Graigue-Ballycallan selector Jim Neary has said that yesterday's drawn All-Ireland Club Hurling Championship semi-final was so good, there would have been no disgrace in losing. The Kilkenny side and their Clare counterparts, Sixmilebridge, played out a cracking game at Semple Stadium Thurles in front of almost 7,000, which certainly wasn't for the weak-hearted as Sixmilebridge took the lead twice in the dying minutes only to watch as Eddie Brennan and then Adrian Ronan brought the sides level, with Micheál Hoyne firing from long range in a last-gasp effort to win the match for the Kilkenny club but the sliothar went wide of the post.
"It was a great day for hurling despite the talk that goes on this time of year about unsuitable pitches etc," said Neary. "But you couldn't ask for better, it was one of the liveliest games I was at - being involved with or just to look at. It was super. Two great teams contested it, I thought, very sportingly and brilliantly. I just couldn't ask for better. Even though, as I said, I was on the sidelines being part of it, you get caught up but it was totally enjoyable and had we lost, you still would have felt you were part of a great occasion," he added.
The replay will now take place next Saturday afternoon once again at Semple Stadium with a place in the final against Athenry of Galway on St Patrick's Day up for grabs.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
