Connacht Hurling semi-final/Ballyhaunis 0-13 Oran 0-11: Mayo's Ballyhaunis qualified for the Connacht senior hurling final for the first time with a narrow win over Roscommon's Oran at Athleague yesterday.

Oran led 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval, but they were to find themselves under huge pressure after the dismissal of full back Séamus Lawless and centre half forward Keith McDermott early in the second half.

Ballyhaunis sensed this could be their day and, despite a great point by Gerry Fallon which saw Oran regain the lead after 20 minutes of the second half, it was Ballyhaunis who finished the stronger with some nice points from man-of-the-match Keith Higgins and one from a delightful sideline cut by John Tynan.

SCORERS - Ballyhaunis: K Higgins (0-9); P McConn (0-2); J Tynan, D McConn (0-1 each). Oran: C Kelly (0-5); F Quine (0-2); K McDermott, G Fallon, J Shally, A Kelly (0-1).