To county final
of goal chances in their period of ascendancy. Brian Lennon and Harry Mangan did find the target to reduce the deficit back to four but a Parsons free and Paddy Byrne pushed that lead out to six once again.
Ballinacor started the second half like the first but this time the scores didn’t come. Chris Murphy was fouled twice and neither Parsons nor Paddy Byrne could convert the frees. However valuable minutes were being used up without Donard eating into the lead and Ballinacor eventually caught them on the counter attack.
Murphy once again was fouled and the free was quickly taken to Paddy Byrne and he found David Carter whose initial shot was saved but the rebound rattled the back of the net. 2-07 to 5 points with fifteen minutes to go and the game looked over.
Donard did make it an exciting finish with a few scores near the end but they needed goals earlier to really trouble a Ballinacor side that brought all of their players back into defence to stop any comeback.
They go on to face a fancied AGB team in what should be an intriguing and evenly matched final. Both teams will be likely to have a couple of missing players through suspension and injury and therefore will be evened out. It’s a difficult one to call.
Scorers – Ballinacor: Chris Murphy, David Carter 1-00 each; Ger Byrne (2f), Conor Parson (1f), Paddy Byrne 0-02 each; Martin Byrne, James Nolan 0-01 each.
Donard: Conor Healy 1-00; Alan Daly 0-03; Brian Lennon (1f), Harry Mangan (1f) 0-02; Bill Flynn 0-01.
Ballinacor: Ciaran O’Neill; Danny Byrne, Christopher Kennedy, Sean Boyle; Martin Byrne, James Byrne, Brian Hanlon; Daniel Dowling, Paddy Byrne; Ronan Phelan, Conor Parsons, Philip Byrne; James Nolan, Chris Murphy, Ger Byrne. Subs: David Carter for Ger Byrne (34 mins, inj.); Denis Heffernan for Brian Hanlon (HT); Peter Kennedy for Philip Byrne (55 mins).
Donard the Glen: Colm Toomey; Mickey Daly, Willie Rooney, Kevin Osborne; Eoin Kelly, Colm Osborne, Bill Flynn; Brian Lennon, John Hanbidge; Liam Mullen, Kevin Kealy, Conor Healy; Alan Daly, Harry Mangan, Conor Kelly. Subs: Ray Halloran for Conor Kelly, Darren O’Neill for Kevin Kealy (both 38 mins); George Finlay for Kevin Osborne (41 mins); Eddie Flynn for Conor Healy (55 mins).
Referee: Anthony Nolan (Baltinglass)