At the start of the year, UL manager Ollie Moran set out his goal – to get to the final weekend of this prestigious hurling competition. In his first year in charge he has achieved his aim aided greatly by the influential trainer Eamonn Meskill. At the final whistle the delight on the faces of the UL players and management was obvious to see. It was a powerful display by UL throughout the match.

  The Galway side took the lead with a point after a 65-yard effort from Tony Regan. UL responded sharply and efforts from Niall Moran, Richie Murray and a free from Conor Fitzgerald saw the Limerick students take a 2-point lead, which they would never relinquish. David Donohue and Fitzgerald (UL) exchanged points with Tony Griffin and Tomás Donovan (Galway) as both sides battled with the blustery conditions.

  Terence Grogan pulled off a fine save in the Galway goal from a David Greene shot after 24 minutes. A further pointed free from Conor Fitzgerald and a fine individual point from Eoin Fitzgerald saw UL ahead by 4 points at the break.

  David Tierney pulled a point back for Galway after 33 minutes, but UL remained defiant and steadfast. Eoin Fitzgerald doubled his personal tally after 33 minutes before the game’s only goal arrived and in such a bizarre fashion.

  Wining the ball inside his own 65, UL’s Colm Forde’s sent the sliotár skywards before it dropped onto the colds hands of Grogan on the goal line, who let it slip into his own net. UL now held the advantage and proceeded to build upon it.

  6 points and 11 minutes later, UL were out of Galway’s reach. Points from Conor Fitzgerald (3), David Donohue, Niall Moran and Donacha Sheehan effectively finished the game off as a contest. UL were ruthless in front of the goalposts and Galway had no reply. Indeed Galway’s first point of the second half did not come until the 53^rd minute when Shane Donohue struck a free over. Griffin and Tierney added further consolation points for Galway towards the end. UL now look forward to a meeting with either UCC or UCD in two weeks time in Galway.

Afterwards manager Ollie Moran was obviously ecstatic, but was not in mood for celebrating just yet. “We have done very well to get this far, we have a lot of work to do for the future, but I am very pleased with our progress. The players did exceptionally well today and I am delighted for them” said Moran.

 UL: T Houlihan, B Mahony, J Devane, D Gleeson, C Forde(1-0), B Geary, C Earley, R Murray (0-1), J Barron, C Fitzgerald (0-6), N Moran (0-2), E Fitzgerald (0-2), D Sheehan (0-2), D Greene, D Donohue (0-2). Subs used: M O’Hara, P Moroney.

 NUI Galway: T Grogan, F Gantley, E McDonagh, B McMahon, B Carroll, D McMahon, S McClearn, T Regan (0-1), S Donohue (0-1), T Griffin (0-2), T Donovan (0-1), C Hynes, D Tierney (0-2), D Rooney, F Lynch.