Galway Minors see off Clare after extra-time

GAA Hurling All-Ireland Minor Semi-Final

Clare 1-18 Galway 1-23

A last minute goal from Galway's Gerard O'Donoghue forced extra-time in Croke Park where the Tribesmen proved too strong for Clare and progressed through to the Minor Hurling All-Ireland final.

Galway captain Shane Maloney, who registered 0-10, played a massive part for Galway as he led his side to a memorable victory.

Oisín Hickey's goal for Clare with 10 minutes to go looked to have given the Banner the edge going into the closing stages but a goal mouth scramble allowed O'Donoghue to score and give Galway another chance in the two additional periods.

Clare midfielder Tony Kelly almost won the game in normal time but his effort came off the post and Galway powered their way through extra-time with an impressive 20-minute performance.

Gerry O'Connor and Donal Moloney's Clare side were on top throughout the first 60 minutes and it showed when they were 0-6 to 0-3 up with 20 minutes gone, the best of the bunch coming from Aaron Cunningham and Shane O'Donnell.

Galway looked to have forced their way back into the game with two frees from Maloney, who is in his third year as a Minor, which narrowed the gap to just two points but Clare's Cathal O'Connell stepped up to the plate to bring the sides in at half-time 0-9 to 0-5

Matt Murphy's Galway side came out a different team in the second half and managed to score four points on the bounce to level up the sides but with 10 minutes left on the clock, Hickey looked to have done enough for Clare. A fine run from Cunningham opened up the space for corner forward Hickey and he struck the ball home.

The sides exchanged points in the closing stages of the game but it was O'Donoghue's last-gasp goal that forced the extra-time with Kelly's effort for Clare rebounding off the upright in cruel fashion.

Fitness proved to be the key in this game as Maloney opened the added period with two quick scores but Clare only managed the one point in the first half of extra time. The second half was pretty much the same and points from Galway subs Jack Carr and Brian Molloy made sure their side were going through.

Clare Scorers: C O'Connell 0-6 (0-2f) A Cunningham 0-4, O Hickey 1-0, T Kelly 0-3 (0-1f), C Galvin 0-3, S O'Donnell 0-2, M Moroney 0-1.

Galway Scorers: S Maloney 0-10 (0-7f), G O'Donoghue 1-2, J Carr 0-3, P Brehony 0-2, D Higgins 0-2, J Hanbary 0-1, B Lane 0-1, M Mullins 0-1, B Molloy 0-1.

Clare: E Quilligan; S O'Brien, J Browne, S Morey; J Colleran, J Shanahan, G O'Connell; C Galvin, T Kelly; E Enright, C O'Connell, P Duggan; S O'Donnell, O Hickey, A Cunningham. Subs: S Liddy for G O'Connell (38'), M Moronry for G O'Connell (45'), D Moloney for Liddy (70'), G O'Connell for O Hickey (77').

Galway: S Mannion; O Teagle, P Killeen, C Diviney; J Hanbary, S Sweeney, P Mannion; B Lane, P Brehony; J Flynn, J Glynn, A Tuohy; G O'Donoghue, S Maloney, K Cullinane. Subs: J Carr for Cullinane (30'), D Higgins for Flynn (37'), B Molloy for Lane, M Mullins for Flynn (54'), P Flathery for G O'Donoghue (69').