Interprovincial SHC Semi-finals/Connacht 2-17 Munster 1-16: Connacht will face Leinster in this year's M Donnelly-sponsored interprovincial hurling championship final after yesterday's match at Cusack Park, Ennis, yesterday.
Sharp-shooter full-forward Eugene Cloonan proved to be the difference between the sides, contributing 2-6 of his side's final tally on a day when he laid down a marker for a recall by new Galway manager Ger Loughnane to his county panel.
Opening proceedings were dominated equally by Cloonan and ace attacker Eoin Kelly for Munster, as the home side took the early initiative.
Leading by 0-5 to 0-3 after 12 minutes they were rattled in the 15th minute when Cloonan kicked past Anthony Nash in the Munster goal, when he got on to a David Collins delivery from the right sideline.
Tipperary's ace forward Kelly levelled matters moments later before his side raced into a three-point lead with scores by Michael Walsh and two further Kelly frees.
A superb long-range effort by corner-back Tony Óg Regan kept Connacht in contention and Munster's lead was cut to just one point (0-10 to 1-6) by the half-time whistle.
An improved Connacht immediately returned after the break with a swagger and a purpose.
Richie Murray moved to midfield from centre back and Mark Kerins was introduced to centre forward just before the break.
These changes by manager John Fahy had a telling effect and even though it took some time to outscore their opponents Connacht's efforts were considerably improved in the second half. Even though Eoin Kelly goaled for the Munster in the 45th minute to give his team a four-point advantage, the men from the west never gave up.
The equalising score arrived with just six minutes on the clock when David Tierney, whose presence up to then had been almost anonymous, fired over on the run from an acute angle. He did likewise moments later, this time getting on to the end of a Fergal Healy pass, to nose Connacht in front.
Cloonan made sure of the win when on 67 minutes he booted to the net, once more kicking a Murray delivery past a hapless Nash. Murray and Munster substitute Niall Moran exchanged points before the end and both Barry Nugent and Tony Carmody had Munster goal chances late in the game but failed to capitalise, shooting wide either side of the post.
CONNACHT: L Donoghue (capt); D Joyce, G Mahon, T Óg Regan (0-1); D Collins (0-1), R Murray (0-3), S Kavanagh; F Healy (0-1), A Kerins (0-1); K Broderick (0-1), D Forde; D Tierney (0-2); G Farragher (0-1, free), E Cloonan (2-6, 0-4 from frees), N Healy. Subs: M Kearns for Healy (27 mins), I Tannin for Forde (48), J Lee for Faragher (55), K Burke for Broderick (58). (all Galway).
MUNSTER: A Nash (Cork); G O'Grady (Clare), S Lucey (Limerick), S Hickey (Limerick); D Fitzgerald (Tipperary), C Plunkett (Clare), A Markham (Clare); P Kelly (Tipperary, 0-3, two frees), M O'Brien (Limerick); D McMahon (Clare), M Walsh (Waterford, 0-1), T Carmody (Clare, 0-2); A O'Shaughnessy (Limerick, 0-1), N Gilligan (Clare, 0-2), E Kelly (Tipperary, capt, 1-6, 0-4 from frees). Subs: N Moran (Limerick, 0-1) for D McMahon (51 mins), B Nugent (Clare for O'Shaughnessy (68 mins).
Referee: B Gavin (Offaly).
