Holders Ballyhale Shamrocks had to do it the hard way as they needed extra-time to overcome Offaly champions St Rynagh's 3-24 to 2-18 in today's Leinster club SHC semi-final at Bord na Mona O'Connor Park in Tullamore.

The Banagher outfit were on the verge of recording a memorable victory over the Kilkenny giants until Eoin Cody (2-3) blasted home his second goal deep in injury-time to send the game to extra-time, 3-13 to 2-16.

Ballyhale played the entire second-half of normal-time with 14-men following the sending off of Joey Cuddihy for a high challenge on Matthew Maloney on the stroke of the interval and St Rynagh's took full advantage of this as they hit the front for the first time since the opening seconds in the 48th minute when Ronan Hughes netted their second goal.

Ballyhale Shamrocks’ TJ Reid collides with Ben Conneely of St Rynagh's. ©INPHO/Ashley Cahill.

Colin Fennelly's goal had Ballyhale nine up (2-6 to 0-3) at the first water-break but Ken Hogan's charges showed admirable character to whittle the deficit down to three by the half-hour mark, 2-8 to 1-8 - Luke O'Connor's major lifted St Rynagh's somewhat.

But after Young Hurler of the Year Cody pounced on a goalmouth scramble to save their day, the reigning All-Ireland champions survived Cuddihy's dismissal to see off a stern St Rynagh's challenge when restored to a full quota of players for the additional 20 minutes.

They will now meet Laois surprise packets Clough-Ballacolla in their 13th provincial senior final, which has been fixed for Croke Park next Sunday, 19 December.

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