Awesome Curran steers Stradbally to sixth final

THE resilience of five-in-a-row champions Stradbally extricated them yet again from another tricky situation in yesterday’s Waterford senior football championship semi-final in Dungarvan, when they carved out a four-point victory over Ballinacourty.

A week earlier the champions — chasing an unprecedented six titles on the trot — had to come from five points down at the halfway stage before overhauling Gaultier. This time they found themselves those same five points adrift inside 10 minutes, and with ‘Courty oozing confidence, things looked ominous for them.

After that lightening start, Stradbally began to dig deep and the recovery was kick-started by Niall Curran’s superbly pointed free on 16 minutes.

Before that it was Patrick Hurney who gave ‘Courty the perfect start with a point of vintage quality in the opening minute, and though Ger Power quickly replied with an equally good score at the other end, the challengers were calling all the early shots.

Hurney’s lead point on six minutes was a pure gem and three minutes later his brother Gary fisted the ball to the net after his initial drive was parried by goalkeeper Declan Enright.

Declan Fives tacked on another great score and with just 10 minutes gone, the challengers led by 1-3 to 0-1.

Curran then kicked three points from frees before Mark Ferncombe gave ‘Courty a measure of breathing space with a 29th minute point.

A minute into added time a high ball into the ‘Courty goalmouth broke invitingly for Curran and he cracked it to the net to level the scores at 1-4.

Ballinacourty moved Gary Hurney from full forward to midfield for the second half and, relieved of the task of marking the full-back Kevin Coffey, Hurney turned in a five-star second period for the champions.

Curran’s pointed free in the 36th minute gave Stradbally the lead for the first time and it was one they were never again to surrender.

Curran stretched the advantage with another point from play, and though Mark Fives had it back to the minimum with a 43rd minute free, the score of the game followed four minutes later courtesy of inter-county hurling star Michael Walsh.

Substitute John Gorman kicked a fine point in the 51st minute to make it a one-point game again and then in the 58th minute Paul Foley coolly tapped the ball to the net despite the close attentions of three defenders.

There was no way back for ‘Courty despite an amount of late pressure.

Scorers: Stradbally: N. Curran (1-5, 0-4 frees); P. Foley (1-0); G. Power, M. Walsh (0-1) each. Ballinacourty: G. Hurney (1-1); P. Hurney, D. Fives, M. Fives (free), M. Ferncombe, J. Gorman (0-1) each.

STRADBALLY: E. Cunningham; E. Cummins, K. Coffey, O. Costelloe; T. Grey, T. Costelloe, D. Doyle; M. Walsh, J. Hearne; G. Walsh, G. Power, C. Coffrey; N. Curran, P. Foley, S. Cunningham. Sub: T. Curran for J. Coffey (57 mins).

BALLINACOURTY: D. Enright; J. Mullen, J. Phelan, G. Breen; J. Kindregan, L. Hurney, P. Lynch; J. Hurney, S. Briggs; M. Fives, D. Cliffe, P. Hurney; M. Ferncombe, G. Hurney, D. Fives. Subs; M. Gorman for Cliffe (40 mins); J. Gorman for Ferncombe (40 mins).

Referee: M. Condon (Clashmore).