It’s Kerry versus Waterford in the Munster club football final after Austin Stacks and The Nire won their senior provincial semi-finals in a pair of thrillers.
Austin Stacks finally saw off the brave challenge of Ballincollig after extra-time, 0-15 to 1-9. Patrick Kelly’s early goal gave the Corkmen the advantage but Stacks fought back to trail by just a single point at half-time thanks to a pair of scores from David Mannix.
Shane Carroll’s frees helped the Kerry kingpins edge in front in the second half and they looked set for victory until a stunning long-range injury-time point from John Miskella forced extra-time.
But Stacks began the added period strongly, Kingdom star Kieran Donaghy helping to open up a three-point lead that was too much for Ballincollig to pull back.
The other semi-final also went the distance as The Nire and Cratloe ended 1-10 to 2-7. The sides traded early goals, but it was level at the break and again after 60 minutes, as Conor Gleeson’s late score for The Nire tied things up once again.
The Waterford club finally took control in the second period of extra-time though, with late points from Jamie Barron and Brian Wall sending The Nire into the final by a 1-13 to 2-8 score.
In Ulster, Slaughtneil will battle Omagh for provincial glory after semi-final wins over Clontibret and St Eunan’s respectively.
Slaughtneil led the Monaghan side 0-5 to 0-3 at the break and Chris Bradley’s goal shortly after half-time gave the Derry outfit the breathing space they needed to complete a 1-9 to 0-7 victory at Healy Park. Paul Bradley kicked six points to help guide his side to their first Ulster final.
Tyrone champions Omagh had Barry Tierney’s first-half goal to thank for their 1-8 to 0-8 win over Donegal winners St Eunan’s.
In hurling, the Kilkenny county championship was finally decided, with TJ Reid firing ten points as Ballyhale Shamrocks overturned an early deficit to comfortably see off Clara and regain their county crown. Mark Aylward’s first-half goal came at a key moment and the 2012 champions kicked on from there, leading by five at the interval, en route to a 1-20 to 1-13 triumph and a 15th county title.
Ballyhale will face Dublin’s Kilmacud Crokes next week for a place in the Leinster final, where the winner will take on Kilcormac-Killoughey. The Offaly champions, Leinster victors two years ago, defeated Raharney of Westmeath 1-13 to 1-8 in a tight affair that was only settled by Daniel Currams’ late goal.
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