FITZGIBBON CUP/Limerick IT 3-10 Galway/Mayo IT 2-10:HOLDERS LIMERICK IT survived a last-quarter rally to book their place in the Fitzgibbon Cup final at a blustery Cork IT grounds yesterday.
The champions seemed to be in cruise control when leading 3-10 to 0-5, but Galway/Mayo IT stormed back into contention with a gutsy finish.
Two goals in quick succession from Conor Kavanagh and Andrew O'Shaughnessy, who blasted home from a close-in free, cut the deficit to seven points with eight minutes of regulation time remaining.
Pointed frees by Mark Flaherty and O'Shaughnessy and a Flaherty 65 added to the excitement and Limerick IT needed two brilliant saves from goalkeeper Mathew Ryan to avoid further embarrassment.
Despite four minutes of injury-time Galway-Mayo IT were unable to force the tie into extra-time.
Backed by the strong wind in the first half, three goals in as many minutes helped Limerick IT dominate, their Galway star Joe Canning crashing in two and Clare's Bernard Gaffney a third.
Despite shooting a dozen wides Limerick IT led comfortably by 3-8 to 0-2 at the interval, but could only add two more points on the resumption before hanging on.
LIMERICK IT: M Ryan; M Walsh, A Byrne, G O'Connell; E Collins, S Maher, M O'Brien (capt); J Clancy (0-2), W McNamara; W Hyland, C Donnellan (0-2), J McInerney; B Gaffney (1-1, point free), J Canning (2-4, 1-2 frees), N Healy (0-1). Subs: S Herlihy for Gaffney injured (44 mins), A Murphy for Hyland (45 mins), K O'Rourke for O'Connell (54 mins), P O'Brien for Healy (59 mins).
GALWAY/MAYO IT: E Ward; P Callanan, G Mahon (capt), C Flannery; C Horan, B Regan, N Rodgers; E Feeney, D Barry; M Flannery (0-4, one free and one 65), D Maher, C Egan; C Kavanagh (1-1), A O'Shaughnessy (1-2, 1-1 frees), K Bourke (0-2). Subs: P Cormican (0-1) for Rodgers (injured 24 mins), C Hynes for Maher (42 mins).
Referee. C McAllister (Cork).
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