Penalty drama as Mac Craith shoots An Rinn into semis

DRAMA: A general view of Fraher Field. Pic: Matt Browne/Sportsfile

An Rinn reached their first Waterford SFC semi-final in five years as Caolan Mac Craith netted the decisive penalty in a dramatic 3-1 shootout win over Ballinacourty at Fraher Field.

Corey De Roiste and Donie Breathnach also netted for the Gaeltacht men while Tomás Mac an tSaoir saved from Patrick Hurney. The winners dug deep as Shane Ó Cuirrín, Oisín Ó Ceallaigh, Liam Ó Lonáin and Ray Ó Ceallaigh all went off injured.

The sides finished all square after 80 minutes (1-16 to 2-13). Ray Ó Ceallaigh scored 1-4 in the second half for An Rinn including a 62nd-minute penalty to force extra time. 

Former county man Donie Breathnach struck four points. Goals from Conor Prunty and Michael Kiely put Courty four up with six minutes left but they couldn't hold on.

Extra time goals from Aaron Ryan and Ciaran Walsh saw defending champions The Nire survive a scare from Gaultier on Saturday evening and make the last four for the thirteenth year in a row (2-13 to 0-11).

Ryan scored 1-2 over the additional twenty minutes and 1-4 in total (all from play). The Ballymacarbry men lost fullback Thomas O'Gorman to a heavy knock in the second half while All-Star hurler Jamie Barron sat out the entire game.

Dessie Hutchinson had a chance to win it for Gaultier six minutes into injury time but fired narrowly wide from 40 metres. "We were praying for extra time," Nire manager Michael Ryan conceded afterwards. 

"I have to say to Gaultier, what an effort they put in. They're a hell of a football team. They put up some fight."

The champions registered 1-4 without reply in the first period of extra time.

Brothers JJ and Dessie Hutchinson kicked two points apiece as Gaultier led 6-5 at the break. Dessie got the score of the game from 45 metres off the outside of his right boot. Dylan Guiry missed two gilt-edged goal chances at the other end.

Mark Fitzgerald's second point of the evening made it 8-6 to the Eastern side. Shane O'Meara and Tom Barron levelled matters but JJ Hutchinson edged Gaultier ahead again five minutes from time. O'Meara forced extra time with a 65th minute free (0-9 apiece).

In the curtain raiser, a late Jason Gleeson goal helped Rathgormack to a 1-14 to 1-5 victory over Clashmore/Kinsalebeg.

Eight different players got on the scoresheet for Kenny Hassett's side. Gleeson finished with 1-1, Jason Curry struck four first half points while Conor Murray shot three from play.

Kilrossanty got the better of Brickey Rangers 0-12 to 0-6. Donie Fitzgerald (0-4), Alan Dunwoody (0-2) and Joey Veale (0-2) came up trumps for the green and gold. Tom O'Connell converted four frees for Brickeys.

In the relegation play-off, Portlaw and Stradbally couldn't be seperated in Kill (2-6 to 0-12). DJ Foran and Daryl Walsh goaled for Portlaw.

Waterford SFC semi-finals: Rathgormack v An Rinn, Kilrossanty v The Nire