TUS Midwest hammer ATU Galway to secure Fitzgibbon quarter-final berth

All the damage was done in the first half with TUS building a 17-point lead that they never looked like relinquishing.

Eoghan Connolly of TUS Midwest, 17, and his team-mates leave the pitch at half-time of the Electric Ireland Higher Education GAA Fitzgibbon Cup Round 2 match between University of Limerick and TUS Midwest. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

TUS MIDWEST 5-24 ATU GALWAY 3-13

TUS Midwest booked their place in the Fitzgibbon Cup quarter-finals with a comprehensive 5-23 to 3-13 victory over ATU Galway in Moylish.

All the damage was done in the first half with TUS building a 17-point lead.

Kian O’Kelly fired two goals in the first half and added a second after the break for Jimmy Browne’s side. Sean Conneally and Ger Browne added the others.

ATU Galway made a better fist of the game in the second half.

O’Kelly got the scoring underway inside a minute after pouncing on a Paddy Donnellan delivery to fire over his first point.

The same man bagged his first goal of the night moments later after smart build-up play by Kenneally.

Points from Kyle Shelly, Browne and the outstanding Cian O’Dwyer as TUS built a 1-4 to 0-0 advantage after five minutes.

John Cooney got ATU on the board with a long-range effort but that was immediately met by Browne and Niall O’Farrell scores for TUS.

The second goal arrived on 14 minutes and again it was O’Kelly that provided the finish. 

TUS did not relent as just 60 seconds later it was Kenneally finding the net after O’Kelly’s assist.

Cian Folan got ATU’s second point of the game immediately after but O’Dwyer’s sumptuous score had TUS 3-8 to 0-2 in front with 22 minutes on the clock.

ATU's Conor Molloy landed a couple of scores as the half drew to a close.

However, Shelly, Browne, O’Kelly and Farrell were a cut above in the opening half hour and gave TUS a 3-14 to 0-7 advantage.

O’Dwyer landed the first score of the second half after just 16 seconds.

Whatever hopes of ATU raising a second-half comeback elapsed on 35 minutes with Browne the next TUS player to hit the net after excellent work from O’Farrell.

Molloy (2) and Cooney again raised green flags in the closing stages but it was O’Kelly that had the final say with his hat-trick goal that sealed victory by 5-24 to 3-13.

TUS’ reward for the victory is a quarter-final Limerick derby against Mary Immaculate College next week.

Scorers for TUS Midwest: K O’Kelly 3-2, G Browne 1-4, C O’Dwyer 0-7 (2 ‘65s), K Shelly 0-6 (4f), S Kenneally 1-0, N O’Farrell and G Ryan 0-2 each, E Connolly 0-1.

Scorers for ATU Galway: J Cooney 2-3 (1-0 pen, 0-2f), C Molloy 1-5 (3f), J Downey 0-3, C Folan and D Shaughnessy 0-1 each.

TUS Midwest (Tipperary unless stated): E Dunphy (St Mary’s); T Collins (Ballygar, Galway), D Casey (Granagh-Ballingarry, Limerick), J McCullagh (Bangelstown Gaels, Carlow); P Donnellan (Broadford, Clare), E Connolly (Cashel King Cormacs), D Keogh (Clooney-Quin, Clare); J Ryan (Birr, Offaly), N O’Farrell (Broadford, Clare); C O’Dwyer (Clonakenny), K Shelly (Moycarkey Borris), G Ryan (Cappawhite); G Browne (Cashel King Cormacs), K O’Kelly (Kilruane MacDonaghs), S Kenneally (Moneygall).

SUBS: O Kavanagh (Broadford, Clare) for Shelly (47), J Ryan (Drom & Inch) for O’Farrell (47), M Ryan (Murroe-Boher, Limerick) for Ryan (57 mins), D Boland (Broadford, Clare) for McCullagh (59 mins), P Morrissey (Ahane, Limerick) for Browne (59). 

ATU GALWAY (Galway unless stated): M Egan (Cappataggle); R Lyons (Kiltormer); S Neary (Castlegar), O Kenny (Kilnadeema, Leitrim); D Parr (Athenry), J Cooney (Sarsfields), R Hickey (Castlegar); R Meehan (Ballindereen), E Duggan (St Thomas’); J Downey (Meelick-Eyrecourt), D Shaughnessy (Loughrea), E Hunt (Beagh); C Molloy (Kilnadeema, Leitrim), C Foley (Moycullen), K Forde (Na Piarsaigh, Cork).

SUBS: B O’Connor (Ardrahan) for Forde (h-t), A Evans (Kilconieron) for Lyons (h-t), E Madden (Feakle, Clare) for Hickey (h-t), E Cooney (Gort) for Kenny (40), E Gardiner (Ardrahan) for Downey (59). 

REFEREE: N Malone (Clare).