Ballinacourty’s blitz blows The Nire away

Ballinacourty and Stradbally advanced to the Waterford SFC quarter-finals after the completion of the third round over the weekend.

2011 champions Ballinacourty led the way in Group 2. On a scorching Saturday evening at Fraher Field, they blitzed The Nire in the first half with an awesome show of attacking flair to run out comfortable winners (1-15 to 0-12). The fleet-footed Mark Ferncombe effortlessly conducted the forward line in the absence of Gary Hurney. After an early exchange of points between Patrick Hurney and Shane Ryan, the victors scored 1-7 without reply as they looked the sharper outfit after the 13- week break. Seven different players got on the scoresheet but Ferncombe was the star of the show. He fired three first-half points and set up another for Jason O’Brien with a sublime pass. The goal arrived on 21 minutes when Mark Gorman stabbed home following good approach play from Patrick Hurney and Sean O’Hare. Darren Guiry got two points back but the The Nire trailed 1-11 to 0-3 at the break.

The Nire launched a mini revival at the start of the second period as Shane Ryan drilled over two frees and Dermot Ryan added one from play. Courty never looked in danger, however, and answered with three fine scores to dampen any expectations of a comeback. The Nire rattled off six on the trot but fittingly, Ferncombe rounded off the scoring with his fifth point. All of Ballinacourty’s total came from play while The Nire only managed four over the hour.