TUS Mid-West becomes third Limerick side to reach Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals

AFTER an overwhelming first half that had them leading by sixteen points, TUS Mid-West became the third Limerick team to advance to the last eight of the Fitzgibbon Cup as they claimed second space in their qualifying group defeating ATU Galway 5-24 to 3-13 ATU Galway in their group fixture in Moylish on Wednesday evening.

Ravenous to win possession and spraying the sliotar around every angle of attack, TUS Mid-West were four points ahead inside a minute and, when they rocked in another two goals in quick succession on the quarter mark, they were already on their way to the quarter-final before their opponents got a chance to settle.

Although the restarted in much the same manner and extended their advantage to twenty within five minutes, a run of missed chances blunted their intensity and, with their outstanding centre-back John Cooney moving up to lead the attack, the Westerners had almost halved the deficit going into the closing straight. But the momentum just didn't carry them further and, once they got the space to to steady themselves, the home cruised over the line on th eback of a final flurry of scores.

Kian O'Kelly's point and a goal inside the opening minute began the onslaught and Kyle Shelly twice and Ger Browne struck the target before a huge Cooney free got Galway off the mark. However, that was met by points from Browne, Niall O'Farrell and Shelly and, when O'Kelly and Séamus Kenneally followed up with quickfire goals, the visitors were already in the ropes.

A pair of Darren Shaughnessy points took some of the steam from the onslaught but, coming up to the break, another run of scores left Moylish leading 3-14 to 0-7 at the change of ends.

It didn't get any better as Kenneally, Shelly and Browne instantly found the target and, after Conor Molloy replied with a pair of frees, Browne sliced through the defence for his side's fourth goal. However, the radar went on the blink at that stage, Galway got the chance to regroup and, after paring back three points, suddenly injected a degree of uncertainty when Cooney drilled home a penalty, Molloy was on hand to drive home at the end of a flashing break and Cooney struck again when he forced the error on a laboured attempts at a clearance.

But that was as close as it got and, with the subs given an opportunity to impress, O'Kelly harried a short puckout into a turnover for his second goal and Browne, Cian O'Dwyer and O'Kelly picked off the three closing points.

SCORERS: TUS MID-WEST: Kian O'Kelly 2-3, Ger Browne 1-6, Kyle Shelly 1-5 (0-2 frees), Cian O'Dwyer 0-5 (2 '65's), Seanie Kenneally 1-1, Niall O'Farrell 0-2, Jack McCullagh, Gearóid Ryan 0-1 each; ATU GALWAY: John Cooney 2-2 (1-0 penalty, 0-1 free), Conor Molloy 1-4 (0-3 frees), Darren Shaughnessy 0-3, James Downey 0-2, Donal Parr (free), Cian Folan 0-1 each.

TUS MID-WEST: Enda Dunphy (Saint Mary's, Tipperary); Tom Collins (Ballygar, Galway), Darragh Casey (Granagh-Ballingarry (Limerick), Joe Ryan (Birr, Offaly); Darragh Keogh (Clooney-Quin, Clare), Eoghan Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary), Jack McCullagh (Bagenalstown Gaels, Carlow); Paddy Donnellan (Broadford, Clare), Gearóid Ryan, Cappawhite, Tipperary); Cian O'Dwyer (Clonakenny, Tipperary), Kian O'Dwyer (Kilruane McDonaghs, Tipperary), Ger Browne (Cashel King Cormacs, Tipperary); Kyle Shelly (Moycarkey-Borris (Tipperary), Niall O'Farrell (Broadford, Clare), Seanie Kenneally (Moneygall, Tipperary). SUBS: Jack Ryan (Drom and Inch, Tipperary) for Kyle Shelly (46 minutes), Oisín Kavanagh (Broadford, Clare) for Niall O'Farrell (46 minutes), Michael Ryan (Murroe-Boher, Limerick) for Gearóid Ryan (56 minutes), Paddy Morrissey (Ahane, Limeerick) for Ger Browne (58 minutes), Davy Boland (Broadford, Clare) for Jack McCullagh (58 minutes).

ATU GALWAY: (Galway unless stated): Mike Egan (Cappataggle); Rory Lyons (Kiltormer), Seán Neary (Castlegar), Oisín Kenny (Kilnadeema-Leitrim); Donal Parr (Athenry), John Cooney (Sarsfields), Rory Hickey (Castlegar); Robert Meehan (Ballindereen), Evan Duggan (Saint Thomas's); James Downey (Meelick-Eyrecourt), Darren Shaughnessy (Loughres), Evan Hunt (Beagh); Conor Molloy (Kilnaadeema-Leitrim), Cian Folan (Moycullen), Kelvin Forde (Na Piarsaigh (Cork). SUBS: Alex Evans (Kilconieron) for Rory Lyons (half-time), Enda Madden (Feakle, Clare) for Rory Hickey (half-time), Ben O'Connor (Ardrahan) for Kelvin Forde (half-time), Eoin Cooley (Gort) for Oisín Kenny (39 minutes), Enda Gardiner (Ardrahan) for James Downey (59 minutes).

REFEREE: Niall Malone (Clare).