THE BUFFERS Alley mentors will probably be the first to admit that they still have a lot of improving to do, but the result is all that matters at this stage of the Pettitt's Senior hurling championship. And when the dust had settled after Saturday's quarterfinal clash with a hard-trying Rapparees team which ended in semi-darkness in Wexford Park, the simple fact is that they are now looking forward to a seventh penultimate round tie in eight years.

Many observers felt that poor recent form would tell against the Alley, but they managed to grind out the victory after forcing extra-time following a late, late scare. They held that dreaded two-point lead (0-16 to 0-14) with just over 30 seconds of normal time left when an Eamonn Furlong centre found defender Liam Boland in an unlikely right cornerforward position as caution was thrown to the wind by the Enniscorthy men.

Substitute Aaron Ronan was waiting on the far side of the square to finish his cross to the net, and it left the Alley fighting for their lives. However, they got that all-important point to force an additional 20 minutes, with Keith Burke calmly converting a '65 after 75 seconds of added time after his earlier free from close to the right sideline was batted behind by a defender.

It was the turn of the winners' backs to really come into their own in extra-time, with Paudie Reidy and Barry Kenny in magnificent form. Indeed, the key moment probably came in the ninth minute of the second period when the former kept on Tomás Mahon's heels and got in a brilliant tackle when he seemed set to score a goal which would have given the Rapps a one-point lead.

As it transpired, they only managed one point per half, first from Ricky Fox and then from a Mahon free, whereas the Alley added five scores from Cormac Foley, Willie Doran, Ciarán Kenny (all first-half), Foley again and Shane Grannell to win the first championship clash between the sides since 2003.

The Ferns v. Askamore thriller was always going to be a hard act to follow, and the first-half was pedestrian fare for the most part.

Buffers Alley opened smartly and led by 0-4 to 01 after six minutes, with converted defender Kevin Roche picking off their two opening scores from corner-forward.

They were still ahead by 0-6 to 0-3 when Pat Kenny came close to goaling in the 13th minute, but the Rapps availed of this let-off to draw level with points from Tomás Mahon (free), Eamonn Furlong and another Mahon placed ball.

Two stand-out moments were then provided by Alley midfielder Seán Óg Whelan as he picked off a brace of quick-fire long-range points, and they owed their 0-12 to 0-7 interval lead chiefly to Willie Doran who was fouled three times and free-taker Keith Burke duly did the rest.

Rapparees, who had a very impressive full-back in the wily Declan Ruth, had the breeze behind them on the re-start and enjoyed a fine third quarter, reducing the lead to 0-13 to 0-12 as three Mahon efforts (one from play) were supplemented by scores from Davy Morrissey and Ricky Fox. Unfortunately for them though, they also shot four wides and never managed to get their noses in front.

Instead, Buffers Alley steadied the ship with points from Shane Grannell, Keith Burke (free and play) between the 46th and 50th minutes to reestablish some daylight (0-16 to 0-12).

Tomás Mahon pulled back two points before that dramatic conclusion as Rapparees found themselves on the wrong end of a tight finish after experiencing the exact opposite scenario in their group games against St. Martin's and Glynn-Barntown.

- ALAN AHERNE in Wexford Park