A last-minute goal from substitute Ollie Baker helped St Joseph's to a surprise 2-12 to 1-13 win over hot favourites, Sixmilebridge, in the semi-final of the Clare senior hurling championship at Cusack Park, Ennis yesterday.
Baker had only come into the action with eight minutes remaining, having been on the injured list all week following last week's quarter-final. He came on at fullforward and got the vital touch to a Sean McMahon 65.
Sixmilebridge had got off to an excellent start with a rather fortunate goal after two minutes. By the end of the opening quarter they were seven points clear, but then Andrew Whelan scored a great goal for St Joseph's. At halftime it was 1-9 to 1-4 in favour of Sixmilebridge.
With McMahon in control at centre back, St Joseph's turned in a great second half and snatched victory with Baker's goal. Sixmilebridge did have one last chance just before the final whistle, but John Chaplin saw his attempt go wide just before the final whistle.
In the second semi-final, also at Cusack Park, Clarecastle beat O'Callaghan's Mills by 3-17 to 39. The opening half was evenly contested, with the teams level on five occasions. It was a different story in the second, as Clarecastle took control and quickly raced into a seven-point lead. Goals from Ken Ralph and Alan Neville stretched their lead to 10 points with 10 minutes remaining.
To their credit, O'Callaghan's Mills battled bravely but Clarecastle held on for a comfortable victory and a place in the final on November 9th.
In Galway, All-Ireland club hurling champions Athenry lost their hold on the title when they were beaten by Sarsfield's in the county semi-final at Ballinasloe.
A commanding performance in the opening half which put them in front by nine points laid the basis for the Sarsfield's 2-12 to 112 victory in a game played in ideal conditions before a crowd of about 5,000.
Sarsfield's had only two wides during the hour while their opponents squandered too many scoring chances in the same period.
The winners' first goal came at the end of the first quarter through full forward Joe McGrath. Seven minutes later, when a Eugene Cloonan penalty for Athenry was deflected away the writing was on the wall for the All-Ireland champions.
They lost another chance soon after when Tommy Kenny in the Sarsfield's goal denied Cloonan what seemed a certain goal. Peter Cooney netted the winners' second goal a minute before halftime to put them ahead 2-8 to 0-5 at the break.
Pascal Healy scored Athenry's goal minutes before the end.
Scorers: Sarsfield's - A Donohue, 0-7, P Cooney 1-1, J McGrath 1-0, J Cooney, P Forde, M McGrath, Peter Kelly 0-1 each. Athenry - E Cloonan 0-6, P Healy 1-0, C Moran 0-2, B Hanley, G Keane, B Higgins, E Brady 0-1 each.
