St Brigid’s, Loughrea (Galway) 0-19
St Colman’s, Fermoy (Cork) 1-13

Jackie Cahill reports from University of Limerick

CONOR MOLLOY LED the way with eight points as Connacht champions St Brigid’s Loughrea overturned a five-point deficit to book a place in the All-Ireland Post Primary Schools senior hurling A semi-finals today.

St Brigid’s, co-managed by Galway captain and current All-Star David Burke,  will face off against Croke Cup holders St Kieran’s at the weekend, as St Colman’s, Fermoy, bowed out of the competition at the quarter-final stage this afternoon.

Galway hurling captain David Burke. Ryan Byrne / INPHO Ryan Byrne / INPHO / INPHO

St Colman’s led by a point at half-time, 0-9 to 0-8, on the 4G pitch at University of Limerick.

And it looked good for the Harty Cup runners-up when they registered a quick-fire 1-1 after half-time, Jake Mehigan netting within 15 seconds of the restart.

But St Brigid’s won the remainder of the game by 0-11 to 0-3, with Molloy, brother of Galway senior panellist and 2016 U21 captain Brian, collecting seven of his eight-point total from placed balls.

The Loughrea school also had strong displays from Ronan Glennon, powerful centre-forward Dylan Towolawi and Donal Mannion, as Diarmuid Lenihan scored eight points for St Colman’s.

St Brigid’s had the better of the early exchanges but after drawing level at 0-5 apiece, St Colman’s edged ahead for the first time in the 24th minute.

The St Colman's team before the Dr Harty Cup final last month. Donall Farmer / INPHO Donall Farmer / INPHO / INPHO

The sides were level on three further occasions approaching half-time before Lenihan crashed over a point from play to establish a narrow interval lead.

Mehigan took a pass from Shane O’Connor before notching the only goal of the game and while Adam Creed added a point for St Colman’s, St Brigid’s responded with four points in quick succession.

They got level at 0-15 to 1-12 when Glennon, who became increasingly influential, fired over the equalising score and the Galway boys, captained by Conor Molloy’s brother Stephen, kicked for home from there.

Scorers for St Brigid’s: Conor Molloy 0-8 (0-6f, 0-1 ’65), Ronan Glennon, Dylan Towolawi, Donal Mannion (0-1 sl) 0-3 each, Jason Nevin & Ben Moran 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Colman’s: Diarmuid Lenihan 0-8 (0-5f), Jake Mehigan 1-0, Niall O’Leary 0-2f, Barry Murphy, Greg Lardner & Adam Creed 0-1 each.

St Brigid’s Loughrea

1. Brendan Lynch (Tynagh/Abbey/Duniry)

2. Conor Delaney (Cappataggle)
3. Cian Mahony (St Thomas’)
4. Colin Curley (Kilconieron)

5. Ben Burke (Kilconieron)
6. Stephen Molloy (Kilnadeema/Leitrim – capt.)
7. Vinnie Kenny (Kilnadeema/Leitrim)

8. Ronan Glennon (Mullagh)
12. Ben Moran (Tynagh/Abbey/Duniry)

9. Sean Fallon (St Thomas’)
11. Dylan Towolawi (Kilnadeema/Leitrim)
14. Donal Mannion (Cappataggle)

10. Jason Nevin (Mullagh)
13. Conor Molloy (Kilnadeema/Leitrim)
15. Damian McGlynn (St Thomas’)

Subs

21. Keane Holloway (Kilconieron) for Fallon (45)
20. Niall Horan (Craughwell) for Nevin (55)

St Colman’s Fermoy

1. Eoin Davis (St Catherines)

2. Eoin Wallace (St Catherines)
3. Jamie O’Leary (Castlelyons)
17. Ross O’Sullivan (Fermoy)

5. Sean McCarthy (Fermoy)
6. Niall O’Leary (Castlelyons)
7. Eoin Roche (Bride Rovers)

8. Shane O’Connor (Bride Rovers)
9. Diarmuid Lenihan (Ballyhooly)

14. Brian Roche (Bride Rovers)
11. Barry Murphy (Castlelyons)
12. David Lardner (Fermoy)

20. Jake Mehigan (Ballyhooly)
25. Niall O’Regan (St Catherines)
15. Adam Creed (Fermoy)

Subs

18. David Lardner (Fermoy) for McCarthy (41)
22. Fionnán Hickey (Ballyduff Upper) for O’Regan (45)
13. Conleith Ryan (Bride Rovers) for Mehigan (52)
23. Eoin Carey (Kilworth) for D Lardner (57)

Referee: Johnny Murphy (Limerick)

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