Munster Express Online

The first play-off in the Senior Football Championship took place in a sparsely attended Fraher Field (gate receipts: €213) last Friday night, which saw the second meeting inside a fortnight of Ballinacourty and Clashmore.
The result was the same as in their previous clash, with a wider margin in ‘Courty’s favour this time.
The 2013 champions had four returning players – Sean O’Hare, Richie Foley, Gary Hurney and Mark Ferncombe and whilst it took them some time to assert their superiority, they eventually ran out emphatic winners, with Clashmore managing just a single point from play- that coming in the second minute from Tadhg De Búrca.
A Paidi O’Rourke free doubled Clashmore’s early lead before Gary Hurney and Mark Ferncombe levelled it by the fifth minute.
Mark Ferncombe had a 10th minute opportunity to open up a substantial lead but his penalty was well saved by Declan Hickey. In fact, Ballinacourty had two other clear goalscoring chances but the crossbar and Hickey deprived them on both occasions of a green flag.
Mark Ferncombe, Patrick Hurney (a free) and John Hurney added points with a solitary reply, a free by Paidi O’Rourke left matters at 0-5 to 0-3 in Ballinacourty’s favour after an undistinguished half hour of football.
Clashmore didn’t do themselves any favours in that opening half, kicking seven wides, and struggling with frees close to the ‘Courty goal.
Paidi O’Rourke kicked his third free early on the resumption but it would be a full 15 minutes before Clashmore scored again and in the interim, Ballinacourty added 1-5 to their tally.
The goal came in the 38th minute, scored by impressive midfielder Conor Prunty after a one-two with Gary Hurney. Mark Ferncombe (2), Michael O’Halloran and Gary Hurney(2) also pointed and by the 47th minute they had a comfortable 1-10 to 0-4 lead.
Tadhg De Búrca added a free, followed by two fine Ballinacourty points, one scored by Mark Ferncombe and the second engineered by the same man in setting up Patrick Hurney. Ferncombe is certainly a joy to watch when on form as he clearly was here.
Ed O’Halloran has the last score on a disappointing night for Clashmore, who will now finish in third place in the group.
They badly missed the guile and scoring power of Brian O’Halloran and Sean Fleming here. Ballinacourty showed significant improvement here compared to their last outing and if they continue this rate of progress, they will be in the shake up for ultimate honours.

Ballinacourty: Stephen Enright; Conor McCarthy, Sean O’Hare, Brian Looby; Richie Foley, David Collins, Eoin Bergin; John Hurney, Conor Prunty; Michael O’Halloran, Mark Fives, Patrick Hurney; Shane O’Donovan, Gary Hurney, Mark Ferncombe.

Scorers: Mark Ferncombe (0-5), Conor Prunty (1-0), Gary Hurney (0-3), Patrick Hurney (0-2; 0-1f), John Hurney and Michael O’Halloran (0-1 each).

Substitutes: Evan Collins for O’Donovan, Michael Maher for Fives, Mark Gorman for Patrick Hurney, Tiernan Murray for O’Halloran, Maurice Power for Foley.

Clashmore: Declan Hickey; Ciaran Bourke, Kieran Connery, Sean Bourke; Darren Foley, Colm Faherty, Aiden Trihy; Jason Seward, Tadhg De Búrca; Edmond O’Halloran, Paidi O’Rourke, Declan Allen; Fintan Walsh, Paul O’Connor, Phil Dee.

Scorers: Paidi O’Rourke (0-3f), Tadhg De Búrca (0-2; 0-1f), Edmond O’Halloran (0-1f)

Substitutes: Paddy Prendergast for Walsh, Mark Nugent for O’Connor, Noel Smyth for O’Rourke and Mark Dower for Seward.

Referee: Dessie O’Leary.