Colleges hurling quarter-final abandoned after injury to Athenry player

There were two points between the teams when the accidental injury brought an early end to proceedings

A RE-FIXTURE will be required in th All-Ireland PPS Senior AHC quarter-final between Connacht champions Athenry and Ardscoil Ris of Limerick.

The two sides met Saturday in Ballyea, Co Clare but ten minutes from the end. an Athenry player sustained an accidental injury. He was treated by medical personnel from both teams before the decision was made to call an ambulance.

On a bitterly cold afternoon with driving rain, both teams returned to the dressing rooms but then over 30-minutes later match referee Niall Malone decided to bring an end to proceedings as all waited on the ambulance.

The ambulance did arrive, about 40-minutes after the injury, to attend to the player who was then removed to hospital.

The tie will now need to be refixed to determine who advances to meet Wexford’s Good Counsel in the semi final of the Croke Cup.

Ardscoil Ris were 0-13 to 0-11 ahead when the game was abandoned In an entertaining tie in perfect underfoot conditions, the Harty Cup runners-up were 0-9 to 0-8 ahead at half time.

Niall O’Farrell, Patrick O’Neill and Michael Gavin were among the scorers for the Limerick city side, while Gavin Lee frees kept the Galway side in touch.

Ardscoil Ris were four points clear approaching half time before Athenry hit three successive scores to leave one point between the teams at the break.

Ardscoil Ris again started the better in the second half with Shane O’Brien and David Kennedy scores moving them five points clear.

Then came the Athenry fightback, with Liam Leen and Gavin Lee on the mark with points.