INTERPROVINCIAL HURLING SEMI-FINAL Connacht 2-20 Munster 2-18:CONNACHT QUALIFIED for the final of the M Donnelly interprovincial hurling championship thanks to a strong final quarter in which they outscored Munster by 2-8 to 0-5 at Pearse Stadium on Saturday.

In the process they booked a final showdown against Leinster in Abu Dhabi next month.

An unlikely comeback was completed when Niall Healy blasted home a goal in the final minute in front of a sparse attendance at the Salthill venue.

“Fair play to Niall Healy, he showed a lot of bottle to go for the goal at the end,” said Connacht manager John McIntyre, who fielded an all-Galway side except for Sligo’s Keith Raymond who notched the opening score.

Munster seemed to be coasting to victory but the introduction of Kevin Hynes and Cyril Donnellan was crucial. Munster were seven points up going into the final quarter but lost their way as Connacht finished strongly.

“It was a terrible way to lose a match,” said Munster manager Len Gaynor. “We looked like we would go on and win it when we went seven up in the second-half . . . but then seemed to run out of steam.”

Munster led 2-7 to 0-9 at the break thanks to goals from Paul Kelly and Ken McGrath.

Séamus Prendergast hit three second-half points for Munster but then Healy set up Aengus Callanan for a goal which sparked Connacht into life and narrowed the margin to 2-13 to 1-12 going into the final quarter.

Substitutes Hynes and Donnellan announced their arrival by firing over a brace of points each for Connacht as well as sending plenty of ball into Healy and Callanan.

Yet, Munster still led by two points in the final minute when Healy pounced for a fine goal and then sealed the win with an insurance point seconds later.

CONNACHT(all Galway except stated): E Ward; M Ryan (0-1), D McClearn, F Moore; A Coen (0-2, one free), B Costello, B Burke (0-1); A Cullinane (0-1), K Raymond (0-1); M Kerins, P Killilea, K Hooban (0-1); N Healy (1-6, 0-1 free, 0-1 45), J Gantley (0-1), A Callanan (1-2). Subs: K Hynes (0-2)for Killilea (37 mins), C Donnellan (0-2)for Kerins (43 mins), R Murray for Hooban (50 mins), F Healy for Raymond (58 mins).

MUNSTER: B Cummins; C O'Brien, D Prendergast, E Murphy; B Dunne, M Walsh, S Hickey; S McGrath (0-1), D O'Grady; S Prendergast (0-3), K McGrath (1-1), T Griffin (0-3); A O'Shaughnessy (0-6, frees), S Molumphy (0-1), P Kelly (1-2). Subs: D Fitzgerald for Murphy (29 mins), J Woodlock for O'Grady (half-time), J Clancy (0-1)for Kelly (50 mins), S O'Sullivan for S McGrath, 52 mins.

Referee: F Smith(Meath).