Ronan earns rousing salvation

Concluding fireworks at Thurles guided yesterday's AIB All-Ireland semi-final to a replay at the same venue next Saturday. A scrappy, error-strewn first half had given way to an improved second period and a rousing final quarter with both sides having reason to feel relieved.

Niall Gilligan crowned a productive afternoon with four minutes left by winning a ball from Martin Conlon and zipping along the endline before delivering a cracking finish from the tightest of angles. This pushed Sixmilebridge a point in front at a stage when the match seemed to be going against them.

After a Gilligan free had doubled their deficit, GraigueBallycallan hit back with two points before Gilligan set up John Reddan for what looked like the winning point in the last minute. Adrian Ronan provided salvation for the Kilkenny champions by snapping a fine point over in reply and Micheal Hoyne almost won it for them at the death when his difficult shot just faded wide.

Sixmilebridge were on the back foot for most of the match and added to their predicament with some astonishing, unforced mistakes in defence, particularly in the first half. The failure of their centrefield and half forwards to harness a strong breeze meant that the Clare champions led by only a point at a half-time.

Graigue-Ballycallan's star turn, Ronan, denied that they were taking anything for granted at the break but it looked promising for the Kilkenny team. They had had a lot more of the attacking play despite facing the wind and would have had a comfortable lead but for a succession of wides and the defensive lapse which cost them an early goal.

The Leinster champions also endured a major setback after only five minutes when wing back Tomas McCluskey had to be stretchered off after a collision which got John Chaplin booked although there didn't appear to be any intent. McCluskey was taken to hospital with a leg injury and must be in doubt for the replay.

Graigue's early two-point lead was wiped out in the ninth minute when Gilligan mishit a free into the square and Brian Culbert got the touch to divert the dropping ball into Johnny Ronan's goal. In the 10 minutes which followed, Sixmilebridge rattled off five points with only one in reply and looked to be on the way to the sort of lead their wind advantage would require.

Yet all the time there was indecision in their play. At the back only John O'Connell displayed the necessary composure and the ball was constantly being missed or fumbled. Furthermore, Davy Fitzgerald was twice pulled up for overstepping the line at puck-outs. Four first-half scores were conceded by simply giving away possession and were it not for their opponents' inaccuracy, the Munster champions would have been in serious trouble. At centrefield they were struggling despite a bravura start by captain Christy Chaplin, including two great, long-range points, and Graigue's James Young asserted himself with eventual help from Eddie O'Dwyer who finished the match strongly with some excellent striking for a point and the creation of Ronan's goal.

Despite all the assistance, the Leinster champions weren't making much headway and Ronan himself - who would end up with 1-5 - had three wides but once they clicked towards the end of the half, they ran off a succession of scores, including three in two minutes, to trim the margin.

It even looked at one stage as if Thomas Dermody had got in for a goal when a fiercely struck point made the net shimmer at the Killinan End. With the wind at their backs, Graigue-Ballycallan struggled to make the advantage and their strong finish to the first half pay dividends. Instead the Clare side hung on with Gilligan more involved out the field rather than marooned at full forward. But on 41 minutes the match turned.

Eddie O'Dwyer dropped the ball in and Ronan timed his jump perfectly and needed hardly any space to crack in the goal that pushed his team in front 1-9 to 18. The impressive Micheal Hoyne added to the lead and until six minutes from time, the Kilkenny team three times restored a twopoint lead before Gilligan's goal brought about the nail-biting finale.

"I'm delighted with the way we hung in there plugging away," said the 'Bridge's strike forward. "The goal came just in time and then we got a point from a free. In the first half, I thought we were very bad, at sixes and sevens. We didn't use the wind advantage well and it was easier playing against wind on the inside."

His counterpart Ronan was relieved but a little wistful. "The pitch was excellent but mistakes were made on both sides. It's wicked getting out of Leinster for the first time and nearly leaving it behind. The occasion got to us and we shot stupid wides, particularly in the first half. Tommy McCloskey going off affected us badly. We had a bit of run on at that stage and it died. That's the pity, we did hurl well."

SIXMILEBRIDGE: D Fitzgerald; K McInerney, J O'Connell, W Kennedy; A Mulready, P Hayes, D Murphy; S Fitzpatrick, C Chaplin (0-2); J Chaplin, J Reddan (0-2), M Conlon; B Culbert (1-2), N Gilligan (1-7, seven points from frees), J O'Meara. Subs: B Kennedy for Fitzpatrick (halftime); R Conlon for J Chaplin (52 mins).

GRAIGUE-BALLYCALLAN: J Ronan; J Butler, P O'Dwyer, J Ryall; A Hoyne, T Comerford, T McCluskey; J Young, E O'Dwyer (0-1); M Hoyne (0-3), J Hoyne, D Byrne (0-1); A Ronan (1-5), T Dermody (0-3), E Brennan (0-3). Subs: P McCloskey for T McCluskey (5 mins); J Young for J Hoyne (59 mins).

Referee: P O'Connor (Limerick).