A personal tally of 1-6 from Niall Healy helped Connacht pull off a surprise win against a strong Munster side in this M Donnelly interprovincial hurling semi final at Pearse Stadium. Connacht 2-20 Munster 2-18 The future of this competition was further put in doubt as the attendance for this match struggled over the 100 mark, but the standard of hurling produced by both sides was to be applauded. Paul Kelly gave Munster the best possible start when he found the net after just seven minutes after Stephen Molumphy had played him through. Then just four minutes later and the Southerners had their second goal on the scorebaord when the impressive Ken McGrath rifled home as Munster led by 2-7 to 0-9 at half time. Connacht upped the tempo in the seocnd half and despite a lack of experience at this level, they fought back and substitutes Kevin Hynes and Cyril Donnellan helped them claw their way back into the match, during which time Aonghus Callanan scored their first goal. Munster responded through Seamus Prendergast, while Connacht kept plugging away and further points from Andy Coen, Brian Burke and Martin Ryan saw them edge closer. Tony Griffin and sub Jonathan Clancy steadied the ship for Munster as the game entered its final minutes, but Healy cracked home a superb goal and followed up with a point to ensure Connacht's seats on the plane to Abu Dhabi next month. Scorers -- Connacht: N Healy 1-6 (0-2f), A Callanan 1-2, A Coen (0-1f), K Hynes, C Donnellan 0-2 each, M Ryan, B Burke, A Cullinane, K Raymond, K Hooban, J Gantley 0-1 each. Munster: A O'Shaughnessy 0-6 (0-6f), P Kelly 1-2, K McGrath 1-1, S Prendergast, T Griffin 0-3 each, S McGrath, S. Molumphy, J Clancy 0-1 each. Munster: B Cummins (Tipperary); C O'Brien (Tipperary), D Prendergast (Waterford), E Murphy (Waterford); B Dunne (Tipperary), M Walsh (Waterford), S Hickey (Limerick); S McGrath (Tipperary), D O'Grady (Limerick); S Prendergast (Waterford), K McGrath (Waterford), T Griffin (Clare); A O'Shaughnessy (Limerick), S Molumphy (Waterford), P Kelly (Tipperary). Subs: D Fitzgerald (Tipperary) for Murphy (27), J Woodlock (Tipperary) for O' Grady (h/t), J Clancy (Clare) for Kelly (49), S O' Sullivan (Waterford) for McGrath (53). Connacht: (All Galway except stated) E Ward; M Ryan, D McClearn, F Moore; A Coen, B Costello, B Burke; A Cullinane, K Raymond (Sligo); M Kerins, P Killilea, K Hooban; N Healy, J Gantley, A. Callanan. Subs: K Hynes for Killilea (38), C Donnellan for Kerins (42), R Murray for Hooban (49), F Healy for Raymond (58). Tweet

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