Conor McGrath was the last-gasp hero as Cratloe kept their Clare SHC dream alive with the last puck of the game.
Cratloe needed to beat Kilmaley by three points in Sunday's final round group game to progress at their opponent's expense and 2013 All-Ireland winner McGrath scored an incredible point to seal the deal.
Cratloe led by two with seconds remaining before McGrath intercepted a sideline with a devastating first touch moments before whipping over the bar in an instant.
Class is permanent. It sealed a 1-20 to 1-17 victory for the 2014 dual champs with the quarter final draw taking place this evening.
Cratloe looked on course for a famous triumph, leading by five mid-way through the second half, inspired by an early Podge Collins goal.
But then Clare full back Conor Cleary kicked a goal for Kilmaley as they took took the upper hand, only for McGrath to strike at the end of a late rally. It's set to be a busy couple of weeks for renowned dual club Cratloe, who also qualified as table-topper for the senior football quarter finals.
Watch fan-footage below.
Here’s that last gasp Conor McGrath point for Cratloe in the Clare Senior Hurling Championship, two up, they needed to win by three or it was bust.
Intercepts the sideline, touch, turn, snap.
Siobhán O’Gorman (as always😂) captures the magic 🎥 @CratloeGAAClub pic.twitter.com/kPbP3oo3KY
— Tommy Rooney (@TomasORuanaidh) September 8, 2024
Cratloe, Feakle and Kilmaley all tied on four points at the top of group two, with Cratloe and Feakle advancing on score-difference, meaning heartbreak for Kilmaley.
Clonlara and Éire Óg advanced from the so-called 'group of death' where 2022 champs Ballyea were eliminated after a 0-19 0-17 loss to Éire Óg. What made the town side's victory - their third in three games - all the more impressive was doing it with talisman Shane O'Donnell only coming on as a second half sub. Free-taker Danny Russell was brilliant for Gerry O'Connor's side, scoring 0-9.
Full quarter final line-up: Feakle, Cratloe, Sixmilebridge, Clonlara, Éire Óg Inis, Scariff, Inagh-Kilnamona, Crusheen.
