Clara 4-14 Ballyhale Shamrocks 2-22 (aet)
Dicksboro 2-18 Mullinavat 2-16
Carrickshock 3-17 James Stephens 2-23
KILKENNY GIANTS BALLYHALE Shamrocks needed extra time to finally shake off Clara and book their return to the senior hurling championship semi-finals.
Chasing their first county title since 2014, they will be joined in the final four by Dicksboro and James Stephens who disposed of Mullinavat and Carrickshock respectively on Saturday afternoon.
Sensationally, all three of these quarter-finals finished as draws last weekend and required replays, with reigning county champions O’Loughlin Gaels the only side to progress to the semis at the first attempt.
TJ Reid hit 10 points as Ballyhale and Clara fought out a thrilling draw the first time around, and the Cats star was to the fore again this afternoon, pointing a sideline in the final minutes of normal time that looked set to seal victory.
A Chris Bolger free for Clara ensured that it finished level, 2-15 to 4-9, and forced the game to an additional 20 minutes.
But Reid, Colin Fennelly, and Adrian Mullen (1-3) hit crucial scores in extra time to book a place in the final four.
In the first part of Saturday’s double-header in John Locke Park, Shane Stapleton was the hero, hitting the final three scores of the game as Dicksboro came from a point down late on to beat Mullinavat by two.
Later, a goal in either half from Tadhg O’Dwyer and Matthew Ruth proved vital as James Stephens ran out three-point winners against Carrickshock. David Walton hit 0-15 for James Stephens, 0-13 from play.
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