NUIG 1-26 GMIT 3-18 (After extra-time)
Evan Niland again led the way as NUIG advanced to Saturday's Fitzgibbon Cup final, eventually seeing off the challenge of their Galway city neighbours GMIT in a gripping semi-final at Pearse Stadium.
It’s 12 years since NUIG lifted the crown but with Hurler of the Year Cian Lynch, twice a Fitzgibbon Cup winner with Mary Immaculate College, in superb form, they eventually broke the resistance of a GMIT side hoping to make their first final.
GMIT forced the game to extra-time with a late goal but they never led in the contest, although Jeff Lynskey’s side just about did enough to shade it. NUIG, playing with the wind, led by 1-15 to 1-6 at the break, with Niland leading the way with 0-7, three of them from play.
Kevin Cooney, who finished with 1-10, gave GMIT hope with a goal but NUIG struck back when an attempted point from Lynch came back off the post and John Fleming pounced to strike to the net.
GMIT rallied in the final quarter and hit five points in succession to get within a goal.
And then in the final minute of stoppage time a free from goalkeeper Darrach Fahy dropped in front of goal and Jack Forde reacted quickest in the scramble to flash a shot to the net and send the tie to extra-time.
GMIT had the wind in the opening half of extra-time but they shot three wides and failed to score with it, while NUIG edged in front with two frees from Niland to lead by 1-23 to 3-15 at the change of ends. They held that advantage to the end of an epic contest in testing conditions.
NUIG (all Galway unless stated): L O'Reilly; E Lawless, J Fitzgerald (0-1), C Caulfield; C Killeen, D Morrissey, M Gill; O Flannery (0-1), D Kilcommins; C Walsh, C Lynch (Limerick) (0-2), F McDonagh (0-2); M Kennedy (0-2), J Fleming (1-2), E Niland (0-16, 0-11 frees). Subs: P Dunleavy (Dublin) for Morrissey (16 mins), I McGlynn for Flannery (54 mins), C Salmon for McDonagh (54 mins), D Loftus for Dunleavy (71 mins), A Prendergast for Walsh (83 mins), L Forde for Kennedy (87 mins).
GMIT (all Galway unless stated): D Fahy; L Prendergast (0-1), S Neary, K Meehan; J Forde (1-0), C Fahy (0-1), A Clarke (0-1); A O'Shaughnessy, P Foley; C Gardiner (0-2), AJ Willis (Tipperary) (0-1), D Mannion; K Cooney (1-10, 0-10 frees), S McDonagh (0-1), P Commins (0-1). Subs: E Egan (1-0) for Willis (half-time), P Martin for Mannion (67 mins), E Duggan for Commins (67 mins), D Duggan for O'Shaughnessy (69 mins), E Hunt for Meehan (79 mins), Commins for Egan (85 mins).
Referee: Liam Gordon (Galway).
