JUST HOW many times has corner-forward Brendan Lawler plucked victory out of the blue for Naomh Brid? Yes, he did again when the maroons, already in the SHC semi-final, forced the Myshall team into a do-or-die match with Ballinkillen on Sunday next. Saturday's joust in Dr. Cullen Park went to the wire with the saffron ahead five times until early in the second half.

It had been a tense affair featuring a surfeit of square situations but most assaults on goal perishing for want of that final strike and defenders managing to scramble ball to safety.

And it was intense too, but with Naomh Brid showing the keener appetite and they took a step forward when moving Mark Brennan to the middle of the field midway in the contest and he turned enough ball in his side's direction to effect the outcome.

The final round of games on Sunday next sees Naomh Eoin face Ballinkillen (who drew 9-9 with Erin's Own in he opener) and the winners will fill the fourth semi-final position, given of course that Erin's Own do not cause the upset of the year and defeat Rangers.

Level five times in a tight opening half where defences ruled and space was at a premium, Naomh Eoin, 8-7 in front at the break, regained the lead with a Dwayne Kavanagh free 100 seconds into the last half.

Enter that man Lawler who had score three of his team's first eight points. Not long after a Mark Brennan-Eddie Kane sortie fell to Hugh Kelly at the right post but the No. 15 could not deflect it sufficiently to find the net, a left flank delivery reached Lawler and he sped to the edge of the Dublin end square and unleashed a low shot inside the right post in the 39th minute.It heralded the end of the Myshall bid as they were restricted to just three points in the second half - all from Dwayne Kavanagh - and only one in the last 23 minutes. But what will have aggravated trainer Michael Neary would have been their eleven second half wides - many under intense pressure - but a wastefulness which will possibly kill /them on Sunday next.

Naomh Eoin pounded the winner's defence in the final quarter with Dwayne Kavanagh taking a leading role, supported by Robbie Foley and further back Eoin Nolan and Damien Roberts but their best just did not cut ice against maroon enthusiasm which won considerable broken ball.

A vital passage for the Kilkenny border team was that from the 47th to 53rd minutes when they added points from Mark Brennan, a long, raking score, Patrick Hickey and Johnny Kavanagh; those scores coming at a crucial time after Kavanagh had clawed back a point to get within a point of the winners who had Des Shaw Eddie Kane and Ger Hickey (until injured) solid at the back and James Kane and Cathal Coughlan dove-tailing in and out at centrefield and doing enough to prevent the Myshall pair from taking a decisive grip in the area. At the front Lawler, Mark Brennan and Alan Brennan did enough to keep 'Brid in pole position.

The winners were awarded ten of the 13 frees and only hit seven of the 22 wides and on this performance will make life very trying for anyone.

- PAUL DONAGHY At Dr. Cullen Park