The Nire are back in the County Senior football Championship Final for the third year in succession, they set up a final date with Kilrossanty next Sunday after seeing off Ballinacourty in a feisty semi-final at Fraher Field this afternoon.
The Nire are through to the county senior football final for the third year in a row as two second half goals from captain Dylan Guiry and five points from Conor Gleeson propelled them to a 2-11 to 2-9 win against Ballinacourty at Fraher Field.
Ballinacourty led by 1-5 to 0-6 after a fiery opening half. John Hurney netted for Peter Queally's side on fourteen minutes while four Patrick Hurney singles opened up a five point gap. The Nire finished the half stronger with Gleeson shooting three points at full forward.
A Dylan Guiry goal two minutes into the second half helped them into a three point advantage. Ballinacourty fought back and Richie Foley levelled the match for the first time with twelve minutes left. Jamie Barron regained the lead for the Nire before Guiry rifled home his second major.
Conor Prunty bundled in a late goal for Ballinacourty but they couldn't find a way through the Nire defence again in eight minutes of injury time.
They will meet Kilrossanty next Sunday evening at 6 o'clock in a repeat of the 2000 decider.
Nire selector Tom Guiry said that Ballinacourty made them battle all the way for their two point victory.
Michael O'Gorman is their main injury concern for next Sunday after being carried off the field in the second half.
He says that recovery will be priority over the next seven days.
The Nire are through to their third Waterford SFC final in a row pic.twitter.com/ed2Ext7Upm
— WLR (@wlrfm) October 21, 2018
An Rinn raised the Junior C hurling trophy after a 0-13 to 0-11 victory over Dunhill in the curtain raiser at Fraher Field.
Wing forward Jack O Lonáin hit three late points for the Gaeltacht side to take the spoils.
An Rinn captain Eoghan Breathnach was air lifted to University Hospital Limerick in April after suffering three broken ribs and a punctured lung against Ballysaggart.
He was delighted to lead the team up the steps after that serious health scare, the centre back was out of action for four months.
Following that setback, Breathnach called for oxygen tanks to be installed at every GAA club in the county. He feels that it's still a major issue.
He said that the oxygen tank in Ballysaggart was the difference between life and death and thanked Tina Meagher for her assistance.
An Rinn junior captain Eoghan Breathnach pic.twitter.com/kRZbjSutKT
— Tomás McCarthy (@tomasmcc) October 21, 2018
