The champions crashed out on quarter finals weekend as the adventurous Barry Coughlan and the accurate Pauric Mahony took care of business. There were some notable casualties yet the four matches lacked the zip and intensity that you come to expect from knockout hurling.
That untidiness reared its head on Saturday evening. The firm surface didn't help matters but there was an edginess to how both sides approached this one. The Gunners opened slightly sharper. Mahony escaped the clutches of Kevin Moran and was instrumental as they took a three point lead on three seperate occasions in the first half. Salle stuck in there stubbornly however and a flurry of four unanswered points left matters level (eight points apiece) at half time. It remained tight and tense in the second period. Salle switched Kevin Moran into a more advanced role and that appeared to pay off when he put them a point clear with an inspirational effort. They spurned two chances to push on which Mahony to equalise for the seventh time from an injury time 65' (14 points each).
The Gunners won the first period of extra time by 1-4 to 0-0. Seven minutes in, Coughlan went on a maruading run from deep, looped the sliotar over Ian Flynn and then dispatched it to the bottom corner. A moment of magic from an unexpected source. Salle's chances went up in smoke when Jake Dillon saw his penalty stopped by Shane O'Sullivan. At the other end, Mahony pocketed fifteen points. Stephen O'Keeffe gave a polished display of distribution and defeated manager Derek McGrath singled out his influence afterwards. By the finish, the red hot favourites resembled the walking wounded. Kevin Moran, John Mullane and Jake Dillon all carried knocks in extra time. Eoin Madigan couldn't make it through the eighty minutes and Paudi Nevin wasn't deemed fit enough to start. A mixture of bad luck and bad timing for the three time champions but no one could deny the Gunners their place in the last four. They are finding their rhythm at peak season.
An authorative opening from Mount Sion saw Tallow's championship hopes dissolve. Sean Ryan added another goal to his growing collection after four minutes to help them on their way. They led by 1-6 to 0-0 with only thirteen on the watch. Thomas Ryan offered a brief sign of encouragement for the Bridesiders when his speed and vision teed up a goal for William Henley. They were cast adrift at half time however as Sion went seven clear playing into the breeze. Martin 'F' O'Neill supplied their second goal in a lifeless second period. Austin Gleeson starred with nine points followed closely by Stephen Roche with eight as ease across the line (2-22 to 1-7)
The inbetween game at Fraher Field offered a keen edge. The forward flair of Passage eventually won out against a battling Ballyduff Upper side shorn of Adrian Power and Stephen Molumphy. Ballyduff coasted nine points ahead in the first half through the efforts of a hard nosed defence and the lively minor pair of Cian Leamy and Michael Kearney. Owen Connors nabbed a goal just before the break however and a shaft of light came in for Passage. Momentum swayed towards Peter Queally's side as they hit eight points in a row with the wind. Kearney didn't lie down and accept defeat however as the Reds drapped themselves on terms with One of the bright lights in this year's championship shot eleven points but he finished on the losing side. Five unaswered Passage points through Liam Flynn, Conor Carey, Owen Connors, Killian Fitzgerald and John Whitty propelled them to the semis for the first time since 2010 (1-19 to 0-17).
Abbeyside continued their winning momentum by steamrolling Fourmilewater in surprising fashion (3-16 to 0-6). Seamus Lawlor hit two early points for Fourmile' but they never recovered from Patrick Hurney's strike in the twelfth minute. A sideline from David Collins then slipped in to leave them 13 points down at the interval (2-9 to 0-2). Hurney drove home another nail within 30 seconds of the resumption. His six game championship total rose to 10-11 after Sunday's return of 2-2. Mark Gorman gave an exhibition of free taking and contribution eleven white flags in all.
On Saturday afternoon, Roanmore retained their senior status for 2014 with a 3-15 to 3-9 triumph over An Rinn in Kill. The 2012 intermediate winners had a short stay in the top flight and mirrored a similar winless run in the 2009 edition.
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