BRAY EMMETS and Baltinglass dropped a spanner in Mick Hagan's well planned fixtures programme when they played the only draw in the quarter-finals of the Senior football championship at Aughrim on Sunday. This was a game played with real championship fervour and passion by teams regarded as serious contenders for a last four place and both had their chances of stealing a late victory in the closing five minutes.

Baltinglass can thank their goalie Ken Quirke for keeping them in the championship race with a number of super saves from David Finn and substitute Stephen Fox at the death, while Bray Emmets were happy to see John McGrath drill a late '45' wide of the target after having pointed earlier efforts.

Baltinglass top forward Joey Kelly, who accounted for five of their eight points, opened their account after seven hard-fought minutes with a point from a free, but minutes later the Slaneysiders were rocked back on their heels by a Bray suckerpunch.

Corner-forward David Finn was causing a lot of problem for the Baltinglass defence throughout this match. On ten minutes David Finn snapped up possession after Paul Cunningham dropped the ball; Finn's initial shot from just outside the small square was blocked but he reacted quickly to squeeze the loose ball past a ruck of players and into the net.

This tonic goal lifted Bray and they retained the lead right through to the break. Free-taker Conor Flannery stretched their lead with a point from a placed ball, but in the see-saw battle Henry Sinnott and Kelly replied for Baltinglass to cut the margin to a single point at the end of the first quarter - 1-1 to 0-3.

Tony Denver was surging out of his full-back position for Bray and Luke Benson was having a huge game at midfield for the Bray seasiders. Conor Flannery clipped over two more points for the men from the east coast, the first from play, the second from another free, and their lead was back to three points - 1-3 to 0-3.

Into the last ten minutes of the half and Ken Quirke made his first save from Bray dangerman David Finn, while at the other end Bray's keeper Paul O'Keeffe pushed a shot from Conor Foley around the post and out for a '45'. John McGrath pointed the spot-kick.

An exchange of points between Niall Gaffney and Joey Kelly in the last five minutes left the game delicately poised for the second-half with Bray clinging to a two-points advantage, 1-4-to 0-5.

The scoring rate, already low, dropped dramatically in the second-half. Bray managed only one point for the entire 30 minutes whereas Baltinglass were restricted to just three points that brought them level.

After David Finn scoring a goal so early in the game, Bray seemed to become fixated with trying to deliver those big knockout punches. A few more times in the second-half Finn tried bore a hole in the Baltinglass net but each time he found Ken Quirke more than equal to the task.

Late in the game Quirke also denied substitute Stephen Fox when he thought he had found a gap.

On the other hand Baltinglass employed the tactic of pumping high balls into full-forward Peadar Burke, but Burke was getting little change out of Tony Denver.

However, Rory Nolan at corner-back was having a fine game for Baltinglass, taking the battle to their opponents with his surging runs, particularly in the second-half.

Immediately after the restart David Finn attempted to repeat his first-half goal for Bray but Ken Quirke saved. John O'Keeffe landed a quick point inside a minute, however, but that was to be their only score of the half.

The heavy tackles went in on both sides and Bray's Dara Gaskin had to be replaced by Liam McGraynor, while Baltinglass's John McGrath was later substituted by Anthony Nolan.

The battled waged on and John McGrath pointed another '45' on 43 minutes. Eight minutes later Joey Kelly cut the margin to a single point and with five minutes left on the clock he swung over the equaliser from a free.

Back on the field, John McGrath failed to convert a 45 for the winner for Baltinglass. Bray continued to be fixated with goals, sub Stephen Fox tried for a goal but did not succeed. It was one of a number of chances they had of boxing a winning point.

Now the teams must meet again over the weekend of September 11/12 to decide which of them will complete the semi-final line-up.

Baltinglass scorers: Joey Kelly (0-5), John McGrath (0-2), Henry Sinnott (0-1).

Bray Emmets scorers: David Finn (1-0), Conor Flannery (0-3, two frees), John O'Keeffe (0-1), Niall Gaffney (0-1).

- MARK KENNEDY