Ballyduff book final spot again
Twelve month ago they lost out to Limerick’s Effin in the provincial decider and now Silvermines of Tipperary stand in their way.
A late goal from Ballyduff’s Gary O’Brien forced extra-time but PJ O’Grady’s men were dominant thereafter with Padraig Boyle and reliable free-taker Bobby O’Sullivan getting the vital scores.
O’Sullivan finished with 1-9 and his first half goal had the sides all square (0-7 to 1-4) at the interval.
At the start of the second half the Limerick outfit raced into a 0-11 to 1-4 lead with Lee Doolin, Richie Kenny and free-taker O’Connor among the scores.
Two Bobby O’Sullivan frees settled the Kerry challenge but Shane Kenny and O’Connor pointed to put Ballybrown 0-13 to 1-6 clear with seven minutes to play.
Then came the second Ballyduff goal and what a score it was with O’Brien finishing to the net after a following move that saw Aidan Boyle supply the final pass.
It was then left to O’Sullivan to force extra-time with an injury-time free, 0-13 to 2-7.
Ballyduff certainly had the momentum and two O’Sullivan frees midway through the first period of extra time seized the initiative.
Then came a flurry of points in injury-time at the end of the 10-minute period with Padraig Boyle (two) and O’Sullivan (free) increasing the lead to five points, 2-12 to 0-13.
There was to be no way back and Ballybrown’s only score of extra-time came from sub Andrew Cliffe in the opening minute of the second period of extra-time. Then in the closing minutes Ballyduff goalkeeper PJ O’Gorman cleared off his line and the deal was done.
Scorers for Ballyduff: B O’Sullivan 1-9 (8fs, 1 65), G O’Brien 1-0, P Boyle 0-2, M Boyle, PJ Connolly 0-1 each.
Scorers for Ballybrown: A O’Connor 0-6 (5fs), L Doolin 0-2, S Foster, B Griffin, M Kiely, R Kenny, S Kenny, A Cliffe, 0-1 each.
BALLYDUFF: PJ O’Gorman; D O’Grady, L Boyle, J Bowler; J Bunyan, P O’Grady, D Goulding; B O’Grady, P Costello; M Boyle, G O’Brien, PJ Connelly; P Boyle, A Boyle, B O’Sullivan.
Subs: A O’Connor for Goulding (36), T O’Rourke for Connolly (36), M O’Connor for Costello (57), PJ Connolly for B O’Grady (77), P Costello for L Boyle (81).
BALLYBROWN: D Lyons, R Burke, J Kennedy, S O’Reilly; I Burke, R Kenny, D Kenny; S Foster, J Hall; K Loftus, B Griffin, S Kenny; M Kiely, A O’Connor, L Doolin.
Subs: A Roberts for I Burke (24), D Hall for Kiely (39), P Hartigan for Loftus (51), P McCarthy for Doolin (58), A Cliffe for Foster (70), D Hartnett for R Burke (77).
Referee: P Casey (Waterford)
