Cool Tony Kelly heads off St Thomas' resurgence

Ballyea (Clare) 2-14 St Thomas’ (Galway) 1-19: A common-or-garden hammering changed to a nailbiter on Saturday night when Clare champions Ballyea, cruising through an All-Ireland club semi-final in a chilly Semple Stadium, saw a 13-point second-half lead cut to the minimum as the game entered injury-time.

The 4,206 spectators were anticipating extra-time when Clare star Tony Kelly popped up with an insurance point to halt St Thomas’ stirring comeback. The Galway men had only managed 0-3 in the first half, but their challenge ignited with a fourth-quarter burst of 1-7 on the bounce.

An injury-time goal by Thomas’ sub Anthony Kelly — not to be confused with his namesake for Ballyea — made it a one-point game: little wonder Ballyea selector Fergal Hegarty was talking about visiting a cardiologist after the game.