GARRY OWEN had this AIB All-Ireland League tie in Limerick yesterday tied up at the break and they were also assured of the bonus point but as news of the Shannon and Dolphin game began to filter through to Dooradoyle the need for a big points tally became the light blues' goal.

Two tries in the dying minutes from twins Cillian and Ciaran O'Boyle sent the home fans into ecstacy as Garryowen qualified for the last four with local rivals Shannon losing out on points difference.

This was a terrific end of season game with the home side running in seven tries and out-half Eoghan Hickey giving a masterly display.

Garryowen got their first try after just four minutes when Anthony Kavanagh crashed over the Wegians line after being set up by Ciaran O'Boyle.

Four minutes later it was 10-0 to home side thanks to a Hickey penalty and tries before the break from Conan Doyle, Mark Melbourne and a push-over from the pack with Damian Varley grounding the ball ensured the bonus point. Eoghan Hickey, who landed seven of his eight attempts at the posts, added the four first half conversions to leave the light blues leading 31-0 at the break.

Galwegians tried hard in the second half but the sinbinning of their number six Ambrose Conboy just before half-time did their chances of a revival little good.

The visitors got their only consolation of the afternoon with Mick Wakely showing power and pace to carve his way over for a try which he also converted but Conan Doyle responded almost immediately with a fifth Garryowen try, finding a gap in the Wegians' defence to go clear. Hickey again converted to bring the score to 38-7 after 64 minutes.

Word from the home dugout was to go for points from here to the end and every time that Garryowen cut loose they looked like adding to their tally. In a welter of excitement the home side added the two tries and a conversion that was to seal their place in the semi-finals.

Cillian O'Boyle made a 50metre break from almost his own line to set up the first one. Conor Kilroy cleverly kicked the ball to the right wing after it went loose and Ciaran O'Boyle snapped up the chance to hare in for try number six which Hickey converted. In the final minute Garryowen sealed their ticket when a flowing backline move finished with replacement Cillian O'Boyle taking the final pass to go over.

GARRYOWEN C Kilroy; A O'Loughlin, K Hartigan (Cillian O'Boyle 64), C Doyle, Ciaran O'Boyle; E Hickey, G Hurley; R Brosnan, D Varley, J Staunton; E Mackey (D Sheehan 65), M Melbourne; P Neville, A Kavanagh, P Malone GALWEGIANS K Hickman (P O'Toole 40); J Cleary M Wakley, A Barrett, J Wakley; P Durcan, C McPhillips; D O'Connell (D O'Brien 40), C Muldoon, R Davies; D Boyd, A Browne;

A Conboy, I Cullinane, L Casserley Referee C Stanley (UAR)