Colaiste na Sceilge and St Jarlath's of Tuam played out a rip-roaring draw that thrilled a large attendance in this All-Ireland Colleges senior A football semi-final at the Gaelic Grounds, Limerick. At the end of the day, a draw was probably the fairest result.

Colaiste na Sceilge looked the more likely to prevail early on as full forward Declan O'Sullivan was proving an ideal target man as his side moved 0-6 to 0-3 in front.

However, Jarlath's, who were on top at midfield, had David Warde and the outstanding Michael Meehan in superb form and they actually led 0-7 to 0-6 before two late points from the Kerry side gave them a 0-8 to 0-7 half-time lead

The second half was a thrilling affair with both sides exchanging points and with six minutes to go a Kieran Cronin point gave the Kerry side a 0-12 to 0-11 lead, before a superb equalising point from full forward Meehan brought the game to extra time.

Fortunes ebbed one way and then another as both sides strove for victory and when Meehan gave Jarlath's a 0-16 to 0-15 lead at the end of the first period of overtime, it looked as if they might go on to victory.

However, a combination of some wasteful kicking and a superb substitution by Colaiste na Sceilge saw Alan O'Shea kick two points and then in the final minute, with his side trailing by a point, he drove over the equaliser to ensure that there was no loser in a game where football was the real winner.

COLAISTE NA SCEILGE: B Sheehan; JM Clifford, W O'Sullivan, A O'Connor; P Sheehan, G Galvin, C Grandfield; A Breen, D Fenton; M Curran 0-2, K Cronin 0-3, B Murphy; J O'Shea 0-4, D O'Sullivan 0-4, J Corridan 0-4. Sub: A O'Shea 0-3 for Clifford.

ST JARLATH'S: D Dowd; P Costello, G Sice, G Aherne; A Flaherty 0-1, D Mullahy 0-1, A Burke; N Coleman 0-1, D Dunleavy 0-1; S Moran 0-1, D Warde 0-6, C de Paor; J Devane, M Meehan 0-7, J Kavanagh 0-1. Sub: A O'Hara 0-1 for Aherne.

Referee: B White (Wexford).