Canning woe takes gloss off LIT win
Limerick IT 1-20
GMIT 0-8
Joe Canning was taken to St John's Hospital in Limerick after suffering a shoulder injury midway through the second half of this one-sided quarter-final.
By the time he left the fray, Canning had effectively decided the outcome with his tally of 1-8.
The initial prognosis puts Canning out of action for up to six weeks, which will come as a huge blow to both LIT and Galway.
LIT scored the opening four points through Cathal McInerney (two), Canning and Paudie O'Brien before Brian Regan pointed for GMIT.
But Canning's goal after 22 minutes changed the game. It came after he had shipped a heavy knock, which resulted in a yellow card for Conor Forde. After receiving attention, Canning stepped up and blasted the free to the net.
LIT went on to lead 1-9 to 0-5 at half-time and, just as they did in the first half, LIT got off to a flying start on the resumption with five points on the trot by Canning.
By that stage it was as good as over, and GMIT managed only two points from play in a one-sided second half.
Scorers -- Limerick IT: J Canning 1-8 (1-5f, 0-1 '65'), C McInerney 0-3, E Ryan, P O'Brien 0-2 each, P Browne, S Lambert, S O'Brien, S Collins, C O'Connell 0-1 each. GMIT: J Gelston 0-3 (2f, 1 '65'), B Regan 0-2, K Greene, C O'Brien, J Hanrahan 0-1 each.
LIT -- A Fahy; E Glynn, R McCarthy, B Glynn; J Hayes, J O'Keeffe, P O'Brien; P Browne, S Lambert; S O'Brien, S Collins, E Ryan; C McInerney, J Canning, C O'Connell. Subs: R Horan for Canning (45), C Madden for O'Connell (58), C Nelson for Collins (58), G Guilfoyle for O'Brien (58).
GMIT -- J Keane; G O'Halloran, D Maher, B Mulrooney; C Forde, G Mahon, S Coughlan; K Waters, B Regan; J Gelston, A Lynch, K Greene; J Liddy, W McNamara, N Mannion. Subs: C O'Donnell for Waters (40), C Cannon for Greene (44), J Hanrahan for Mulrooney (48), C O'Brien for Gelston (48), K Feeney for Mannion (54).
REF -- B Gavin (Offaly).
Irish Independent
