Calry/St Joseph’s great adventure in the AIB junior hurling club championship came to an agonising halt at foggy Ballyconnell on Sunday last when two second half goals propelled Naomh Columcille to a thrilling victory in the All-Ireland semi-final.

The Sligo and Connacht champions looked poised to book a Croke Park date when they led by three points against fourteen men --- Columcille’s Paul O’Neill was sent off for a second bookable offence in the 25th minute -- but they couldn’t close the deal in a fiercely contested second half.

Difficult underfoot conditions and a dense fog which enveloped the ground and worsened as the game unfolded made it a test of endurance as much as anything else and while Calry/St Joseph’s gave it all they had, they were unable to hold off a determined second half rally by the Ulster side.

Trailing 0-6 to 0-4 at the interval, fourteen-man Columcille had to dig deep to haul themselves back into the game and goals by Niall O’Neill and Rory O’Neill provided the perfect boost as they took control after the break.

Calry, to their credit, battled with great conviction right to the end but over-anxiety in front of goal – they registered nine wides over the hour – meant that they were unable to convert good possession into superiority on the scoreboard.

The Sligo men settled into the game much quicker than their opponents but only had one score to show from sustained early pressure – a cooly converted free by Keith Raymond. Gradually, Calry stamped their authority on the proceedings and were 4-2 ahead by the 15th minute, courtesy of another pointed free by Raymond and two excellent scores from play by Damien Burke and Liam Reidy. The Tyrone side replied with a free and a ‘65’ from the everreliable Niall O’Neill.

O’Neill and Raymond exchanged points before disaster struck for the Ulster side when their full-forward, Paul O’Neill, was sent off following a heavy challenge on Michael Gilmartin. Almost immediately, Raymond sent over from a long-range free to give the Sligo side a 0-6 to 0-3 lead and it looked then as if they were in a very commanding position.

However, a free by Niall O’Neill kept Columcille in touch and they came out with all guns blazing in a riproaring start to the second half. Shea McKiver blasted over an excellent score from play within seconds of the restart and then Niall O’Neill levelled matters with a pointed free.

Calry responded in determined fashion, a massive 65m free by Raymond edging them back in front in the 38th minute. Both sides missed chances as play swung from end to end before Columcille made the vital breakthrough in the 46th minute as Niall O’Neill’s wellstruck ‘65’ deceived everybody in a crowded goalmouth and ended up in the back of the net.

Raymond replied with a pointed free but Calry’s hopes of a late revival were dealt a crushing blow when Rory O’Neill finished Joe O’Neill’s probing pass to the net to give his side a 2-6 to 0-8 advantage. McKiver stretched the Tyrone team’s lead with a marvellous score from play minutes later but Calry kept battling away and two pointed frees by Raymond gave them renewed hope.

However, the Ulster side refused to panic in a nailbiting finish and held on to claim a place in next month’s All- Ireland final. Keith Raymond, with eight points to his credit, two from play, was Calry’s outstanding player on the day and they were also well served by Michael Gilmartin, Jamie Kenny, Damien Burke, Liam Reidy and Shane Martyn.

NAOMH COLUMCILLE: P Maguire, R ‘Duff’ O’Neill, R ‘Mor’ O’Neill, P Corr; D Murphy, D Lyons, A Taggart; S O’Neill, J O’Neill; Ryan O’Neill, N O’Neill (1-5), S McKiver (0-2); R O’Neill (1-0), P O’Neill, S O’Hagan. Sub: T O’Hagan for Ryan O’Neill (40 mins)

CALRY/ST JOSEPH’S: C Hackett, F Coyne, M Gilmartin, J Kenny; R Cox, D Collery, N McDermott; K Raymond (0-8), G Kelly; K Gilmartin, D Burke (0-1), L Reidy (0-1); D Cox, M Shelly, S Martyn. Subs: T Kelly for S Martyn (52 mins), C Maguire for K Gilmartin (57 mins)

REFEREE: B SWEENEY, CAVAN