GAA: Ballygunner progress to Munster semi-final while Athy and Summerhill advance in Leinster

Ballygunner's quest for the Munster club hurling title continues.

The Waterford kingpins, who lost last year's final, beat Limerick champions Na Piarsaigh 0-18 to 0-015 in a quarter-final tie at the Gaelic Grounds.

Ballygunner produced the last three points at TUS Gaelic Grounds to confirm a repeat of last year’s Munster final in a semi-final against Sarsfields in two weeks.

A crowd of 2,667 took in a match that only came to life in the closing quarter. A Kevin Downes free in the 45th minute levelled this quarter-final for the first time since the 23rd minute.

In between, Ballygunner had led by three at half-time – 0-8 to 0-5 – and by as much as five a couple of minutes into the second half as Patrick Fitzgerald stormed into the affair.

The talismanic Pauric Mahony had rolled an ankle and was missing from the Ballygunner attack as Na Piarsaigh’s inter-county midfielder William O’Donoghue who wasn’t togged out due to a hamstring problem.

Scores by Adrian Breen and Ronan Lynch tied up the game for Na Piarsaigh by the 23rd minute but Ballygunner posted the remaining three scores of the game, often finding ample space on their right wing.

Hutchinson’s first free was followed by Hartley’s second after superb work by Kevin Mahony and his brother Michael rounded out the half with another white flag.

Meanwhile, Kildare champions Athy are into the Leinster semi-finals after they defeated Wicklow side Baltinglass 3-16 to 0-10.

Ronan Kelly scored 2-2 for Athy in what was a comfortable afternoon for the Kildare side.

Athy scored their first goal through Kelly to give themselves a 1-7 to 0-4 lead, with Baltinglass reducing the lead to four before half-time.

However, Kelly got Athy going right away in the second half with his second goal, and they had their third through James McGrath to seal victory.

Meath champions Summerhill will also be in the last four of Leinster as they defeated Longford's Killoe Young Emmets 2-22 to 1-16.

It was the Longford side who had the better of the early stages of the first half, with Paddy Moran's seven points in the game giving Summerhill problems.

They scored their goal through Larry Moran in the 25th minute, extending their lead to 1-10 to 0-7.

Summerhill responded in the 27th minute with their first goal through Jamie O'Shea, and were one behind at halftime as Emmets led 1-11 to 1-10.

The lead did not last long in the second half, with Summerhill scoring the next five points.

The Meath side had their second goal through Adam Flanagan in the 45th minute, and pushed on from that moment to seal victory.

In Waterford, Rathgormack are senior football champions with a 1-12 to 1-10 win over The Nire.

The sides were level until the dying moments, where two scores from Willie Hahessy and Billy Power gave Rathgormack the title.

Reigning All-Ireland Ladies Club football champions Kilkerrin-Clonberne have progressed to the Connacht final this afternoon.

The Galway club beat Westport of Mayo in the semi-finals by 1-17 to 2-7.

They will face St Brigid's of Roscommon in the decider.

In Camogie, Loughiel of Antrim booked their spot in the final of the Ulster Championship with a 7-11 to 5-point win over Slaughtneil of Derry.