Derry Through To Ulster SFC Final

A Roundup Of The GAA Championship Action From Jackie Cahill

Munster SHC
Tipperary 4-19 Clare 1-19

Tipperary recovered from a sluggish start against Clare to book their place in the Munster SHC final against Waterford on July 10.

A high-scoring encounter saw the All-Ireland champions come from six points down to win by nine at Limerick's Gaelic Grounds last Sunday.

A disappointing attendance of less than 17,000 witnessed Clare get off to a blistering start, as debutant Conor McGrath, who finished with 1-6, netted within a minute.

But Tipp rallied with goals from captain Eoin Kelly, Patrick Maher and 2010 Hurler of the Year Lar Corbett in a devastating five-minute spell helping to establish a 3-7 to 1-10 interval lead.

Those goals came as real sucker punches to a spirited Clare team that burned up so much energy in the first half and were simply over-run after half-time.

Tipp exploited the space that came available and added gloss to the final score when Seamus Callanan, who shot 1-5, added a fourth goal before the finish.

But Clare exposed some chinks in Tipperary's armour - with corner back John O'Keeffe and wing back David Young both hauled off at half-time as Tipp struggled on the right side of their defence.

Padraic Maher claimed the man of the match award following a barn-storming defensive display while Shane McGrath produced an impressive midfield display.

Clare have been drawn against Galway in the All-Ireland qualifiers - a tie which is sure to attract a huge degree of interest.

Ulster SFC Semi-Final
Derry 3-14 Armagh 1-11

Derry booked their place in a first Ulster SFC final since 2000 with an impressive victory against Armagh in Clones last Sunday.

The Oak Leaf County will face Tyrone or Donegal in the provincial decider after romping to a nine-point win against pre-match favourites Armagh.

Eoin Bradley, Conleth Gilligan and Mark Lynch lit up St Tiernach's Park, bagging 3-12 between them.

Bradley and Gilligan hit 1-5 apiece while Lynch added 1-1 and at the other end, the threat of Armagh dangerman Jamie Clarke was completely snuffed out.

Derry dominated the first half and led by 1-8 to 0-6 at the interval, with Lynch netting the crucial 30th minute goal.

Bradley had six points on the board before half-time and it was Derry who called the tune right from the start.

Armagh had a dream start to the second half when Michael O'Rourke goaled within 13 seconds of the restart but Derry refused to panic and led by four points - 1-10 to 1-6 - after 40 minutes.

But Bradley netted the crucial goal to end the Armagh challenge and it was routine stuff for John Brennan's men from there until the finish.

Leinster SHC Semi-Final
Dublin 0-19 Galway 2-7

Dublin booked their place in the Leinster SHC final against Kilkenny on July 3 with a remarkable display to oust Galway in Tullamore last Saturday evening.

Despite losing Ryan O'Dwyer to a straight red card in the second half, the Sky Blues asked all of the questions against a Galway team which must now regroup for a tricky All-Ireland qualifier with Clare.

Ballyboden St Enda's clubman Paul Ryan shot 0-13 for Dublin to set up a mouthwatering showdown with the Cats at Croke Park - a game that will be a repeat meeting of Dublin's famous National League Division 1 final victory over Kilkenny.

Galway racked up a tally of 15 wides on an afternoon when star forward Joe Canning cut a frustrated figure, despite drilling home a brilliant first half goal.

Ryan, Conal Keaney and man of the match Liam Rushe were all superb for Dublin but the loss of O'Dwyer through suspension for the Leinster final is a huge blow.

And Dublin also suffered fresh injury concerns to key defender Tomas Brady and forward David Treacy.

Galway did threaten a brief revival when O'Dwyer was sent off and Joe Gantley goaled but Dublin held their nerve to close the game out and register a famous win at O'Connor Park.

Dublin led by 0-12 to 1-2 at half-time and only Canning's early goal kept the Tribesmen in some sort of contention at the midway point.

All-Ireland SHC qualifier
Antrim 2-25 Westmeath 1-19

Antrim advanced to the next phase of All-Ireland SHC qualifiers with an impressive victory against Westmeath at Casement Park last Saturday.

Two first half goals from Conor McCann proved crucial in this victory for the Saffrons against a Westmeath side that had rattled Galway in the Leinster championship.

Antrim got off to a dream start with only Paul Greville's goal keeping Westmeath in touch as the hosts led by ten points in the early stages.

At half-time, the game was effectively over as a contest as Antrim held a 2-16 to 1-9 lead and despite a brief Westmeath revival in the second half, Dinny Cahill's men were never unduly troubled.

Brendan Murtagh responded with ten points for Westmeath, including five frees and a sideline cut.

All-Ireland SHC qualifier
Cork 10-20 Laois 1-13

Your eyes do not deceive you. This was indeed the final score at O'Moore Park last Saturday afternoon as Cork routed Laois in the All-Ireland SHC qualifiers.

The ruthless Rebels hit ten goals past a stunned Laois outfit on a day when forwards Pat Horgan and Paudie O'Sullivan both finished with hat-tricks.

Horgan bagged 3-11, including 3-5 from play, while O'Sullivan, younger brother of former Cork full-back Diarmuid, notched 3-1.

Substitute Jamie Coughlan came off the bench and scored two goals while Luke O'Farrell and Bill Cooper raised Cork's other green flags on a disastrous afternoon for Laois hurling.

Remarkably, Laois trailed by just seven points at half-time, 1-8 to 3-9, but the

Leesiders bounced back from their Munster championship defeat by clinically adding seven goals in the second half.

Willie Hyland finished as top scorer for Laois with 1-4 but his side ended up losers by a whopping 34-point margin.

Cork's margin of victory was the biggest in a championship game since Wexford beat Antrim in 1954.