Hard luck to our boys Brian Carey and Evan McInerney who lost out by the narrowest of marsing in the All Ireland Semi Final.

All-Ireland Intermediate Hurling Semi-Final
Clancy/Clantech (Tipperary) 4-13
Atlantic Aviation (Clare) 2-18

Clancy/Clantech qualified for the All-Ireland final after getting the better of Atlantic Aviation in an entertaining match played at UL on Thursday night.

Both side played some great hurling throughout with Clancy/Clantech building up big leads on a number of occasions but Atlantic kept battling back as they fell just short of forcing extra time in a pulsating finish to the game.

Jack Lillis put Clancy/Clancy in front with a good point inside the first minute. Jamie Coughlan increased the lead to two points when firing over a free after 3 minutes. Atlantic got their first score after 4 minutes with a well struck point from Billy Connors. Good play from Clancy saw them score their first goal on 6 minutes when Lillis finished well past Jerry Forrest in the Atlantic goal. Two more points from Coughlan and a good score from John Ryan saw Clancy/Clantech lead by 7 points after 10 minutes. Ross Kenny pulled a point back for Atlantic after turning well and splitting the post with a shot. Mike Kearns scored a great goal for Clancy/Clantech on 12 minutes after a strong run and shot to the back of the Atlantic net to put Clancy/Clantech 9 points in front. Another pointed free from Coughlan and the lead was out to 10 points after 14 minutes. Atlantic looked to be in trouble but then hit a purple patch. Points from Shane Lynch, Brian Carey and Billy Connors had the lead down to 7 points. Atlantic were right back in the match after 18 minutes when Ross Kenny made a great catch on the 21 and hit a well struck effort that was saved by Mike Ryan. The rebound was finished to the net by Sean Meaney to make it a 4 point game. Seamus Callanan fired over his first point on 19 minutes to increase the lead to 5 points. Ronan Molloy cut the deficit with a pointed free on 20 minutes. Callanan scored his second point to make it a 5 point game again. Billy Connors scored his third point for Atlantic to reduce the lead. A good ball into the square from Ronan Molloy was finished to the back of the Clancy/Clantech net by Sean Meaney and there was now only 1 point between the teams. Good play from Callanan created a goal chance for John Ryan on 26 minutes and Ryan made no mistake to restore the 4 point lead for Clancy/Clantech. Back came Atlantic again with points from Ronan Molloy (2) and Ross Kenny to leave it Clancy/Clantech 3-8 Atlantic Aviation 2-10 at half time.

Seamus Callanan made it a 2 point game with a good score at the start of the second half. Ronan Molloy responded for Atlantic with a point on 32 minutes. Clancy/Clantech started to dominate and points from Jamie Coughlan (2) and John Ryan put them 4 points in front. Good play from Callanan saw his effort at goal saved by Forrest but Shane Bennett was on hand to finish the rebound to the back of the Atlantic net and the lead was out to 7 points. Another pointed free from Coughlan left 8 points between the teams. It looked all over for Atlantic but like the first half they set about getting back in the match. Two points inside a minute from Ronan Molloy had the lead down to 6 points. A great score from wing back Evan McInerney made it a 5 point game. Three in a row from Molloy and it was now a 2 point game. Brian Carey split the posts from a free on 57 minutes and there was now only 1 point between the sides. Clancy/Clantech defended heroically in the closing stages as Atlantic threw everything at them trying to force extra time. Two shots went narrowly wide and another fell short as Clancy/Clantech held on for narrow but overall deserved place in the final.

Clancy/Clantech: Mike Ryan (Ballysaggart), David Whelan (St Marys), Fintan Purcell (Drom & Inch), Bob Frewen (Glen Rua), Michael Purcell (Drom & Inch), Maidhrc Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch), Paddy Foley (Lismore), Brian Tobin (Kilworth), Shane Bennett (Ballysaggart)(1-0), Mike Kearns (St Marys)(1-0), Seamus Callanan (Drom & Inch)(0-3), Jamie Coughlan (Abbeyside)(0-7, 7f), Donnachadh O'Halloran (Galtee Gaels), John Ryan (Drom & Inch)(1-2), Jack Lillis (Drom & Inch)(1-1)

Subs: Darragh Fitzpatrick (Drom & Inch), Tom Dukes (Kilgibnet)

Atlantic Aviation: Jerry Forrest (Wolfe Tones), Sean Bury (Ballyboden St Endas), James Carey (Kilbeacanty), Tommy Howard (Clarecastle), Sean O'Connor (Newmarket), Brian Carey (Sixmilebridge)(0-2, 1f), Evan McInerney (Sixmilebridge)(0-1), Ronan Molloy (Tulla)(0-9, 4f), Mark Delaney (Newmarket), Luke Merrigan (Wolfe Tones), Ross Kenny (Ballybrown)(0-2), Philip Gantley (Cappawhite), Sean Meaney (Ballyea)(2-0), Billy Connors (Wolfe Tones)(0-3), Shane Lynch (Newmarket)(0-1)

Subs: Ethan Dorney (Knockainey), Derek Deegan (Wolfe Tones), Tom O'Gorman (Shannon Gaels), Chris Dunning (Wolfe Tones)

Referee: John O'Halloran (Limerick)