Waterford SHC: Gleeson sideline and O'Regan headed save Mount Sion

Austin Gleeson. Pic: Michael P Ryan/Sportsfile

Waterford SHC quarter-finals 

An extra time sideline cut from Austin Gleeson and an extra time headed save from Ian O'Regan gave Mount Sion a dramatic 0-28 to 2-21 quarter final win over Clonea in the Saturday evening sunshine at Walsh Park.

The Monastery men can consider themselves lucky to be still in the championship. At the end of normal time, Billy Power had a chance to secure a famous Clonea win but pulled his shot wide after blocking down Gleeson on the D. 

At the end of extra time, Power had a free to bring the game to penalties but again dragged it off target. He flung away his hurley and helmet when the final whistle went.

Clonea centre forward James Power was the best player on the pitch. The Waterford footballer fired seven points from play in normal time. Kieran Power, Willie Hahessy and Francis Roche also starred on the losing side.

Sion have Gleeson and O'Regan to thank for sneaking through to the semis. Gleeson shot seven extra time points, including the winner from a sideline cut, after moving from defence to attack. 

Veteran goalkeeper O'Regan made an extraordinary save with his head from Stephen Curry in the first period of extra time! He saved again from James Power on 82 minutes with Sion only a point up.

Before the high drama, it was low-quality fare. By full time, these two sides hit 35 wides between them (18 for Clonea, 17 for Mount Sion).

Sion manager Jamie O'Meara admitted that they won ugly. "Our performance was very disappointing. For some reason, we weren't at it today."

He was amazed by O'Regan's headed save. "He said he couldn't get his hands up in time so he used his head! He headed it away!"

More extra time drama unfolded on Sunday. In a wild finish, Rory Furlong scrambled home an 84th-minute goal to send Roanmore through to the semi-finals at Fourmilewater's expense (2-20 to 1-21).

Tempers flared on the field and in the stands as referee Anthony Fitzgerald blew the final whistle. Two players wrestled on the ground while a water bottle was thrown towards the Fourmile subs.

Two added minutes were signalled but four were played. With Fourmile a point up, Billy Nolan won a Roanmore free on his own 65. Gavin O'Brien's attempt dropped around the danger zone and Furlong applied the finish in a jam-packed goalmouth. The ground erupted. Delirium for Roanmore, devastation for Fourmilewater.

Roanmore were guilty of eleven second-half wides as Fourmile fought back from four points down in normal time. Fourmile full forward Sean Walsh had a late, late chance to win it when he was put through one-on-one. He went for a goal instead of a point and Jack Chester smothered the shot superbly.

The Ballymacarbry side enjoyed a three-point advantage in extra time. Five minutes into the first period, subs Conor Gleeson and Dylan Guiry fed Jamie Barron and he finished from close range. 

Thirteen Gavin O'Brien points, twelve from frees, kept Roanmore in the fight until that late, late Furlong major.

Twelve in a row chasing Ballygunner eased into the last four on Saturday with a 2-27 to 2-9 win over Passage. Harry Ruddle and Patrick Fitzgerald raised green flags for Jason Ryan's team while Dessie Hutchinson (0-8) and Eoin Cuddihy (0-4) also impressed. 

Pauric Mahony made his first appearance of the championship with ten minutes left. Thomas Carey netted twice for Passage while Mark Fitzgerald flung over three first-half points from play.

Goals from Kevin Moran, Thomas Douglas and Adam Farrell saw De La Salle steamroll Lismore in Sunday's curtain raiser (3-25 to 2-17).

Douglas notched 1-5 from play. Moran scored a goal and set up a goal. 

The former Waterford skipper is still causing problems on the edge of the square. Jack Twomey also tormented the Lismore defence with five points from play. Jack Prendergast fired home two consolation goals, one from a free and one from a penalty.

Brickey Rangers and Ferrybank will contest the relegation final. A second-half strike from Déise defender Conor Prunty helped Abbeyside/Ballinacourty to a 1-17 to 1-14 win against Ferrybank. Dungarvan, minus the suspended Patrick Curran, defeated Brickey Rangers 1-21 to 0-21. 

Cathal Curran scored eleven points and assisted a first-half goal for Johnny Burke.

Waterford SHC semi-finals: Mount Sion v Roanmore, Ballygunner v De La Salle