Galway SHC semi-finals set as Tommy Larkins end 44-year wait

Jason Flynn was on fire for Tommy Larkins

The Galway SHC semi-final draw has pitted holders Loughrea against Craughwell and Tommy Larkins against Clarinbridge.

Tommy Larkins were the story of the weekend after Jason Flynn fired them past Turloughmore and into the last-four for the first time in 44 years. The former county sharpshooter scored 3-8 in a 4-14 to 1-21 victory, while Conor Slattery also raised a green flag for the winners, who had trailed by 1-6 to 0-12 at the break and had come up short at the quarter-final stage on five occasions in recent years.

Their semi-final opponents will be Clarinbridge, who blitzed Gort on a 4-25 to 0-18 scoreline. 

Gort eliminated St Thomas' in the preliminary quarter-finals, but never raised a gallop this time as goals from Mark Kennedy, David Lee, Shane Bannon and Aaron Niland eased the 'Bridge into a 4-11 to 0-8 half-time lead.

Loughrea continued their quest for a three-in-a-row of Tommy Callanan Cups with a comfortable 2-19 to 0-14 win over Athenry. Jamie Ryan top-scored with 0-10, while Vince Morgan and Martin McManus hit the net.

Standing between the champions and another county final appearance are Craughwell who accounted for Sarsfields by 1-24 to 1-17 in the other quarter-final.

Sars led by 0-14 to 0-12 at the interval, but Craughwell never looked back after Adrian Prendergast netted after the restart. Kevin Cooney scored a 54th minute goal for Sarsfields, but it was too little, too late.