
That score established a 1-4 to 0-3 lead for Galway and they went on to lead by eight approaching the break, before Clare hit the final score of the half from Tony Kelly.
Clare were struggling for inspiration up front and from the 16th minute to the first minute of stoppage time, when Kelly struck, they went without a score from play.
Clare managed just three points from play in the first half, two from the impressive Colm Galvin, as Galway dominated for the most part.
During Clare’s worst spell of the half, Kelly drove a 20-metre free inexplicably wide and the Ballyea wizard was also denied a potential goal by Adrian Tuohy, who made up the ground to execute a brilliant hook.
Galway opened the second half as Canning netted 11 seconds after the restart and now the Westerners had a ten-point lead to protect.
Clare did rally to within five points – 0-13 to 2-12 – but Cyril Donnellan’s point, given by HawkEye, steadied Galway nerves in the 58th minute.
Clare were four points down, 0-15 to 2-13, with ten minutes left when Colin Ryan slotted over a free but Galway held firm at the back to repel their opponents and preserve a ‘clean sheet’ into the bargain.
Colm Callanan’s 42nd-minute save to deny Aaron Shanagher was one of many highlights from a Galway perspective as Fitzgerald suffered his first quarter-final defeat to today’s opponents, following victories as Waterford boss in 2009 and 2011, and with Clare three years ago.
Scorers for Galway: Joe Canning 1-8 (0-6f, 0-2 65s), Conor Cooney 1-0, David Burke 0-3, Joseph Cooney 0-2, Pádraic Mannion, Aidan Harte, Cathal Mannion & Cyril Donnellan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Clare: Tony Kelly 0-7 (6f), Colm Galvin 0-5, Conor McGrath & Colin Ryan (2f) 0-2 each, David McInerney 0-1.
Galway
1. Colm Callanan (Kinvara)
2. Johnny Coen (Loughrea)
3. John Hanbury (Rahoon-Newcastle)
4. Padraic Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
5. Gearóid McInerney (Oranmore-Maree)
6. Daithí Burke (Turloughmore)
7. Aidan Harte (Gort)
8. David Burke (St Thomas’)
18. Adrian Tuohy (Beagh)
24. Jason Flynn (Tommy Larkin’s)
12. Joe Canning (Portumna)
15. Cathal Mannion (Ahascragh-Fohenagh)
13. Conor Whelan (Kinvara)
11. Joseph Cooney (Sarsfields)
10. Conor Cooney (St Thomas’)
Subs
25. Cyril Donnellan (Padraig Pearses) for C Cooney (47)
9. Davy Glennon (Mullagh) for Flynn (53)
20. Fergal Moore (Turloughmore) for Coen (60)
22. Andrew Smith (Portumna) for Whelan (66)
23. Shane Maloney (Tynagh Abbeyduniry) for J Cooney (70+3)
Clare
1. Andrew Fahy (Whitegate)
2. Oisín O’Brien (Clonlara)
3. Cian Dillon (Crusheen)
4. Patrick O’Connor (Tubber)
5. Brendan Bugler (Whitegate)
6 David McInerney (Tulla)
7. Jack Browne (Ballyea)
8. Conor Cleary (Kilmaley)
9. David Reidy (Éire Óg Ennis)
10. Colm Galvin (Clonlara)
11. Tony Kelly (Ballyea)
12. John Conlon (Clonlara)
13. Pádraic Collins (Cratloe)
14. Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg Ennis)
15. Aaron Shanagher (Wolfe Tones)
Subs
19. David Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilnamona) for Bugler (42)
20. Conor McGrath (Cratloe) for Collins (49)
25. Aaron Cunningham (Wolfe Tones) for Shanagher (52)
22. Colin Ryan (Newmarket-on-Fergus) for Reidy (55)
Referee: Brian Gavin (Offaly)
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