Gaultier rage after Ryans fire The Nire into Waterford final in chaotic finish

After their fifth semi final loss in six years, Gaultier management and players remonstrated with referee Eoin Morrissey at the final whistle as both the time and the score were incorrect on the scoreboard

HARD WATCH: Gaultier boss David Power saw his side lose a fifth semi-final in six years.

Waterford SFC semi-final: The Nire 0-10 Gaultier 0-9 

Aaron and Dermot Ryan kicked nine points between them in driving wind and rain on Saturday night as The Nire advanced to the Waterford SFC Final by the narrowest of margins.

Gaultier suffered their fifth semi final loss in six years. Management and players remonstrated with referee Eoin Morrissey at the final whistle as both the time and the score were incorrect on the scoreboard. The clock was 90 seconds behind while a JJ Hutchinson two-point free was incorrectly added to The Nire's tally. Veteran forward Hutchinson, who has given 23 years to the Gaultier jersey, slotted six points as his team exited the championship by a single point for the second year running. 1996 was the last time they reached the decider.

With a yellow weather alert in place, the wind and rain battered the Dungarvan venue throughout. After going in five up at the break, The Nire held onto the ball smartly in the second period and worked two priceless scores for Aaron Ryan. This is a new-look team with brothers Jamie and Tom Barron ruled out due to knee and hand injuries respectively. Conor Gleeson and Thomas O'Gorman were among the subs. Aaron Ryan (0-5) and Dermot Ryan (0-4) led the way in attack while Ciaran Walsh, Michael Morrissey and Tholom Guiry put in massive shifts around the middle.

Gaultier captain Dessie Hutchinson won the toss but elected to go against the elements.

Four points from play off the left boot of Dermot Ryan, including an orange flag, gave The Nire an 0-08-0-04 half-time advantage.

Michael Morrissey got the Ballymacarbry men off the mark with just 50 seconds on the clock before Aaron Ryan raised another white flag.

In the fourth minute, Gaultier goalkeeper Gavin Buckley stood tall to smother a shot from Morrissey. Five minutes later, The Nire wasted another goal chance as Ryan's hand pass was too high for Dylan Guiry to fist home.

The wind was so strong that a Mark Fitzgerald point attempt veered towards the corner flag. The Waterford hurler did manage to split the posts and leave Gaultier just one down in the 18th minute (0-3 to 0-2).

Dermot Ryan responded with a two-pointer from all of 50 metres out. Aaron Ryan added a single after a pinpoint crossfield ball from Tholom Guiry. Two more Dermot Ryan white flags left the The Nire five in front at the break. It could have been more as they sent seven shots off target.

JJ Hutchinson tapped over a Gaultier free two minutes into the second half but they kicked four balls short and two wide during the third quarter. The Nire played possession football as the wind got stronger and the rain got heavier. An Aaron Ryan effort on 45 minutes hung in the air for an eternity before it landed over the bar. Their five point cushion restored.

A slide tackle by Tholom Guiry on Dessie Hutchinson went unpunished before a fabulous JJ Hutchinson two point free reignited Gaultier with four minutes left (0-9 to 0-7). 

A foul on Michael Morrissey allowed Aaron Ryan put over his fifth of the night. Injury time points from JJ Hutchinson and Niall McSweeney set up a grandstand finish. Eoin Morrissey allowed one more play as the game entered the fourth added minute. Darragh O'Keeffe won a mark but opted against a shot from the 45. A robust tackle by Tadhg Walsh on Rory Jacob saw the ball spill loose and The Nire hang on.

Scorers for The Nire: A Ryan 0-5 (2fs), D Ryan 0-4 (1 2p), M Morrissey 0-1.

Scorers for Gaultier: JJ Hutchinson 0-6 (4fs, 1 2pf), N McSweeney, M Fitzgerald, P Fitzgerald 0-1 each.

The Nire: S Ryan; T Walsh, J McGrath, M McMaugh; J Mulcahy, T Guiry, E Spelman; S Walsh, C Walsh; M Morrissey, A Ryan, S Boyce; D Guiry, P Walsh, D Ryan.

Subs: P Spelman for Boyce (51), T O'Gorman for P Walsh (59).

Gaultier: G Buckley; F O'Brien, S Byrne, R Jacob; T Martin, B O'Keeffe, C O'Neill; M Fitzgerald, N McSweeney; D Hutchinson, G Cullinane, S Cullinane; JJ Hutchinson, E McSweeney, P Fitzgerald.

Subs: D Cullinane for N McSweeney (HT), D O'Keeffe for E McSweeney (46), D Jones for B O'Keeffe (52), N McSweeney for D Cullinane (59).

Referee: E Morrissey