It was a thrilling All-Ireland senior club hurling semi-final at the Semple Stadium on Saturday as Ballyea of Clare took on Galway's St Thomas' club.
The match looked to be drifting away from St Thomas' as they were 12 points behind with 12 minutes left. That was when a great comeback began that brought them to within 5 points of Ballyea with 59 minutes on the clock - but still it looked fairly likely that the game was slipping from their grasp. But a goal by Thomas' substitute Anthony Kelly in the dying moments brought the game to within a point. The momentum was with St Thomas' and it looked as if they might press ahead and get a draw at least.
Instead it was another Kelly, Tony, who stepped up to fire over the point that broke the Galway club's hearts. A mad few minutes.
Kelly has been simply outstanding in Ballyea's run to the final. His team-mate Niall Deasy wasn't bad on Saturday either, notching up 1-11. What a year for the club who won their first ever senior county title this year.
70% of the earth is covered by water, the rest is covered by Tony Kelly! 🌏 best in the country #forgetkante #TheToughest #awesome @GAA_BEO
— Eddie McCloskey (@eddiemcc14) February 4, 2017
Tony Kelly is some man, what an attitude, point at the end when other teams may have folded. Deserve every bit of that.
— Marie Crowe (@mariecrowe) February 4, 2017
Cometh the hour cometh the man, top score by Tony Kelly to put Ballyea 2 up and into the final #TheToughest #ballyea
— Stephen Gleeson (@StephenGleeson_) February 4, 2017
Can't beat Club Hurling..Ballyea victory could give a huge boost to Clare hurling for the coming season
— Tony Browne (@TonyBrowne05) February 4, 2017
