Waterford champions Ballinacourty held off a strong second half challenge from Dromcollogher-Broadford to win by two points in an exciting encounter at Fraher Field in the Munster senior football quarter-final.

Playing in front of a sparse official attendance of just 829 patrons, the home side dominated the opening half and lead 2-3 to 0-5 at half time.

Ballinacourty full forward Jason O’Brien netted on 25 minutes and they had their second goal after 28 minutes when Mark Ferncombe fisted a high delivery to the edge of the square to the net.

Irked
The Limerick champions had three excellent points from Derry McCarthy in the opening period to keep them in touch. McCarthy was justifiably irked when he was withdrawn in the second half despite having added a fourth point from play.

With just seven minutes to go Dromcollogher-Broadford had reduced the arrears to a single point but points from the impressive Gary Hurney and Michael O’Halloran steadied the ship for the eventual winners. Try as they might the Limerick champions couldn’t find an equalising goal and could only manage one more point in injury time from Killian Phair.

Ballinacourty will now meet the Clare champions in the Munster semi-final at a date yet to be decided.