Hosts through to Fitzgibbon Cup semi-final

This year’s Fitzgibbon Cup hosts, NUI Galway, booked a place in the semi-final when they scored a 1-24 to 1-12 win over St Patrick’s, College, Drumcondra, at Dangan on Wednesday.
Seven Clare men were in the starting line-up and an eighth was introduced in the second half. They were again without the injured Cormac O’Donovan (Clonlara) and Caimin Morey (Sixmilebridge).
Scariff’s Diarmuid Nash turned in another outstanding performance at corner-back while Patrick Kelly from Clarecastle had his best game in this season’s campaign at wing-back. Other Claremen in the starting line-up were goalkeeper Donal Tuohy (Crusheen), full-back Noel Casey (Kilmaley), midfielder Domhnaill O’Donovan (Clonlara), wing-forward David Barrett (Newmarket) and full-forward John Conlon (Clonlara). Kevin Heagney from Corofin was introduced during the course of the game.
The winners were three points in front at half time when the score was 0-12 to 1-6 and they went on to hold the upper hand in the second period.
In the semi-final, NUI Galway will play either Limerick IT or UCD, who play the last of the quarter-finals this Thursday at the Limerick IT grounds. The Davy Fitzgerald-managed Limerick side are favourites to win this one and go through to the semi-final, which is set for 12noon next Friday.
Also through to the semi-finals next Friday in Dangan are Waterford IT, with Newmarket’s Enda Barrett in their line-up, and ­University of Limerick, who have Tulla’s Andrew Quinn in their squad.
Waterford had to work hard for a 0-14 to 0-12 win over Dublin IT at Ballygunner while UL were 2-20 to 1-13 winners over UCC, who had Darach Honan (Clonlara) and Aidan Quilligan (Sixmilebridge) in their squad.
The final will take place next Saturday week.