Kilkenny champions Dunnamaggin opened this semi-final in Portlaoise in style. Sharp shooter Michael Moran had three points and Kenny O'Shea and Sean Ryan added two more to put them ahead 0-5 to 0-0 at the end of 15 minutes.

Birr's Brian Whelehan and Gary Cahill had points after 20 and 25 minutes, but just before only goal to leave the half-time score 1-5 to 0-2.

With the aid of the breeze in the second half, Birr were a transformed side. Paul Cahill had a point after just three minutes, and further points from Gary Cahill and Declan Hanniffy cut the deficit to two points after just seven minutes. Then the game took a major turn when Whelehan sent a free all the way to the Dunnamaggin net.

The Kilkenny champions equalised a minute later; but the final quarter belonged to the AllIreland club champions of 1994. From there to the finish, they scored 13 points, from Paul Cahill, the Pilkington brothers, Johnny and Declan, and Gary Cahill.

The Kilkenny champions responded with just one point in that final quarter and that came from Michael Moran in the final minute of the game.