Kinsale grab late goal in extra time to win sensational Junior A semi-final against Belgooly

Kinsale 2-32 Belgooly 1-34 (after extra time)

Kinsale pipped Belgooly in the Ross Oil SE Junior A Hurling semi-final with a late goal in extra time following a pulsating contest at Ballinspittle on Saturday.

Played at breakneck speed, no one deserved to lose but coming down the home straight Belgooly held a three-point advantage on 78 minutes. Kinsale’s captain fantastic John O’Brien narrowed the margin to two before Kinsale somehow conjured up a goal opportunity for Gearoid Finn to blast past Jamie Dwyer.

Belgooly raced into a 1-6 to 0-1 lead thanks to a Ryan Long goal and Barry Dwyer. Kinsale fought back with a superb point from Noah Ryan leading the charge. Kinsale only trailed by two after 11 minutes and hit the front when Micheal Murphy smashed the sliotar to the net on 15 minutes to give his side a one-point advantage at 1-7 to 1-6.

Belgooly were in no mood to surrender their divisional title easily and they led 1-10 to 1-7 after 20 minutes. From there to the break, it was Kinsale who pushed on as O’Brien hit four points to give them a 1-14 to 1-12 lead.

The second half followed a similar pattern as O’Brien continued to score for Kinsale and Kevin Fitzgerald was driving on for Belgooly. Indeed, it was Fitzgerald’s score that sent the contest into extra time at 1-23 to 1-23.

The first half of the additional period saw the advantage with Kinsale, with Brian Coughlan landing an inspirational score as the seasiders lead 1-29 to 1-27 at the break. But in the second period, Belgooly looked to be facing either Ballymartle or Valley Rovers in the final after Mark Kenny’s two late scores gave them a three-point advantage.

That was before O’Brien and Finn broke Belgooly hearts.

Scorers for Kinsale: John O’Brien 0-15 (0-9 f), Micheal Murphy 1-5, C Fitzpatrick 0-4, Gearoid Finn 1-0, B O’Neill 0-3, O Buckley 0-3, R O’Brien 0-1, N Ryan 0-1.

Belgooly: Barry Dwyer 0-14 (0-8 f, 0-3 65), Ryan Long 1-3, Kevin Fitzgerald 0-6, C O’Donovan 0-5, Mark Kenny 0-3, C McCarthy, E Corkery, S Kiely 0-1 each.

KINSALE: T Broderick; N McCarthy, K O’Callaghan, D O’Leary; C O’Leary, O Ryan, B Coughlan; C Fitzpatrick, B O’Neill; N Ryan, O Buckley, J O’Brien (c); D Forde, C Fitzpatrick, M Murphy.

Subs: G Finn for N Ryan (9 inj), R O’Brien for C O’Leary (47), S O’Callaghan for O Buckley (77 inj). 

BELGOOLY: J Dwyer; D Walsh, T O’Donovan, C O’Sullivan; J O’Sullivan, N O’Sullivan, L Walsh; C O’Donovan, S Kiely; E Lynch, E O’Donovan; E Corkery, K Fitzgerald, R Long, B Dwyer.

Subs: F Walsh for E Lynch (h-t), M Kenny for F Walsh (57), C McCarthy for E Corkery (71 inj).

Referee: Brian Coniry (Crosshaven),