Newtown through after scare

AIB ALL-IRELAND CLUB SHC SEMI-FINAL

Newtownshandrum (Cork) 0-14 Ballygalget (Down) 1-10

Down side Ballygalget almost pulled off a shock by beating 2004 champions Newtownshandrum in today's AIB All-Ireland Club Hurling semi-final in Portlaoise.

Ballygalget had the Cork side on the ropes for much of this encounter, leading from the 7th until the 56th minute, but helped by Ben O'Connor's ten-point haul, Newtown squeezed through.

Ballygalget led 1-7 to 0-6 at the break thanks to a 12th-minute goal from wing forward Eoin Clarke.

O'Connor’s third point of the second half pushed his side into the lead, 0-13 to 1-9. Johnny McGrattan replied with a free but Gerry O'Mahony hit the winner in the final minute.