CLUB SEVENS/ELEVENS:GALWAY'S CLUB sides earned a strong start to the weekend for the hurlers of the West with four of the six All-Ireland Sevens/Elevens titles going to the Tribesmen on Saturday.
In the 40th year of the One Direct All-Ireland Kilmacud Crokes Senior Sevens, Mullagh claimed their first title with a 9-9 to 7-8 win over Gort.
Galway teams provided the four semi-finalists. Mullagh beat Beagh by 4-10 to 0-7 in their last-four clash, while Gort were 3-9 to 1-6 winners over Kiltormer.
In a high-scoring final, Mullagh prevailed by seven points, but only after Gort made a strong start.
The Andy Coen-led side claimed a 6-1 to 2-3 lead in the ninth minute, with Greg Lally and Gerry O’Donoghue among their goalscorers. However, Mullagh rallied before the break to ensure a 6-3 to 4-5 interval scoreline.
Goals from Kevin Briscoe, Conor Dervan, Cathal Hardiman and Alan White powered Mullagh to an 8-8 to 6-7 lead. Donal Reilly put the gloss on the victory with Mullagh’s ninth goal deep into injury-time.
Gort goalkeeper Peter Cummins took the Player of the Tournament Award.
A quartet of unanswered goals late on for Eire Óg Corrachoill, earned the Kildare side Kilmacud Crokes All-Ireland Sevens Shield honours thanks to a 5-6 to 0-5 win over Eoghan Ruadh Dungannon.
Father and son combination Joe and Evan Dempsey netted two goals each in the closing 10 minutes.
Clarinbridge took the Under 13 Sevens title thanks to a 1-6 to 0-3 win over Douglas, Cork.
There was another all-Galway final in the Ratoath Intermediate 11’s with Moycullen 4-6 to 3-8 winners over Kilimor.
Blackrock retained their St Judes All-Ireland Junior Sevens Cup title, following victory over Shannon Rovers by 2-10 to 2-3, in a repeat of the 2011 decider.