Kilkenny's Graigue-Ballycallan and Six Mile Bridge of Clare must meet again to decide who joins Athenry in the All-Ireland Club Hurling final on St Patrick's Day. The Leinster and Munster champions fought out an absorbing 1-16 to 2-13 draw at Semple Stadium, Thurles, this afternoon, while Galway's Athenry overcame the spirited challenge of Antrim club Dunloy by 3-20 to 1-16 in Dublin's Parnell Park.
The Kilkenny side looked the sharper earlier on and edged two points ahead before the Bridge gained control in fortuitous circumstances. Niall Gilligan seemed to miss-hit a 50-yard free, but when the sliotar landed in the goalmouth Brian Corbett was on hand to scramble it to the net in the 9th minute.
The Bridge led by a point at half-time, but by the 7th minute of the second half Denis Byrne had levelled for Graigue. The sides exchanged scores right to the end in a pulsating finish to a great game, with Adrian Ronan and Niall Gilligan scoring wonder goals as both sides tried to gain the advantage. However, it was fitting that Graigue star Adrian Ronan fired over an equalising point in the closing seconds of the game to force the draw. The replay will take place at Semple Stadium next Saturday.
In the second semi-final, a wonderful exhibition of scoring from Eugene Coonan was the highlight of Athenry’s 3-20 to 1-10 victory over Antrim's Dunloy. He scored 1-11 in total in a game the Connacht champions were always favourites to win, but despite the champion’s 16 point winning margin, Dunloy gave as good as they got during a tight first twenty minutes. They lead twice during that period and were level at 06-06 at one stage, but as Joe Rabbitte became more involved the Ulstermen began to lose their stride. Athenry gradually assumed control of the vital midfield battle and added 1-05 without reply before the break, with the goal coming from corner forward David Donoghue.
Then, just 30 seconds into the second half, that lead stretched to 11 points following a Cathal Moran goal for the Galway men. Cloonan and Pat Higgiins added points before Dunloy’s only goal, from Seamus McMullen, arrived eight minutes in. However, Eugene Cloonan got his only goal of the game with 14 minutes left to put the seal on a deserving and well crafted win.
Meanwhile, in the day's only Allianz National Hurling League fixture, Waterford beat Wexford by 3-13 to 0-13 in Division 1B at Gorey.
Filed by Shane Murray
