Gaultier and Ballinacourty advanced to the semi finals of the Waterford SFC at a wet and windy Fraher Field on Sunday afternoon.
Gaultier are through to the last four for the third year in a row after a 0-13 to 0-8 win over Clashmore Kinsalebeg. Captain JJ Hutchinson struck four points (two frees) while Patrick and Mark Fitzgerald got three each from play.
Hutchinson elected to play with the elements and it proved the correct call as the Eastern side led 10-3 at the break. Mark Fitzgerald kicked three from play. JJ also hit three while younger brother Dessie delivered two from play.
Two Brian O'Halloran efforts off right and left closed the gap to four eleven minutes into the second half. Two Patrick Fitzgerald points settled the leaders before he laid the ball off to JJ Hutchinson who struck the ball over with the aid of the crossbar.
Seán Whelan Barrett shot five points (four frees) as fourteen-man Ballinacourty beat fourteen-man Kilrossanty 0-8 to 0-4 in monsoon conditions.
Pat Curran's side showed their strength in depth to advance to a semi final meeting with The Nire next weekend. Courty started without Conor Prunty due to a quad injury. They then lost Patrick Hurney, Michael O'Halloran and Cian Fagan to injury during the game. Neil Montgomery also received a straight red card in the second half for a strike on Pa Whyte. Caoimhin Walsh was dismissed on two yellows for Kilrossanty.
Kilrossanty won the toss but captain Stephen Prendergast chose to play against the breeze. Four Whelan Barrett points and one each from Michael O'Halloran and Michael Kiely saw Courty lead 6-1 at the break.
Both sides were reduced to fourteen men in the third quarter. Goalkeeper Paul Whyte moved out of goal for Kilrossanty but four points was as close as they got. Donie Fitzgerald and Josh Kay split the posts for the green and gold. Another Whelan Barrett free and a terrific Charlie Treen point with the outside of the right wrapped up victory for Courty.
Waterford SFC Semi Finals: Rathgormack v Gaultier, Ballinacourty v The Nire
