GALWAY SHC Gort 2-11 Loughrea 0-11:COUNTY MINOR Richie Cummins wasn't even born when Gort last reached the Galway SHC final but he had the composure to point them towards their first decider in 25 years when he crashed home a superb second-half goal.
Cummins took a pass, side-stepped a defender, and blasted low into the bottom right corner to put Gort 2-6 to 0-5 ahead after 42 minutes in foul conditions at Athenry's Kenny Park.
That score knocked the heart out of a Loughrea side bidding to reach their fourth final in six years.
Gort will face reigning All-Ireland club champions Portumna in the final and will be seeking their first title since 1983.
GORT:P Cummins; T Linnane, M McMahon, A Coen; S Óg Linnane, B Regan, G Lally; A Harte, S Forde; G Quinn (1-5, all frees), P Killilea (0-2), M Nestor (0-1); R Cummins (1-1), O Fahy (0-2), N Linnane. Subs: N Forde for S Linnane (half-time); M Cummins for N Linnane (45 mins).
LOUGHREA:N Murray; T Regan, D McClean, D Melia; J Dooley, N Shaughnessy, B Mahony; V Maher (0-1), R Regan; J Maher (0-6, all frees), G Kennedy, E Mahony; G Glynn (0-1), J O'Loughlin (0-3, one sideline), K Colleran. Sub: K Daniels for Mahony (49 mins).
Referee:A Kelly.