Barry bags late winner for Vincent’s

St Vincent’s (Cork) 0-7 O’Curry’s (Clare) 0-6

But they will be far from relaxed facing into the final. The standard of shooting was awful in this semi-final. In the first half alone there were 10 wides and 11 balls dropped short into the respective goalkeepers’ hands.

Only the performance of St Vincent’s Derek O’Connor counter-balanced the overriding negatives as he scored 0-4 and created Barry’s winner.

St Vincent’s led 0-3 to 0-2 at half-time and it took O’Curry’s 56 minutes to score from play, that from Jack Scanlon to level the match at 0-6 apiece.

O’Curry’s were far too reliant on Ger Quinlan – the midfielder expertly nailed five frees – and it eventually came back to haunt them as despite playing against 14 men from the 45th minute after Stephen Ray was sent off for a second bookable offence, Dinny McMahon’s men could not penetrate a resolute St Vincent’s defence.

Quinlan gave O’Curry’s a fifth minute lead however Anthony Buckley and O’Connor, firing over a beauty in the 21st had St Vincent’s in front.

Quinlan levelled two minutes later however O’Connor ensured St Vincent’s led at the interval.

Jonathan Buckley (free) and O’Connor then extended St Vincent’s advantage by the 41st minute, 0-5 to 0-2.

However, three frees from Quinlan in seven minutes levelled the sides on 49. O’Connor restored St Vincent’s advantage with a 30m free before Scanlon equalised. Yet Barry would have the final say drilling over in additional time.

Scorers for St Vincent’s: D O’Connor 0-4 (0-1 f), J Buckley (0-1 f), A Buckley, C Barry 0-1 each.

Scorers for O’Curry’s: G Quinlan 0-5fs, J Scanlon 0-1.

ST VINCENT’S: P O’Shea; A O’Callaghan, P Aherne, W Murphy; C Kenneally, K Goulding, D O’Regan; S Ray, S Buckley; T O’Connell, A Harte, D O’Connor; J Buckley (capt), A Buckley, C Barry.

Subs: D Duggan for A Buckley (35), F Murphy for J Buckley (43), G Kelleher for F Murphy (56).

O’CURRY’S: PJ Greene; O Quinlan, M O’Shea (capt), P Roche; B Troy, S Haugh, T Downes; G Quinlan, D Troy; E Brew, D Clohessy, M Foran; E Troy, J Scanlon, D Carmody.

Subs: M Carmody for Foran (37), J Downes for Clohessy (51).

Referee: Maurice Condon (Waterford).