’Cors power on

at Aughrim was sent into him was generally won and he was always productive with possession causing both Willie Rooney and later George Finlay a world of trouble.

Murphy was the best of a good Ballinacor team that won their individual battles but the terrible conditions can’t be underestimated however and Ballinacor played with the aid of a strong wind in the first half to lead by six points at half time, 1-06 to 3 points.

They got off to a lightening start and had 1-03 on the board before Donard could even get off the mark. Conor Parsons didn’t score as freely as he did in the Quarter Final but got his side’s first score after 40 seconds. He followed that with a couple of wides but Ger Byrne was quick to find his range with a couple of frees.

Colm Toomey in the Donard goal found it difficult to kick the ball out well into the strong wind and directly after Byrne’s second free his kick out was won by Ballinacor. The Donard defence was unorganised as Philip Byrne passed the ball across to Chris Murphy to slot the ball home with only nine minutes gone. Almost immediately Ballinacor had another goal chance but Ger Byrne’s shot went the wrong side of the post.

Donard were under pressure with Ballinacor’s quick start but they worked themselves back into the game and Conor Kelly’s goal bound shot went wide. Before that chance Alan Daly kicked a good point under pressure but James Nolan replied to leave the score line 1-04 to a point in the eighteenth minute.

The Donard shooting wasn’t doing them any favours and they had racked up seven wides by half time and missed another couple