Connacht claim dramatic interpro win

Connacht 1-15 Munster 2-10, Ballyforan (aet)

John O'Mahony's Connacht side scored a dramatic 1-15 to 2-10 win over Munster, after extra-time, in tonight's M Donnelly Interprovincial football semi-final in Ballyforan.

Mayo duo Ger Brady and Conor Mortimer sent over the winning points for the westerners in extra-time, ensuring their province's place in the final against Ulster or Leinster, who clash tomorrow night in Cavan.

Mortimer hit four early points as Connacht went 0-05 to no score in front but Mike Frank Russell teed up his Kerry team-mate Kieran Donaghy for a brilliant goal. An Alan Dillon free nudged the hosts 0-07 to 1-03 clear at the break.

Waterford's Gary Hurney looked to have decided it when he found the Connacht net late in the second half, but battling midfielder David Brady fisted in the levelling goal for a 1-13 to 2-10 scoreline at the end of normal time.

O'Mahony's men, who were without injured Galway star Michael Meehan, had the backing of a blustery wind in the first and with Mortimer's pin-point shooting, they boasted a five-point lead by the 17th-minute.

Munster, managed by Jerry O'Sullivan, took a while to gel but rocked the hosts onto their heels with a blast of 1-01 within the space of 70 seconds.

Corner forward Russell knocked over his side's opening point in the 20th-minute and moments later, he passed off for Kerry's All-Ireland hero Donaghy to rocket a shot past David Clarke in the Connacht goal.

After a Finian Hanley point, Munster drew level with points from Russell (free) and Corkman Conor McCarthy, although Dillon had the first half's final word, converting a placed ball from 30 yards out.

Turning around with the breeze, Munster predictably took charge and they hit the front when Hurney, who did his reputation no end of good by shooting 1-02 from play, Kevin O'Sullivan and Tommy Griffin all pointed for a 1-06 to 0-07 advantage.

O'Mahony had trump cards in Ger Brady and Sligo star Sean Davey, both men came on off the bench and had key roles to play. They helped Connacht reassume the lead with two excellent scores.

It was nip and tuck right until the 65th-minute when Hurney outstripped his marked and blasted past Clarke for what looked to be the decisive blow for Munster.

Connacht though had more to come and had the legs on their opponents in extra-time - Ger Brady, six minutes in, and top scorer Mortimer, four minutes later, decided an epic affair.

Connacht: D Clarke; K Fitzgerald, F Hanley (0-01), D Burke; D Heaney (capt), D Blake, B McWeeney; D Brady (1-00), J Bergin; A Kerins, M Breheny, E O'Hara; C Mortimer (0-08 (0-04f, 0-01 sl)), A Dillon (0-02 (0-01f, 0-01 sl)), G Heneghan.

Subs used: S Davey (0-01) for Breheny, D Meehan for McWeeney (both 26 mins), G Brady (0-03) for Heneghan, S Daly for Heaney (both half-time), D Savage for Davey (60).

Munster: P Fitzgerald; K O'Connor (0-01), M McCarthy, T O'Sullivan; M Shields, G Spillane, A O'Mahony; N Murphy (capt), T Griffin (0-01); C McCarthy (0-01), G Hurney (1-02), S Buckley; K O'Sullivan (0-01), K Donaghy (1-00), MF Russell (0-04 (0-04f)).

Subs used: W Hennessy for C McCarthy (49 mins), J Galvin for Buckley (53), J Hayes for K O'Sullivan (58), B Lacey for Hennessy (68).

Referee: Jimmy McKee (Armagh)