Galway SHC/Athenry 0-11 Loughrea 0-8:Reigning champions Loughrea were sent crashing out of the Galway title race when former All-Ireland club champions Athenry emerged victorious after a tense quarter-final yesterday evening.
Ten players - six from Loughrea - were booked during a heated encounter, but it was Athenry who kept their composure to advance.
Loughrea drafted in former Offaly manager John McIntyre six weeks ago as trainer, but it was Athenry who were the sharper. Indeed, they would have won more comprehensively had they not shot 10 second-half wides.
Eugene Cloonan hit seven frees - an eighth from long range was mistakingly signalled wide - as they built on a 0-6 to 0-4 interval lead in a match where the champions never led.
ATHENRY: M Crimmins; K O'Donovan, D Cloonan, T Kelly; L Howley, MJ Quinn, J Feeney; S Donoghue (0-1), B Higgins (0-1); B Hanley (0-1), D Donoghue, S Glynn (0-1); C Cloonan, E Cloonan (0-7, all frees), A Healy. Subs: D Burns for Hanley (52 mins).
LOUGHREA: N Murray; T Regan, D McClearn, D Melia; J Dooley, G Kennedy, R Regan; G Keary, B Mahony; S Cusack, J Maher (0-2, one free), E McMahon; G Glynn (0-2), J O'Loughlin (0-4, two frees), K Colleran. Subs: N Shaughnessy for McMahon (41 mins); B Dooley for Cusack (46 mins).
Referee: M Conway.
