FERNS ST. Aidan's really had to earn their place in a first Pettitt's Senior hurling championship semifinal since 2000 as they eventually overcame near neighbours Askamore in a contest of immense quality in Wexford Park on Saturday last.

With seven goals, 38 points and not a single dirty stroke, this was a great advertisement for the code as a rather subdued competition finally sprang to life with a game to savour. And while it will be of no consolation to last year's Intermediate winners right now, they will eventually look back over the winter months and regard this as a very productive first season back in the top flight.

Ferns St. Aidan's, for their part, must have harboured visions at several stages of a repeat of last year when they exited to Buffers Alley at the same stage after extra-time, but they refused to wilt and struck for two crucial goals against the wind in the second-half to ultimately secure a spot in the last four.

This was pure hurling from the off, an absolute credit to the respective managers, Johnny Murphy and Willie Sunderland, with Ferns St. Aidan's moving into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead before Askamore pounced for the first of two quality goals before the break. It arrived in the eighth minute when Colm Buttle's short pass found P.J. Nolan who showed a clean pair of heels to Tommy Dwyer on a lung-bursting solo before planting the sliothar out of Michael Walsh's reach.

While the menacing Christopher 'Bitsy' O'Connor had a half-chance saved at the other end, Askamore could have raised another green flag but for a timely James Tonks interception on a Conor Levingstone pass across the square in the 13th minute. However, the lead was widened to 2-4 to 05 midway through the half when Billy Nolan followed in the footsteps of his older brother, gathering a clearance outside the '45 before racing away from his marker and finishing with equal aplomb.

It looked like a first-ever semi-final appearance was a distinct possibility for Askamore, but Ferns kept plugging away as a fascinating midfield battle unfolded, with Tommy and Jonathon Dwyer, P.J. Nolan and Eoin Boggan all having fine games for their respective teams.

And the men in red drew level (1-9 to 2-6) after 28 minutes, with a long free grabbed as it hopped by Paul Morris whose handpass inside left Christopher O'Connor with the type of goal chance that he rarely misses. After P.J. Nolan and county Minor Ian Byrne swapped points, Ferns St. Aidan's finished the half on a real high and this had a huge bearing on the eventual outcome.

Given the problems they had encountered earlier, it seemed inconceivable to think that they could lead by 2-13 to 2-7 at the interval, but this they achieved through points from Paul Morris, Tommy Dwyer (free) and John Breen before getting another goal with the second-last puck of the half.

Patrick Nolan was booked for a foul on Christopher O'Connor as he bore down on goal and, while Tommy Dwyer's penalty was blocked by a defender, 'Bitsy' reacted quicker than anyone and finished the rebound to the net.

Askamore showed their intent on the re-start with three points inside five minutes from free-taker Shane Tomkins (still a huge threat despite carrying a leg injury), Conor Levingstone and the excellent Billy Nolan (2-13 to 2-10).

The Dwyer cousins ensured that Ferns twice pushed out the lead to four, but they started to feel the pressure again when Eoin Sheridan's right-wing cross was caught and buried by Billy Nolan, then at corner-forward, in the 39th minute.

Sheridan quickly equalised, only for Christopher O'Connor to restore the Ferns lead, and the latter then completed his hat-trick with a disputed goal.

Askamore felt that either O'Connor or Paul Morris was in the square before Tommy Dwyer's probing delivery floated in, but the umpires thought otherwise and Askamore had to start the comeback all over again as we entered the last quarter of a game that no neutral really wanted to end (3-16 to 3-12).

Five of the next six points came from the underdogs though to their immense credit, with Shane Tomkins, Gary Doran, Billy Nolan, Eoin Boggan and Nolan again helping to bring the sides level with nine minutes to go.

It took another dangerous Tommy Dwyer delivery to unlock the Askamore defence for the game's crucial seventh goal, with Christopher O'Connor getting the first touch before the sliothar broke to Ian Byrne who netted from close range to make it 417 to 3-17.

This was a huge relief for Ferns as, less than three minutes earlier, Paul Morris had so much time on his hands that he drove a piledriver off the crossbar when it seemed easier to score.

O'Connor should have well and truly wrapped it up in the 57th minute when he shot low and wide after a brilliant pass from Jonathon Dwyer, but Askamore's brave bid was destined to end in failure as their best chance of the goal they needed so badly was denied when Michael Walsh saved smartly from substitute Frank Boggan.

- ALAN AHERNE in Wexford Park