Munster Scrapes Past Limerick
Waterford's John Mullane scores a goal (INPHO)
A Roundup Of The GAA Championship Action From Jackie Cahill
Munster SHC
Waterford 3-15 Limerick 3-14
John Mullane scored a late goal at Semple Stadium to hand holders Waterford a one-point victory against Limerick in an epic Munster senior hurling semi-final.
Limerick were rank outsiders coming into this game but they led by two points before All-Star Mullane, who finished with 2-2, broke Shannonside hearts.
Limerick forward Kevin Downes, making his championship debut, hit two second half goals but Waterford's never-say-die spirit, epitomised by manager Davy Fitzgerald, came to the fore in a grandstand finish.
In the final minute, Mullane collected a delivery from sub Eoin Kelly and buried a deflected strike past Nicky Quaid to seal the Deise's passage to the July 10 Munster final.
Waterford led by 1-9 to 1-6 at half-time but this was a seesaw battle which hung in the balance until referee Barry Kelly blew his final whistle at a rain-soaked Semple Stadium.
Ulster SFC
Donegal 2-14 Cavan 1-8
Donegal hammered an inexperienced Cavan in last Sunday's Ulster SFC quarter-final.
A crowd of almost 10,000 turned up at Kingpsan Breffni Park but the hosts were completely overrun as Donegal advanced to the last four of the provincial championship.
Captain and ace marksman Michael Murphy was sent off in the 16th minute but that didn't stop Donegal in their tracks as they racked up an impressive scoring haul.
Colm McFadden and U21 star Paddy McBrearty hit 1-8 against Cavan, who suffered a major blow in the seventh minute when midfielder Ray Cullivan was sent off following a challenge on Donegal's Kevin Cassidy.
McBrearty struck for the game's opening goal after twenty minutes and Donegal ran riot thereafter, going on to lead by six points at half-time.
They were ten points clear heading into the final quarter after Rory Kavanagh netted and the visitors were in cruise control until the finish to set up a semi-final meeting with holders Tyrone.
Michael Brennan bagged an injury-time goal for Cavan after Seanie Johnston's penalty was saved but that green flag merely served to add some gloss to the final scoreline.
Leinster SFC
Carlow 0-14 Louth 0-13
Carlow pulled off a major shocked in the Leinster senior football championship as they floored last year's beaten provincial finalists Louth in Portlaoise.
Louth were reduced to 14 men before half-time when Dessie Finnegan was sent off but they looked good for victory with ten minute remaining at O'Moore Park, leading by 0-13 to 0-10.
But Luke Dempsey's Carlow stormed back in the closing stages and four unanswered points, including three from midfielder Brendan Murphy, secured a famous win.
Returning for the first time since September, Kilkenny's Henry Shefflin scores a point from play (INPHO)
Former Australian Rules footballer Murphy played through the pain barrier after damaging ankle ligaments in a recent challenge against Cavan but that didn't stop him coming good with a late purple patch, including an injury-time winner.
Carlow, who played in Division 4 of this year's National League, led by 0-8 to 0-5 at half-time having played against the breeze in the opening half.
Finnegan was sent off for a second bookable offence just before half-time but that didn't stop Louth producing an impressive second half performance which saw them outscore Carlow by 0-6 to 0-1 in the third quarter of the game.
But Carlow hung in and after Dan St Ledger tied the scores late on, Murphy kicked a priceless winner to set up a provincial semi-final showdown against Wexford.
Connacht SFC
Leitrim 0-6 Roscommon 2-12
Roscommon walloped Leitrim by 12 points in the Connacht SFC semi-final at Carrick-on-Shannon.
The Rossies, managed by former playing star Fergal O'Donnell, will contest a second successive provincial final when they tackle Galway or Mayo.
Leading forward Donie Shine and Conor Devaney scored the goals for Roscommon in a one-sided encounter at Pairc Sean MacDiarmada.
At half-time, this tie was effectively over as a contest as Roscommon led by 1-7 to 0-2, with Shine on target for a stunning goal in the 21st minute.
Leinster SHC
Wexford 1-15 Kilkenny 1-26
Reports of Kilkenny's demise have been greatly exaggerated as the Cats powered past Wexford last Saturday evening to book their spot in a seventh successive Leinster senior hurling final.
Kilkenny's 12-point loss against Dublin in the National League Division 1 final six weeks ago to the day set alarm bells ringing on Noreside but Brian Cody's men showed enough class against Wexford to suggest they'll have a major say in this year's championship.
And their win sets up a possible repeat meeting with Dublin on July 3 - if Anthony Daly's team can see off Galway in next Saturday evening's second provincial semi-final.
In truth, Kilkenny were never troubled at a sun-kissed Wexford Park and at half-time, they led by five points having played against the breeze in the opening half.
The loss of dynamic wing-back Tommy Walsh through injury was made up for by the return of Henry Shefflin for his first competitive start since last September's All-Ireland final.
The nine-time Allstar top-scored for the winners, came through the game unscathed and can only improve as the summer progresses, which is good news for Kilkenny.
All six of Kilkenny's starting forwards, both midfielders and wing back Paul Murphy registered scores from play on a routine evening for the provincial kingpins but they will face a much stiffer test from Galway or Dublin in the decider.
On The Radar
All-Ireland champions Tipperary are expected to book their place in the Munster SHC final next Sunday when they tackle Clare in the provincial semi-final. Waterford await the winners in the showpiece decider, which is fixed for July 10.
In Ulster, Armagh and Derry clash in the provincial football semi-final, with the winners down to face Donegal or holders Tyrone.
On Saturday, League champions Dublin tackle Galway in the Leinster senior hurling semi-final. The winners will play Kilkenny in the final and there's more hurling on Saturday as Antrim host Westmeath at Casement Park while Laois welcome Cork to Portlaoise in the All-Ireland hurling qualifiers.
Meanwhile, the draw for the first round of the All-Ireland senior football championship qualifiers has thrown up a repeat meeting of the controversial 2010 Leinster final between neighbours Meath and Louth.
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Leinster SFC
Wexford 1-24 Westmeath 0-15
Wexford took Westmeath apart in last Saturday's Leinster SFC quarter-final to book their place in the last four of the provincial championship.
Wexford had impressed against Offaly in the previous round and once again, it was forwards Ciaran Lyng and Ben Brosnan who stepped up to the plate.
Wexford don't appear to be suffering unduly from the loss of retired former scoring ace Matty Forde as Lyng and Brosnan have starred in both of the team's championship outings to date.
Lyng bagged ten points, including seven from play, while Brosnan, playing just his second championship game, hit seven points at Wexford Park.
Westmeath forwards Dessie Dolan and Denis Glennon hit 0-11 between them, with Dolan accounting for 0-7, but Wexford won each half by six points on an evening when they were rarely troubled.
Redmond Barry goaled within a minute and that early strike provided the platform for an impressive win.
Ulster SHC
Armagh 0-14 Down 1-10
Armagh's senior hurlers made history last Sunday as they advanced to a first Ulster senior hurling final since 1946.
Michael Johnson's charges stunned raging hot favourites Down at Casement Park to set up a meeting with Antrim in the provincial decider.
Armagh led by 0-7 to 0-6 at half-time before Gareth Johnson's 44th minute goal gave Down the edge.
But Armagh, who lost by 27 points against Down in last year's championship, produced an incredible finish as Conor Corvan sealed victory with the winning point.
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