Ian O'Riordan at Nowlan Park
For the undisputed hurling champions of the country there is still one thing left to prove this year - who are the the champions amongst themselves. Deferred for another week then is word on the Kilkenny team that can stand on the shoulders of giants.
After an hour of truly combative hurling, probably like one of those closed-door practice matches we heard Brian Cody talk about all summer, Young Irelands and O'Loughlin Gaels simply refused to stand apart. But when the Kilkenny hurling title is at stake - plus the county captaincy for next season - you expect everyone to hurl until the final whistle.
As it turned out, O'Loughlin Gaels had to do exactly that to keep their aspirations alive. The champions of two years ago - their sole Kilkenny title to date - found themselves three points adrift with the clock ticking into injury time. Then Nigel Skehan, the most improved hurler in the county this season but with no senior recognition, cut loose for the finest score of the afternoon - a cracking goal that ultimately forced the replay.
Some negotiations are now necessary before that replay date can be finalised. The winners are due out in the Leinster championships next Sunday - against the Kildare champions - but that game is likely to be postponed, with the replay likely to go ahead on Saturday.
It's a game to look forward to.
Yesterday's entertainment at Nowlan Park, which pulled in a crowd of at least 12,000, was nothing short of top class. Scores, as expected, were at a premium, but when they did come, each one was as good as the next.
There were twists, too, that only Kilkenny hurling could provide right now. Like the way Charlie Carter (he hasn't gone away, you know) so nearly proved the match winner with a trio of second-half points that seemed certain to send the title back to Young Irelands. And of course open that debate once again about who should be Kilkenny captain next year.
But O'Loughlin Gaels refused to lie down. They'd pulled themselves in front towards the end of the first half, but for the most part were chasing the game. And never more forcefully than in the closing minutes.
Despite the strong presence of Andy Comerford at centre back, and the flawless Seán Dowling alongside him, O'Loughlins struggled to get a hold on the game. Brian Dowling was their most productive forward after Skehan, but at times their ability to play as the necessary unit fell a little short.
With Martin Comerford limited to a single score, O'Loughlins were forced to look elsewhere to respond to Carter and his old comrade DJ Carey. Together they had put Young Irelands into their most commanding position as the second half gathered pace.
First was DJ's goal, a simple tap-in after Carter's bursting run, and then two quick-fire points from Carter - enough to push the defending champions four points clear, 2-10 from 1-9, with around seven minutes left to play.
Then Skehan came into his own. Even at the tender age of 22 his hurling talent could be deemed as late-developing by Kilkenny standards, but his first goal on 54 minutes came from a placed ball some 25 metres from the goal - and was finished to the net with pin-point accuracy.
So the pressure was back on Young Irelands, trying to defend their minimum advantage. DJ's free-taking was all the while ticking over, but without Carter they would have struggled to find a way through the O'Loughlins defence.
A defensive blunder, however, didn't help their cause, with Dick Carroll bundled down in front of goal and setting up DJ with the penalty. He went for the kill, but saw his shot well blocked by Brian Kelly.
Into the last three minutes, then, and still the title was up in the air. Carter was now playing with visible purpose and venom and his final possession saw him turn his man, slip, and then turn his man again for another inspiring point.
Desperate for any sort of scoring opportunity, O'Loughlins appeared to have suffered a fatal miss when a Maurice Nolan effort drifted wide. Up at the other end, Jack Nolan drove a ball straight between the posts, and by restoring a three-point advantage, looked to have kept the title safe in Gowran.
With the call for two minutes of additional time it was do-or-die time for O'Loughlins.
Martin Comerford had already been cornered out of the game, despite coming from full forward out to the wing, so they really had no where else to look except towards Skehan.
Collecting the ball from a sideline puck, he jetted away from the Young Irelands defence to leave himself in a one-on-one with Martin Carey - a chance he wasn't about to miss.
The title holders had more reason to regret the sound of the final whistle, but the disappointment will be short lived. When it comes to deciding things amongst themselves Kilkenny hurling is a lot about survival.
O'LOUGHLIN GAELS: K Cleere; B Kelly, B Hogan, B Murphy; A O'Brien, A Comerford (capt), S Dowling; S Cummins, A Geoghegan; J Comerford, C Furlong, N Skehan (2-3, two frees); M Nolan (0-2), M Comerford (0-1), B Dowling (1-2). Subs: N Bergin (0-1) for O'Brien (23 mins, inj), J Lawlor for J Comerford (58 mins).
YOUNG IRELANDS: M Carey; C Carroll, E Farrell, C Phelan; S Byrne, T Drennan, D Phelan; J McDermott (0-1), O Carter (0-1); C Carter (0-4), J Carey (capt) (1-1), J Fitzgerald (0-1); D Carroll (0-1); DJ Carey (1-3, three frees), D Carter.
Referee: D O'Sullivan (John Lockes)
