Galway minor hurlers started the day off well last Sunday for the county in Semple Stadium, with a well merited 1-14 to 0-13 victory over Limerick in the All-Ireland quarter-final.
A goal by Gort's Jack Grealish was the crucial score in helping Jeff Lynskey's side qualify for an All-Ireland semi-final against Kilkenny on Sunday week, August 9.
Galway led by 0-9 to 0-8 at half-time. Grealish, who lined out in midfield, fired into the net just after half-time after a fine run through the Limerick defence.
Clarinbridge clubman Evan Niland notched nine points from full-forward and gave an assured display of shooting to help the young Galway side to victory.
There was very little between the sides in the last few minutes with Limerick pushing hard for an equalising goal, however impressive substitute Cianan Fahy hit the insurance point for his side in injury-time to seal the win, and push Galway into the last four.
Dual player Cillian McDaid (Craughwell ), who was picked at wing-back for Sunday, and who had played at midfield for the footballers in their win over Sligo in the Connacht final on Friday night, was injured and unable to play. Interestingly, his replacement was another county football team-mate, Caelom Mulry from Monivae-Abbey, where McDaid plays his club football.
Galway team:1. Darragh Gilligan (Craughwell ), 2. Shane Bannon (Clarinbridge ), 3. Jack Fitzpatrick (Killimordaly ), 4. Kieran O’Connor (Kilnadeema-Leitrim ), 5. Caelom Mulry (Abbeyknockmoy ), 6. Ian O’Brien (Clarinbridge ), 7. Andrew Greaney (Craughwell ), 8. Jack Grealish (1-0 ) (Gort ), 9. Jack Coyne (Castlegar ), 10. Brian Concannon (Killimordaly ) 11. Tom Monaghan(0-1 ) (Craughwell ), 12. Fintan Burke (0-1 ) (St Thomas ), 13. Michael Lynch (0-1 ) (Kilnadeema-Leitrim ), 14. Evan Niland 0-9 (0-7f ), (Clarinbridge ),15. Sean Loftus (cpt ) (Turloughmore )
Subs used: Cianan Fahy (0-1 ) (Ardrahan ), Liam Forde (Ardrahan ) for Lynch, Patrick Foley (Clarinbridge ) for Burke.
