Ballyhale Shamrocks survived a second-half comeback from Mount Leinster Rangers in a tempestuous Leinster club SHC encounter to qualify for a semi-final meeting with St Rynagh's in Tullamore next Sunday.

The ten-time title holders needed three late points from Joey Cuddihy and TJ Reid (2) to end Mount Leinster's brave challenge at Netwatch Cullen Park this afternoon. Denis Murphy top scored with 0-12 (eleven frees) for MLR in a game which they could have won after trailing by 0-14 to 0-5 at the break.

Tempers spill over to the sideline. ©INPHO/James Crombie.

Backed by the breeze, James O'Connor's charges opened up a 0-9 to 0-2 lead after 15 minutes but they had to work hard for a 0-22 to 0-16 win against a home side, who had to wait eleven weeks between the Carlow SHC final and this game and will rue a host of missed opportunities in the second period, including Chris Nolan's 51st minute goal chance which was expertly saved by goalkeeper Dean Mason.

MLR outscored the Kilkenny champions by 0-7 to 0-4 in the third-quarter with a string of Murphy frees helping them reduce the arrears before Nolan had that glorious opportunity in front of goal to make it a one-point game.

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