As it happened: Sherlock leads St Finbarr's past Ballincollig and into Cork Premier SFC final
Brian Hayes, St Finbarr's winning the ball from Shane Murphy, Ballincollig. Pic: Dan Linehan
St Finbarr's prevail by six points in the end. They'll meet Nemo Rangers in the decider.
Sherlock is on the end of another Barrs move to bring his tally to 1-9 for the evening. He's been the difference for his side once more.
Tadhg O'Connell does get his name on the scoresheet but it is very much a consolation score.
Ian Maguire marches down the middle of the pitch and feeds Luke Hannigan, who converts on the swivel. Sean O'Neill replies for Ballincollig. Three minutes of added time to be played.
Ballincollig doing all they can to get back into this by working a goal opportunity. Peter O'Neill does indeed get a chance but his shot at Newman's goal flies wide.
After a Dara Dorgan wide, Cillian Myers Murray sends in a dangerous ball towards Brian Hayes, who fists to the net. Some questions over a square ball, but the goal stands. 2-11 to 1-8 in favour of the Barrs. Long way back for Ballincollig now.
Sherlock lands another big two-pointer off that wand of a right boot. Again, making it look pretty simple. Barrs lead by three.
Cork hurler William Buckley arrows one over to put the Barrs back in the lead.
Two more changes for the Barrs - Enda Dennehy and Luke Hannigan in, Ethan Twomey and Jamie Burns out.
Sean Kiely finds a score to keep Ballincollig motoring before Dara Dorgan converts from a placed-ball to bring the game level.
A momentum swing indeed.
And they get just that. A goal chance for Sean Kiely is snuffed out by Newman in the Barrs goal and the resulting 45 from Sean Kiely finds its way to Darragh O'Mahony, who feeds Dave O'Leary. He makes no mistake. Goal Ballincollig.
Ballincollig make two more alterations, with Tadhg O'Connell coming in for Shane Murphy and Dara Dorgan replacing Donncha Desmond. They're in need of a momentum swing.
Another free for Sherlock -that brings his tally to 1-7 for the day.
Cillian Myers Murray is in for the Barrs. He replaces Ricky Barrett.
Sherlock goal. What a finish from the Barrs marksman. He jinked his way through the Ballincollig defence before rifling the ball past Gibbons and into the bottom corner.
Important score for Ballincollig. It's Ben O'Connell with his second.
Sherlock lands a huge two-pointer off the outside of his right. Massive score to put his side in the lead. That's followed quickly by a Conor Dennehy score.
Meanwhile, Eoin McGreevy is in for John Wiggington Barrett on the Barrs side, while Sean O'Neill has come on in place of Harry Ahearne for Ballincollig.
A long ball into Brian Hayes causes real bother for Ballincollig. His shot is saved by Jack Gibbons saves. Sherlock knocks over the free for the advantage Hayes was initially playing under.
Massive score from Peter O'Neill. Ballincolllig win the Barrs kick-out, O'Neill powers forward and slots over.
Second-half underway and the Barrs go in search of scores and momentum. Good play from Brian Hayes affords Ricky Barrett an opportunity, but his shot is well wide.
Low-scoring first-half - Ballincolig leading four points to three - but one you feel the Village will be just fine with.
We'll have just one minute of added time.
A bit of inaccuracy creeping in for both sides. Ballincollig's Darragh O'Mahony the latest to shoot wide.
By the 27th minute against Castlehaven, the Barrs had kicked 4-3. Here, they stand at 0-3 three minutes shy of the break. All three white flags were Sherlock frees. From 10 kicks at goal, their shooting efficiency is way down on two weeks ago. -
Ian Maguire - in typical Ian Maguire fashion - bursts through the Ballincollig defence but gets his shot wrong, however he had the advantage.
Sherlock knocks over the free. His third and the Barrs' third, while Ben O'Connell's two-point effort is wide at the other end.
Sherlock knocks over a second free before a Peter O'Neill effort from distances trails just wide of Darragh Newman's post.
Ballincollig nullifying the Barrs attack so far - and taking their own opportunities at the other end. Captain Fahy gets another for his side to push the lead to three once more.
Luke Fahy kicks his first and Ballincollig's third, but it's quickly cancelled out by a Sherlock free. Ballincollig lead three points to one.
As noted, Jennings is on Sherlock. Eoghan Cormican takes us through the rest: JP Murphy picking up the strapped Brian Hayes. Both Hayes and Sherlock operating close to the opposition goal. Seán Dore's job is to prevent the Ian Maguire influence so decisive in the Barrs' quarter-final win. Cork senior Luke Fahy is following the Barrs' Conor Dennehy.
Another Barrs wide. Still no score for the boys in blue.
Ballincollig full-back Liam Jennings is tagging Steven Sherlock. The pair tussle for possession after a Brian Hayes shot fails to go dead. The result is a 45 for Sherlock - wide ball.
Ballincollig double their lead thanks to a fine Sean Kiely effort from just inside the arc. Decent start from the Village.
It's Ballincollig who open the scoring. It's Ben O'Connell. Between himself and Frank Down, a goal was certainly on offer, but O'Connell is happy with his point.
Game on as St Finbarrs' Ian Maguire and Ballincollig's Peter O'Neill compete for the throw-in.
Here are the starting 15s: Ballincollig's Cian Dorgan doesn't start. Brian Hayes does for the Barrs.
D Newman; B Hennessy, J Burns, S Ryan; D Quinn, A O'Connor, C Doolan; I Maguire, B Hayes; W Buckley, S Sherlock, C Dennehy; J Wiggington Barrett, E Twomey, R Barrett.
J Gibbons; S Murphy, L Jennings, JP Murphy; L Fahy, F Down, D Desmond; S Dore, S Kiely; B O'Connell, L O'Connell, P O'Neill; H Ahearne, D O'Leary, D O'Mahony.
Eoghan Cormican spoke to Ballincollig's AFL star Liam O'Connell on what he has learned during his stint in Australia, and why time at home is so important to him.
And here's St Finbarr's captain and star forward Steven Sherlock on Ballincollig, the Castlehaven-St Finbarr's rivalry that they recently came out on the right side of, and running through walls for the great Jimmy Barry-Murphy.
We now turn our attention to the meeting of St Finbarr's and Ballincollig.
That's it - Nemo win by one. Luke Meade's pushes his last-gasp effort wide of the far post. Newcestown hard broken after going so close.
Richard O'Sullivan has a go but he can't find the target.
There are bodies down everywhere, both sides have given their absolute all. Colm O'Donovan is the latest to depart the Newcestown lineup, with Niall Murray coming in. They need something - and quick. Two minutes added on.
Luke Horgan - not long on - grabs the all-important equaliser. A Nemo forward is then fouled by Sean O'Donovan trying to make his way inside the Newcestown cover. Mark Cronin taps over the go-ahead free. 2-14 to 0-19.
Barry Cripps fires wide for Nemo, as does Kieran Histon. Players on both sides struggling with cramp now. Every score massive now. Tadhg Twomey is back on for Newcestown.
Second half of extra-time underway. Two Nemo subs. Colin Molloy was struggling with cramp and has been replaced by Mark Hill. Luke Horgan is on for Kevin Fulignati.
Richard O'Sullivan is fouled inside the arc. David Buckley does what he does. It puts Newcestown into the lead and bring an end to the first half of extra time. That was Buckley's first score since the 34th minute.
Chance for Carthach Keane again, but his volleyed effort goes wide of the target.
Kerrigan wins a free up the other end and it eventually results in a free, which Mark Cronin pops over. All level once more.
Eoin Nation comes in in place of Nemo wing-back Ciaran McCartan.
Carthach Keane puts his side in the lead. He beats his man along the end-line and slots over off his right.
Conor Horgan breaks through the Newcestowen cover and slots over another. Great score. Horgan's effort is matched at the other end by Luke Meade, the Cork hurler has been excellent in defence and attack today.
Nemo waste no time in going up the other end. Kevin Fulignati find Barry Cripps bursting through the Newcestown defence. He gathers and slot past Eoi McSweeney in goal but the post comes to the 'keeper's rescue.
Newcestown full-back Colm O'Donovan brekas past Briain Murphy down the wing and gets inside Nemo cover but his effort is weak and short.
We're underway in extra-time, can Newcestown go again?
As a result of extra time bebng played in the opener, St Finbarrs' clash with Ballincollig will now throw-in at the later time of 4.20pm.
Nemo Rangers 2-10 Newcestown 0-16. Extra time to come.
Newcestown do their level best to work a scoring opportunity. They eventually find Buckley but his effort is tame. That will be all there is time for.
Newcestown pushing for a late winner but it breaks down despite good play from Buckley and Sean O'Donovan. That attack coming after Nemo controversially denied a free for a foul down the other end.
Newcestown desperately trying to hang onto their lead, but Conor Horgan finds a crucial score for Nemo. We're all level. five mins added time to come.
Chance from a free for Michéal Aodh Martin but his effort off the ground goes wide at the near post.
Jack Meade puts his Newcestown side back in front. We're in for a tense finish here at Supervalu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
Another Nemo goal, and we're all square! Questions asked of a possible square ball but Briain Murphy's effort is given.
Meanwhile, veterans Carthach Keane and Paul Kerrigan have entered the fray for their respective sides.
Mark Cronin pulls another back.
As Nemo do, they find the necessary response. Kieran Histon finds space in behind the Newcestown defence after good work from Mark Cronin. Histon makes no mistake with his finish past Eoin McSweeney to cut the gap to four.
Meanwhile, Nemo have made two substitutions, with both Conor Moore and Ronan Dalton coming in. Mark Hill and Colm Kiely make way.
O'Sullivan's men are really motorin now. Luke Meade swings over his second, and it's followed up by a Colm Dineen two-pointer. Massive score.
Tadgh Twomey adds to the Newcestown lead. The veteran has been going about his business quietly so far.
It gets better for Jim O'Sullivan's men. David Buckley once more. A two-pointer once more.
His tally swells to eight, and Newcestown's lead swells to three.
And Newcestown take the lead once more. This time it's Colm Dineen who arrows over off the outside of his boot.
Second-half underway. Nemo win the throw-in and go on the attack - however it breaks down as Alan O'Donovan can't take Conor Horgan pass.
All square - eight points apiece. The leading men delivered for their respective sides throughout the opening 30. Buckley at one end, Cronin at the other.
His effort tails just wide. There will be one minute of added time at the end of the first half - all level as we stand.
Mark Cronin gets Nemo's first score since the 15th minute - a needed one at that. Up the other end, Buckley is again carrying the Newcestown fight. He's fouled way out by the sideline and is going to have a go - why not?
Nemo foul a Newcestown man exactly where they shouldn't. It's Buckley territory just outside the arc. He makes no mistake. He puts his side 0-8 to 0-7 ahead and brings his tally to 0-6. Big swing in momentum over the last few minutes.
Newcestown are now starting to get on top of Michéal Aodh Martin's kick-outs. Sean O'Donovan kicks from the wide-left channel to cut the gap to the minimum.
Newcestown needed a bit of inspiration and it has just arrived from Buckley. He takes a short free, gets the return, jinks past two Nemo defenders and fires over a two-pointer from wide on the right. Superb score.
He knocks it over off his right in familiar style.
Buckley with a chance to cut the gap to four. He has a kickable free from just inside the arc.
Nemo get their reward for a patient approach, Briain Murphy finds a hole in the Newcestown defence and picks out Kevin Fulignati, who first over the bar to re-open a five-point lead.
After a Richard O'Sullivan wide, David Buckley opens his account after a Nemo mistake at the back hands him the simplest of frees.
And they don't get it. It's Barry Cripps who gets it after some Nemo pressure. Meanwhile, Sean O'Donovan has returned to the field for Newcestown.
Another Nemo free inside the Newcestown D, another Mark Cronin score. It's very early but Newcestown could do with the next score.
A swift Nemo counter-attack ends in another for Cronin. This time from play. Nemo open up a three-point lead as a result.
Barry Cripps is fouled, leaving a tap-over free for Cronin to convert. He does just that.
And there's the Newcestown reply. Having carries the ball an awful long way, Luke Meade slots over off his left to bring his side within one.
Perfect start for Nemo and that man Mark Cronin. He lands a two-pointer off his left. James Burrows comes on as a blood sub for Newcestown midfielder Sean O'Donovan.
2pm: Game on.
There's one change to the Newcestown team named, and it's an expected one. Gearoid O'Donovan starts.
Here are the starting 15s:
M A Martin; M Hill, C Molloy, K Histon; K Fulignati, S Cronin, C McCartan; A O'Donovan, B Murphy; B Cripps, M Cronin, K O'Donovan; B Hayes, C Horgan, C Kiely.
E McSweeney; J Kelleher, C O'Donovan, P Kelly; L Meade M McSweeney, R O'Sullivan; S O'Donovan, E Collins; C Dineen, T Twomey, D Buckley; J Meade, G O'Sullivan, S O'Sullivan.
For Newcestown, a first county final appearance is the prize if they can shut down the Nemo attack - led by Cork forward Mark Cronin.
Their own leading marksman David Buckley is fond of a two-pointer - they'll need him and the supporting cast to deliver on the scoreboard.
Having secured a direct route to the semi-final, Nemo re-enter the conversation at the last-four stage, but will the month-long break be a good or bad thing for Robbie O'Dwyer's men?
Good afternoon and welcome to the Irish Examiner's liveblog coverage of the Cork Premier SFC semi-final double-header at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
First up, we've got the meeting of Nemo Rangers and Newcestown, with throw-in at 2pm. After, Ballincollig clash with St Finbarr's from 3.45pm.
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