A dramatic day in the All-Ireland club championship produced a Crossmaglen-Ballina football final, but pride of place went to the hurling semi-final brought forward from next week.
Galway club Athenry, champions two years ago, were slightly favoured against first-time Munster representatives, St Joseph's Doora-Barefield from Clare.
After an electric match in Thurles, St Joseph's became Clare's third All-Ireland finalists in four years. One point separated the sides at the end of a second half featuring breath-taking saves, some fine scores and the latest in the GAA catalogue of points controversially disallowed.
Christy O'Connor, the winners' goalkeeper, and a sports reporter to boot, crossed that difficult threshold where journalists become part of the story. He did it in some style. After giving away a goal in the first half, he subsequently made crucial saves. A great double-save from Eugene Cloonan and Cathal Moran midway through the second half was trumped with seconds remaining when Brendan Keogh bore down with only a point in the balance. O'Connor spread himself and brought off the crucial block.
His brother Jamesie, 1997 Hurler of the Year, is more familiar with celebration. Yesterday his haul was six points.
"This is so much more localised. Fellas I grew up with, playing under-12 hurling and stuff, were in here crying unable to speak. My own brother the hero. So much more passionate."
In the Athenry dressing-room, complaints about the point-that-wasn't were muted. Selector Sean Hynes bemoaned the existence of such controversy rather than the specific occurrence.
"I'm saying it is a dispute and there is no excuse. We need an electronic system, there must be something. It is difficult for an umpire looking up. But fair play to Doora-Barefield, they put up a marvellous display. They were as committed as we were the time we won it."
The football finalists for St Patrick's Day were also decided yesterday. 1997 champions Crossmaglen Rangers returned looking for more and, just as two years ago, will play the Mayo champions, this time Ballina, who prevented a Clare double by defeating Doonbeg 0-8 to 0-4.
Crossmaglen survived a ferocious wind, rain and Leinster champions Eire Og to win by five points, 1-10 to 1-5. For the beaten Carlow club, it was a fifth All-Ireland defeat - three semi-finals and two finals - in seven years.
Eire Og manager Pat Critchley was sombre. "It's been another fantastic year for them but it will be difficult for them to come back all the same. There is a very strong panel in the club and hopefully they can come again but for now, we'll all take some time off."
In the National Hurling League, Cork centre back Brian Corcoran got a scare when the sliotar hit his eye but fortunately the damage is not serious. Corcoran gets married in a fortnight and just last week formally announced he was retiring from football to concentrate on hurling.
"The eye is swollen and closed at the moment," he said last night, "but the hospital said the damage is to the front of the eye and not the back - which is good. I've to go back for a check-up on Tuesday and hopefully there won't be any complications. I don't want to have to wear a mask on my wedding day."
