FOR FIFTY-SIX or seven minutes it looked as if Ballinkillen was going to win this close Talbot Hotel senior hurling championship game against neighbours Erin's Own, at Dr. Cullen Park on Saturday evening. A win for Ballinkillen would have kept them on the straight and narrow as they advanced to the last round, while Erin's Own would have said goodbye.

In the end the sides finished level at 0-9 each, a muted disappointment for both teams and supporters as now their fate was out of their hands now they would have an anxious wait for an hour longer, as the result of the next game Naomh Eoin v Naomh Brid came in to play big time, straight forward enough, if Naomh Eoin won they were in the semi final, with Erin's Own and Ballinkillen eliminated, if Naomh Eoin lost, then the three teams, Ballinkillen, Naomh Eoin and Erin's Own, would have to battle it out for one place in the last round of games next weekend and that is the way it happened as Naomh Eoin lost to Naomh Brid by four points.

It will take the final two games next Sunday to decide the fourth semi final place. At the moment Mount Leinster Rangers are in first place, St. Mullins in second, Naomh Brid took third place after Saturdays game, and then the three teams named above for the last place, interesting times to come.

The opening quarter saw some great tight exchanges with the side's level on three occasions. Erin's Own's Craig Doyle opened the scoring with a close in pointed free in the second minute, two minutes later David English with an excellent strike from a ninety five metre free for Ballinkillen levelled the sides.

The black and white town men foraged ahead by the narrowest of margins when corner forward John Miley clipped over the first score from play, before that man again David English from seventy metres tied the sides for a second time.

One of the games turning points came in the twelfth minute, when Erin's Own's Craig Doyle, with goal on his mind winning possession raced in from the left wing past all of the defenders, and finding himself on a one to one with Patrick Minchin, wound up and unleashed a powerful shot from twelve metres, some how the sliothar skidded on his hurley and went over the bar, Craig is still wondering why the sliothar didn't go under the bar.

It took a further five minutes before Andrew Gaule, from play tied the sides for the third time at 0-3 each. In fairness Ballinkillen had been showing signs of improving and seemed more industrious, but it was a further six minutes before David English with his third pointed free edged Ballinkillen in front for the first time 0-4 to 0-3.

The blue and gold men enjoyed the better exchanges of the second quarter and two further points one from a free and one from play from the lively Andrew Gaule gave Ballinkillen a three point lead at the break 0-6 to 0-3.

On the restart Craig Doyle narrowed the gap in the opening minute, however Ballinkillen laid siege and had eased in to a four point lead 0-8 to 0-4 by the fourty second minute. Nothing seemed to be going right for the Erin's Own men, as they were unlucky to see some shots go at the wrong side of the posts, but Ballinkillen could never extinguish their challenge.

Alan McDonald pointing from the left wing, kick started the Erin's Own revival, Craig Doyle shot over a delightful point from play, and Doyle followed up with a pointed free to narrow the gap to the minimum with nine minutes remaining. Daryl Roberts shot a lovely point for Ballinkillen and it looked as if this was the match winner.

Still time left and with Erin's Own attacking Ballinkillen had to defend with all their might, as the game tended to boil over and Erin's Own were reduced to fourteen men when Christy Coady received a straight red, and a minute later a couple of players from each side received yellow cards and.

The sending off spurred Erin's Own to a higher degree than they had been playing at during the game. Brian Doyle narrowed the gap to a single point, as the game went in to time added. One last raid and Craig Doyle was fouled thirty five metres out on the right wing, and he duly tied the game at 0-9 each.

- TOMMY MURPHY