Kinvara 3-14
Castlegar 2-11

Kinvara, whose only real experience of hurling at this time of year has been in relegation dogfights, emerged as a new force in Galway hurling in a thrilling county semi-final at Kenny Park on Sunday.

Castlegar's Patrick Connell and Kinvara's Conor Kavanagh.

It is not insignificant that the two teams to advance to the county final were the only two unbeaten going into Sunday's semi-finals.

Many expected Kinvara, despite their excellent form in the group stages, to choke on the big stage but instead they revelled in it as Castlegar, Galway's most successful club, failed to meet the demands of the occasion in the opening quarter.

Kinvara will go into the county final on Sunday week as underdogs but they will not be outsiders and if they can reproduce the stylish hurling than has characterised them all year, a new name might have to be engraved on the Tom Callanan Cup this year.

It was more than appropriate that their most famous son, former Galway star Gerry McInerney, was the one to strike the killer blow that saw Cashel's County Cup famine edge another step towards reaching the quarter century mark.

This season was the first time they managed to get past the quarter-final mark in 20 years but their 1984 victory over Killimordaly ? when they won their unequalled 17th crown ? is becoming more distant with each passing season.

McInerney, the 42 year old player-manager, came off the subs bench in the second-half and sealed victory with a smashing goal that was Roy of the Rovers stuff.

A year ago Kinvara only just survived a relegation battle but now they are just 60 minutes away from a first ever success as a productive underage policy pays dividends for the south Galway side. With county seniors Ger Mahon and Shane Kavanagh manning the central defensive roles, they were always in a strong position after hitting Castlegar for two goals in the opening five minutes.

The impressive David Huban blasted home the first after 90 seconds when he connected with a Dara Smith cross, while a long delivery from Kavanagh was flicked on by Conor Kavanagh and finished to the net by full-forward Anthony Byrne.

It took Castlegar 19 minutes to register their first score but then they scored 1-3 without reply with Cathal Burke getting the goal to reduce the margin to two points six minutes from the break. But Kinvara finished the half strongly with hitting three points, two of them from play, to lead by 2-6 to 1-5 at the end of a cracking opening half which was enhanced by the quality of Pat Greene's refereeing.