Canning earns late reprieve

GALWAY SHC SEMI-FINALS: Clarenbridge 2-16, Tynagh/Abbey 1-11: JOE CANNING pointed a controversial free in the seventh minute of injury-time to snatch a draw for champions Portumna in a tense semi-final at Athenry yesterday.

Loughrea were livid that referee Eoin Shaughnessy, after consulting his umpires, awarded the 21 yards free after a player was penalised for lying on the ball as the three-in-a-row holders came with a last gasp effort to stay in the championship.

Portumna looked to be cruising to their eighth county final in a row when they opened up a 1-11 to 0-7 lead with just nine minutes remaining but Loughrea came with a storming finish with a goal from a free by Johnny Coen getting them back into the game.

They still trailed by four but in the final minute sub Kenneth Colleran blasted to the net after taking a return pass from O’Loughlin.

Portumna hit back with midfielder Eoin Lynch doubling their lead but in a welter of excitement Johnny Maher and Emmet Mahony hit superb points to level the match in the third minute of stoppage time and 60 seconds later O’Loughlin looked to have won it when he pointed a sideline from the right-wing.

The replay has been fixed for next Saturday in Athenry with a 4pm start.

PORTUMNA:J Canning (0-7, 0-5f); D Hayes (0-3); C O'Hare (1-0); E Lynch (0-1); N Hayes (0-1); K Hayes (0-1); A Smith (0-1).

LOUGHREA:N Keary (0-4f); J Coen (1-1, 1-0f); K Colleran (1-0); J O'Loughlin (0-3, 0-1slc, 0-1f); J Maher (0-1); E Mahony (0-1); N Shaughnessy (0-1f).

Portumna 1-14, Loughrea 2-11

CLARINBRIDGE QUALIFIED for only their third final in the past 70 years when they held too much firepower for surprise packets Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry at Athenry yesterday.

The experience of former Galway players Mark and Alan Kerins provided leadership for Clarinbridge who have plenty of emerging talent as they bid to emulate their sole success in 2001.

Clarinbridge were always on top after getting off to a blistering start as Eoin Forde blasted to the net after less than two minutes, with points coming either side of that score from Shane Burke and Alan Kerins.

Clarinbridge used the wind well and even the loss of former Galway player David Forde with a hamstring injury did not thwart them as they opened up a 1-9 to 0-1 lead after 19 minutes. Eoin Forde was the main scoring threat with Mark Kerins hitting four frees in addition to an effort from play.

Ronan Madden pulled back a few points for Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry to leave it 1-12 to 0-4 at the interval.

A goal from Shane Moloney either side of points two minutes after the restart gave Tynagh/Abbey-Duniry hope but then Eanna Murphy fired home a goal for Clarinbridge after 39 minutes and they never looked back after that.

CLARINBRIDGE:M Kerins (0-7, 0-5f); E Forde (1-3); E Murphy (1-0); A Kerins (0-2); E Collins (0-1); B Daly (0-1); S Forde (0-1); S Burke (0-1).

TYNAGH ABBEY DUNIRY:R Madden (0-9, 0-6f, 0-1 slc); S Moloney (1-1, 0-1f); P Breheny (0-1).