Updated 19.3opm
REIGNING ALL-IRELAND senior club hurling champions St Thomas will face three-time All-Ireland club winners Portumna in a mouth-watering Galway SHC semi-final clash.
St Thomas survived a major scare before prevailing in this afternoon’s quarter-final tie against Castlegar before eventually triumphing by 2-19 to 0-21 to book their semi-final place.
But they needed late goals from Galway senior Conor Cooney from a penalty and Galway minor Shane Cooney to claim glory.
St Thomas had trailed by 0-10 to 0-9 at half-time and Castlegar stayed in contention for much of the second-half before St Thomas eventually won.
Meanwhile Portumna grabbed a 1-15 to 1-14 win over Ardrahan in their quarter-final tie this evening with Damien Hayes proving the hero as he fired an injury-time winning point.
The three-time All-Ireland club champions lead at the interval by 0-7 to 0-5 but Ardrahan got a boost after the interval when Brian Murtagh found the net.
Portumna hit back and after Ardrahan went into a two-point lead, it was Galway minor Ronan O’Meara who fired home the crucial goal for Portumna.
The game looked set for a replay before Hayes struck for that crucial late point.
Loughrea
The other Galway semi-final tie will be contested by Loughrea, who were victors in their quarter-final tie over Padraig Pearses today, and Beagh, who defeated Turloughmore last week.
Loughrea triumph by 0-14 to 1-10 against Padraig Pearses today. Last year’s beaten Galway finalists needed a late point from a free by Neil Keary to claim a narrow success.
The teams were level at 0-6 apiece at the break before Padraig Pearses found the net in the second-half through Emmett Ward. But Loughrea hit back afterwards and eventually ground out the win to reach the last four stage.
