Stradbally into tenth final since 2001.

Stradbally are through to a tenth County Senior football final since 2001 after they dethroned Ballinacourty at the semi final stages of this years competition at the semi final stages at Fraher Field on Saturday evening.

This was a game that most expected could go either way, with slightly more favouring Stradbally than Ballinacourty, and most anticipating that little would separate the sides.

In the end, six points separated the sides in Stradbally’s favour, but it was a case of two halves, and defiantly a case of game where goals win games.

The first half was bossed by Ballinacourty. They had numerous chances to score in the opening thirty minutes but failed to take a number of them, most crucially when a goal looked on.

Gary Hurney opened the scoring with a point on two minutes, but three points from Niall Curran followed to give the Cove Men a 0-3 to 0-1 lead with eight minutes played.

Within seconds of Curran hitting his third in the game, Ballinacourty had a good chance to raise a green flag. Mark Ferncombe laid the ball off to Jason O’Brien who was in a good position, but he laid it off to Gary Hurney who was in a more difficult position. His shot was saved by Oliver Costello and on the rebound the ball trickled wide of the post.

Gary Hurney and Shane Ahearne swapped points to keep two between the sides by the twelfth minute mark and on twenty minutes Niall Curran shot on the volley over the bar after a good pass from John Hearne.

On twenty four minutes Patrick Hurney took a quick free kick and found Sean O’Hare who kicked a good score to keep Ballinacourty in touch. Gary Hurney put over a free on twenty-six minutes to leave just one between the sides and moments later Gary Hurney was set up by Sean O’Hare but his shot at goal was blocked and on the follow up Mark Ferncombe and Mark Gorman also had chances blocked.

A minute from the end of normal time in the first half, Maurice Power lost the ball coming out of defence and with Ger Power bearing down on goal he opted to send the ball over the bar to extend Stradbally’s lead.

Ballinacourty however retired only a point behind after Jason O’Brien put through Shane Briggs to get his name on the score sheet.

Stradbally began the second half in whirlwind fashion. A high ball was caught by Shane Ahearne in and around the Ballinacourty goal and from close range he made no mistake to rattling the net.

The same player on six minutes pointed to give Stradbally a 1-7 to 0-5 lead but it was followed with efforts from Gary Hurney and Niall Curran to keep five between the sides.

Mark Gorman was set up by Gary Hurney on forty minutes and five minutes later a pointed free from Gary Hurney meant that there was just three between the sides.

The same player followed up with a brace of points to leave one between the sides and it was beginning to look that despite some bad misses by Ballinacourty in the opening half that a second attempt would be needed to separate these two rivals.

Points from Niall Curran, Shane Ahearne and Robert Ahearne restored a four point lead for Stradbally with as many minutes to play.

Points from Patrick Hurney and Robert Ahearne followed to keep four between the sides, but once Niall Curran finished an Andy Doyle pass to the net on fifty-nine minutes there was going to be no disputing the final outcome of this game.

Gary Hurney hit a point for Ballinacourty on the hour mark but it was a mere consolation score.

 

Stradbally: Oliver Costelloe; Tony Grey, Kevin Coffey, Trevor Costelloe; Shane Lannon, Eddie Rockett, Andy Doyle; Michael Walsh, Paddy Kiely; John Hearne, Ger Power, John Coffey; Niall Curran, Shane Ahearne, Robert Ahearne. Subs: Stephen Cunningham for John Hearne, David Grey for Ger Power, Trevor Curran for John Coffey, Tommy Connors for Shane Lannon, John Coffey for Niall Curran.

Scorers: Niall Curran 1-6 (0-1 free), Shane Ahearne 1-3 (0-1 free), Robert Ahearne 0-2, Ger Power 0-1.

Ballinacourty: Stephen Enright; Maurice Power, John Phelan, Martin Lavin; Conor Moloney, Patrick Lynch, Richie Foley; Sean O’Hare, Mark Fives, Patrick Hurney; Jason O’Brien, Gary Hurney, Mark Ferncombe. Subs: John Power for Jason O’Brien, James Mahony for Mark Gorman, Gavin Breen for Patrick Lynch.

Scorers: Gary Hurney 0-8 (0-4 frees), Sean O’Hare, Shane Briggs, Mark Gorman, Patrick Hurney 0-1 each.

Referee: Alan Kissane (Dunhill).