An injury-time free from Kenny Ralph ensured that justice was done at Semple Stadium Thurles yesterday. Clarecastle didn't deserve to lose this AIB All-Ireland hurling semi-final and Birr didn't really deserve to win, although their youthful enthusiasm had nearly brought them there.

Second-half replacement Gary Hannify, whose surges through the centre of Clarecastle's defence became a feature of the closing minutes, launched an 80-metre strike in the last minute of normal time which cleared the bar and left his team on the verge of an unlikely success.

That the sides must replay was a fitting conclusion to a fast and furious game of hurling which if spotted with imperfections still provided a fascinating contrast of styles and crackled along from an explosive opening two-and-a-half minutes, which yielded two goals, to a finale of high excitement.

For a young team, the Offaly champions absorbed a lot of punishment in the second half but, with Brian Whelehan in his customary imperious form at centre back, never caved in whereas Clarecastle, controlling the match in the middle of the field through Victor O'Loughlin, and harnessing a strong wind, had enough possession to win comfortably.

It will concern the Clare club's coach Roger McMahon that his side exerted so much pressure but ended up nearly losing - despite the advantage of three goals to which the Birr defence made handsome contributions.

To the Munster champions' credit, their composure during a difficult first half, their discipline (conceding only one point from frees), and opportunism in taking the goal chances on offer turned around an unpromising situation in the second half.

Both sides re-arranged their starting line-ups, principally in attack, with Gary Cahill moving in to full forward for Birr and Ralph making the same routine switch for Clarecastle.

Playing against the breeze, the Munster champions were quick to capitalise on an early exhibition of jitters in the Birr defence which up until yesterday had been identified as the team's most dependable sector. Danny Scanlan nipped in to scramble the goal in the second minute as Birr failed to clear the ball.

Within 60 seconds, the match was level. In an early indication of Birr's game plan, they moved the ball wide and Liam Power cut in from right corner, picked out Declan Pilkington racing in and the wing forward finished decisively to the net.

There was going to be a heavy onus on Birr to make the best of the wind, which must have come as a bit of a disappointment for them. After the sunny conditions of the last week, it was no secret that the faster, smaller Offalymen were hoping for a fast, dry pitch with as little interference from the elements as possible.

It was noticeable in the first half that whereas their quick-moving game was stretching Clarecastle, there was so little physical pressure on their opponents that the number of frees out was comfortably in excess of those awarded to the attacking team.

Martin and Stephen Sheedy were unflappable in the centre as the ball started to fly and Ger Canny in the right corner marked tightly and confidently.

A common problem for both defences was lack of concentration. On numerous occasions, excellent covering work was undone by poorly placed clearances, often culminating in the concession of scores.

Although the wind played its part, both teams will be looking for improved accuracy in the replay.

Eventually Birr's more urgent tactics began to pay. Cahill had survived a run of bad shooting which left him with four wides and occasionally there was a clumsiness in the Leinster club's attack - Conor McGlone epitomising it in the early stages, although he recovered to play a role in three of his team's closing four points before the interval.

So strong was the wind that a five-point lead, 1-8 to 1-3, looked less than reassuring. Gary Hanniffy's introduction made an immediate impact as he took a point in the 32nd minute to steady any Birr misgivings.

The trend of the match altered in the following 10 minutes. Ralph, well marked in general by Joe Erritty, slipped in behind the defence to score a goal from Victor O'Loughlin's pass in the 35th minute. Eight minutes later, Ralph broke Robert Fitzgerald's dropping ball for Danny Scanlan to flash it to the net.

Birr had moved Barry Whelehan from wing back in a tactical switch and Scanlan thrived in the new world presented him. Finishing with 2-3, he thriftily exploited his opportunism and marksmanship to account for half of Clarecastle's points.

The final quarter saw the Clare champions' grip tighten, but (almost) fatally, they didn't make it count on the scoreboard and never led by more than two points.

Birr looked fitter at the end and in the closing three minutes, Cahill, with two points, and Hanniffy led the breakout which so nearly put them into their second All-Ireland final in four years.