Galway’s Medtronic has advanced to its first All Ireland Inter-firms hurling final after securing a convincing victory over Munster kingpins, the Cork Garda, in the recent semi-final played in Gort.
After an evenly contested first half, Medtronic produced a poweful second half to reach the All Ireland decider where they will meet the Leinster champions.
A Conor Kavanagh goal set the Tribesmen on the way, but the southerners controlled the opening quarter and were ahead by two. Medtronic, however, scored a second goal when Keril Wade was at the end of a long delivery from Iarla Tannion, edging the Galway side in front, but Cork levelled the contest after 20 minutes.
Niall Healy gave Medtronic the lead after fine interception from Ger Burke which prevented a certain Cork goal. The Tribesmen finished the half the stronger with scores from Niall Healy (2 ), Keril Wade, Jason Gorman and Andrew Smith to lead by six, 2-10 to 1-07.
Medtronic gradually gained control after the break with Ray Ryan’s earlier influence diminished by the lively Andy Smyth. The decisive score came at the end of the third quarter from a move started back in the Medtronic defence. A Mark Ryan delivery was met by Shane Minton who fed full forward Shane Kavanagh and he fed the inrushing Keril Wade who crashed home from 25 metres.
It was an inspirational score from which the Cork boys could not recover. Niall Healy, Conor Kavanagh and Andrew Smyth added more scores before a Jason Gorman goal in the closing stages left Medtronic convincing winners.
Medtronic: K Egan, M Downey, T Linnane, S Og Linnane, P McMahon, I Tannion, M Ryan, G Burke, A Smyth(0-3 ), T Barrett, N Healy(0-8 ), J O Gorman(1-3 ), S Minton(0-2 ), C Kavanagh(1-3 ), KWade(2-1 ). Subs C Hynes(0-1 ), P Carr, K Daniels, D Clarke, P Shaughnessy.
