Two point loss in All Ireland semi-final against Ballyhale IT was a case of so near and yet so far for Newtownshandrum in last Sunday's All-Ireland senior club hurling semi-final clash with fancied Ballyhale Shamrocks at Thurles.

Bidding to extend an unbeaten record at the penultimate stage of the competition and qualify for their third final, the Cork and Munster kingpins were left to bemoan a string of wasted chances early in the second half as they came tantalisingly close to upsetting the odds.

That Ballyhale survived owed much to the sharpness of 'keeper James Connolly, who deflected a Cathal Naughton rasper outside the posts before proving equal to a Ryan Clifford penalty shortly after half time.

As well as that, Jamie Coughlan shot narrowly wide with a golden opportunity within seconds of the resumption, and Coughlan could have snatched it for Newtown in the dying minutes had he not been unceremoniously upended by Ballyhale full back Aidan Cummins.

All of which meant that the Rebel county standardbearers had good cause for rueful reflection at the finish, but, taking everything into account, it would be churlish to suggest that Ballyhale weren't worthy victors.

The fact is that they were much the better team in the first half, and the deal would almost certainly have been done and dusted before the break but for the heroics of William Biggane between the sticks for Newtown.

He made three fine saves, the second from Ballyhale full forward Patrick Reid which was truly out of the top drawer in the 16th minute.

That was quickly followed by a Ben O'Connor point from a sideline cut, and in the wake of those two boosts, Newtown, trailing by 0-5 to 0-4, might have been expected to drive on in the second quarter.

But they could never assert their authority against a physically stronger Ballyhale side which, inevitably, drew much of its inspiration from the promptings of Henry Shefflin on the '40.

Unerring from placed balls, Shefflin gave Newtown's defensive mainstay Pat Mulcahy a fairly torrid time in general play as well, while T.J Reid likewise won regular possession on the left flank against Sean O'Riordan.

The decision to switch Philip Noonan on to Reid after 21 minutes helped to ease Newtown's problems in the half back line, but their overworked rearguard seldom inspired complete confidence in the first half.

In fairness, Jerry O'Mahony, Brendan Mulcahy and Dermot Gleeson resisted stoutly in front of the defiant Biggane, but the amount of chances created by Ballyhale was disturbing, to say the least. So too was Newtown's failure to make headway in the half forward line where only Michael Bowles showed up well on the left wing.

The result was that Newtown's inside line was virtually starved of possession, and, in truth, only Cathal Naughton's electrifying bursts from midfield caused Ballyhale any real anxiety before the break.

Four points adrift after 26 minutes, it was remarkable that Newtown trailed by just 0-13 to 0-10 at the interval, but, typically, they made a determined bid to unsettle Ballyhale on the resumption.

Without ever completely coming to terms with the threat from Shefflin, Pat Mulcahy played a lot of ball at centre back, PJ Copse was more involved at midfield for a spell, and James Bowles looked capable of causing problems at the edge of the square.

Bowles knocked a PJ Copse delivery into the path of Jamie Coughlan shortly after the restart, and he earned the penalty which presented Newtown with another chance of a major breakthrough inside 37 minutes.

With James Connolly foiling Cathal Naughton in between, Ballyhale were certainly living dangerously, and the momentum appeared to be with Newtown after they drew level, 0-13 to 0-13, nearing the three-quarter stage.

Despite regularly re-jigging their formation, however, Newtown were unable to function with their familiar fluency up front where Ben and Jerry O'Connor were very subdued by their own high standards.

James Bowles was well mastered by Ballyhale full back Aidan Cummins as the second half progressed, and, crucially, Newtown never managed to forge ahead at any stage of the contest.

Ballyhale had again opened up a four-point gap before Newtown replied through Michael Bowles - their best forward on the day - and Jerry O'Connor to set the scene for a gripping last ten minutes.

But the breaks didn't go Newtown's way when the crunch came, and, after Jamie Coughlan expertly gathered a probing Pat Mulcahy lob to move menacingly goalwards, he was floored by Aidan Cummins, who was fortunate to escape with a yellow card for his indiscretion.

Ben O'Connor's point from the resultant free was scant consolation for the Munster champions, whose frustration was compounded when Jerry O'Mahony, excellent at corner back in the second half, was dubiously penalised, allowing Henry Shefflin to land the insurance score for a mightily relieved Ballyhale in stoppage time.

The dismissal of substitute Maurice Farrell followed to complete Newtown's tale of woe, but they can take pride in their gutsy second half performance.

Naughton and, to a lesser extent, Michael Bowles were their leading lights from midfield onwards, while it's a measure of their improvement in defence that Paul Morrissey, who replaced the injured William Biggane at half time, didn't have a decent shot to deal with.

NEWTOWNSHANDRUM: W Biggane, J O'Mahony, B Mulcahy, D Gleeson, S O'Riordan, P Mulachy, P Noonan, PJ Copse, C Naughton (01), R Clifford (0-2), Jerry O'Connor (0-2), M Bowles (0-3), J Coughlan, J. Bowles, B O'Connor (0-8f, 0-1 sideline). Subs: P Morrissey for Biggane (inj), John O'Connor for Clifford, J Herlihy for Copse, M Farrell for J Bowles.

BALLYHALE SHAMROCKS: J Connolly, A Cuddihy, A Cummins, T Coogan, P Shefflin, E Walsh, B Aylward, J Fitzpatrick (0-1), M Fennelly, C Fennelly (0-1), H Shefflin (0-13, 10f), TJ Reid (0-1), E Reid (0-1), P Reid, M Aylward (0-2). Sub: J Holden for P Shefflin.

Referee: John Ryan (Tipperary)

- Noel Horgan at Semple Stadium, Thurles