Late goals give Ballinacourty historic win

Munster Club SFC Semi-finals/Ballinacourty 2-6 Kilcummin 0-8:Make no mistake, this was no fluke as the Waterford champions, Ballinacourty, travelled to Fitzgerald Stadium and beat the Kerry representatives, Kilcummin, to set up a meeting with the might of Nemo Rangers in the Munster final.

It was a bruising contest as a physically stronger Ballinacourty outmuscled a lighter Kilcummin side and final-quarter goals from John Phelan and Patrick Hurney proved the difference between the sides.

DJ Fleming and Declan Fives exchanged early points and Fleming converted a sixth-minute free to edge Kilcummin 0-2 to 0-1 in front. Ballinacourty equalised in the 12th minute through Seán O'Hare and took over for the next 10 minutes.

All the Waterford side had to show for their dominance, however, was a Patrick Hurney point.

Seán B O'Doherty levelled with a fine point in the 22nd minute but Declan Fives restored the visitors' lead from a free.

David Brosnan equalised just before half-time as things got very heated on the pitch and sideline, but the sides were level on 0-4 apiece at half-time.

Brosnan and Fleming converted two frees for the home side in the second half, but Declan Fives, from a free, and a Gary Hurney point from near the sideline inspired Ballinacourty.

The crucial score came in the 46th minute when Mark Fives floated in a free to the Kilcummin square and, when it was deflected, John Phelan popped up to crash the loose ball to the net.

Despite a Fleming free within two minutes, the Waterford side could now sense victory.

Kilcummin threw everything at Ballinacourty, but a combination of poor distribution and tenacious defending kept the Kerry side at bay.

Then, on the counterattack three minutes from time, Patrick Hurney found himself in the clear and raced in 45 metres before shooting to the net.

BALLINACOURTY: S Enright; J Mullen, J Kindergan, G Breen; S Briggs, J Hurney, R Foley; S O'Hare (0-1), P Lynch; M Fives, L Hurney, J Phelan (1-0); G Hurney (0-1), P Hurney (1-1), D Fives (0-3, one free).

KILCUMMIN: B Kealy; T Brosnan, M McCarthy, K Bruton; K O'Donoghue, R O'Connor, D O'Riordan; K Gorman (0-1), S McSweeney; D O'Leary, C Lenihan, SB O'Doherty (0-1); D Brosnan (0-2, frees), P O'Donoghue, DJ Fleming (0-4, three frees). Subs: P Kelly for D O'Leary, M O'Connor for C Lenihan, B Brosnan for Kelly.

Referee: M Collins (Cork).