AIB All-Ireland Club JHC quarter-final: Fullen Gaels (Britain) 2-17 Craobh Rua (Armagh) 2-17 (aet, Fullen Gaels win 2-1 on penalties)
CRAOBH Rua suffered penalty shoot-out heart break in Birmingham yesterday as Fullen Gaels pipped them at the post to reach the All-Ireland Club Junior Hurling Championship semi-finals.
The Armagh and Ulster champions had travelled to England in the hope of setting up an All-Ireland last four clash with Munster victors Ballygiblin of Cork but couldn’t manage to put their Manchester opponents to the sword in either normal time or extra-time and ultimately paid the penalty.
Craobh Rua looked to be in control at the first water break, leading by 2-3 to 0-4 thanks to majors from off the sticks of Ryan Lewis and Fionnan Burns. However, two quick fire goals from David Burke and Robin Spencer turned the tables on the Armagh men and left Fullen Gaels 2-5 to 2-4 ahead at half-time.
The game was nip and tuck for most of the second-half, with Spencer to the fore in grabbing points for Fullen Gaels, and neither side was able to shake the other off. The 2-10 to 2-10 stalemate meant extra-time as a result.
A string of four points without reply left Craobh Rua a point in front, 2-15 to 2-14, with the game in the second period of extra-time but the sides again proved inseparable as the whistle was blown with the scores level on 2-17 apiece.
Both sides missed each of their first two penalties, but Fullen Gaels hit the front when converting at the third attempt. Craobh Rua hit back with a goal at the fourth time of asking through Tiarnan O’Hare but, after Fullen Gaels converted their fifth penalty, goalkeeper Darren Cusack proved their hero with a save from Craobh Rua’s final attempt.
The British champions will now take on Ballygiblin – who beat Skeheenarinky of Tipperary in yesterday’s Munster junior final – in the All-Ireland semi-finals.
