Player-manager Fergal Healy led the way for Craughwell in their 0-15 to 0-12 victory over an out-of-sorts Portumna last Sunday in Kenny Park.
Healy hit 0-3 from play in a fine individual display, while brother Niall was their other main scoring threat. He notched 0-7 (6 frees ) in an accomplished display that now sees the Craughwell men into a fourth consecutive county semi-final.
The insurmountable problem for Portumna last weekend was a shocking over-reliance on hurler of the year nominee Joe Canning for scores. He hit his side's entire total of 12 points, with 10 coming from placed balls.
When not one of the other 14 players on the field raises a flag in any game, there is a major chance of being shown the exit door.
The former All-Ireland club champions found it almost impossible to find a way through the Craughwell defence, with Mark Horan, Ian Daniels, Gerard O'Halloran and Adrian Cullinane playing key roles for the victors.
Craughwell had a far greater spread of scorers with Shane Dolan, Thomas Monaghan, wing-back Andrew Greaney and substitute Alan Callanan all joining the Healy brothers on the scoresheet.
A big moment in the game came in the 38th minute when All-Ireland minor winner Jack Canning kicked to the Craughwell net from close range, but the score was disallowed after referee Shane Hynes consulted with his umpires.
In a tight game, Craughwell who will face Gort in the last four as they did in 2016, always just managed to keep their noses in front in a game that never really set the pulses racing.
The winners will not care about that lack of any massive excitement. When your last county title was back in 1930. and you are very keen to get another some time soon - no-one can blame them for that. They had a job to do, and they did it.
Craughwell: A Ryan, M Monaghan, I Daniels, G O'Halloran, A Greaney (0-1 ), A Cullinane, S Hynes, N Callanan, James Greaney, N Healy (0-7, 0-6 frees ), T Monaghan (0-1 ), M Horan, S Dolan (0-2 ), F Healy (0-3 ), J Ryan. Subs: John Greaney, for N Callanan, A Callanan (0-1 ), for J Ryan, M Freaney, for T Monaghan, N Donoghue, for James Greaney.
Portumna: I. Canning; G Heagney, C O'Hare, S Heagney; O Treacy, E Lynch; O Canning, L Smith, D Hayes, Joe Canning (0-12, 0-10 frees ), R O'Meara; Jack Canning, K Hayes, A Smith.
