Sarsfields 0-12 Craughwell 0-12
Neighbours Sarsfields and Craughwell will need to meet again after playing out a draw in the Galway SHC final at Kenny Park in Athenry.
The sides were level six times throughout the contest with Craughwell only hitting the front for the first time five minutes from time.
But Niall Morrissey landed another free for Sarfields to secure the draw and ensure another day out for both sides.
Sarsfields had the strong breeze behind them in the opening half and led by 0-08 to 0-03 at the break.
It was far from free-flowing with the morning rain taking its toll and the huge crowd had little to shout about at the end of a dour opening half.
Sarsfields, appearing in their first final since 2002, never trailed during that opening half.
Morrissey gave them an early boost with a pointed free before midfielder Ger O’Halloran got Craughwell off the mark after seven minutes.
Alan Ward and another Morrissey free pushed Sarsfields back in front but they were hauled back with a good point from Alan Callanan and a free from county player Niall Healy.
However, Craughwell did not score again for the remainder of the opening half as Sarsfields made the most of the breeze.
Kerill Wade came out the field to shoot a good point after 19 minutes and Morrissey doubled the advantage with another free.
He got his fourth free six minutes from the interval before wing-back Eamon Cleary went forward to shoot an excellent score.
But the best score of the half came just before the interval when Joseph Cooney collected a pass from Ronan Quinn and landed a superb effort from 60 yards out on the left touchline.
Craughwell made a great start to the second-half with Alan Callanan pointing in less than half a minute and then Niall Healy got another free to make it 0-08 to 0-05 after 32 minutes.
Healy then struck another free to leave two between them before Morrissey hit back with a pointed free for Sarsfields.
But Healy continued to press forward and his first point from play boosted Craughwell before another effort from Ger O’Halloran cut the gap to the minimum to leave it 0-09 to 0-08 after 41 minutes.
Craughwell drew level three minutes later when All-Ireland minor winner Thomas Monaghan landed a good effort.
Morrissey hit back with another free for Sarsfields before Healy cancelled it at the other end for Craughwell.
Another Morrissey free edged Sarsfields back in front but once again Healy responded for Craughwell to tie them for the fifth time in the game with six minutes left.
Craughwell hit the front for the first time five minutes from the end when Alan Callanan pointed but a replay was the outcome when Morrissey got his eighth point four minutes from the end.
Sarsfields: C Dolan; C Murray, D Skehill, D Murray; N Quinn, R Quinn, E Cleary (0-01); K Hynes, I Fox; N Morrissey (0-08, 0-8f), J Cooney (0-01), N Kelly; I Skehill, K Wade (0-01), A Ward (0-01).
Subs: I Kelly for Fox (55 mins), K Cooney for Wade (57 mins).
Craughwell: A Ryan; S Dolan, I Daniels, M Monaghan; M Horan, A Cullinane, John Ryan; N Callanan, G O’Halloran (0-02); S Hynes, N Healy (0-06, 0-05f), Jamie Ryan; T Monaghan (0-01), A Callanan (0-03), F Healy.
Subs: K Cullinane for Hynes (48 mins).
Referee: John Keane (Rahoon/Newcastle)
