Rathnure 2-11 Oulart-the-Ballagh 1-8 A blistering start set Cloughbawn up for a shock 1-8 to 0-8 victory over reigning champions Faythe Harriers at Wexford Park yesterday. There was another surprise in the other semi-final at the venue as Rathnure beat Oulart-the-Ballagh by 2-11 to 1-8.

Faythe Harriers were dealt a cruel blow after just 18 minutes when Cloughbawn full forward Marin Kehoe shook off several tackles before finding the net leaving them with an 1-4 to 0-0 lead.

The losers had to wait until the 25th minute for their opening score, a Barry Goff point, and they battled back to only trail 1-4 to 0-3 at the break.

But it was Cloughbawn who were showing the greater appetite for the game. With their defence magnificent, particularly Gary Flood at full back and Larry Murphy in an unfamiliar role at centre back, they restricted the champions to just five second-half points, with four of those coming from Goff, and the other from midfielder Rory Mallon.

Earlier Paul Codd inspired Rathnure's win. A Trevor Hogan goal separated the sides at the break, with Rathnure leading 1-4 to 0-4.

RATHNURE: J Morrissey; D Guiney, S Somers, A O'Connell; M O'Leary, J Mooney, M Redmond; R Guiney, N Higgins; T Hogan (1-0), M Byrne (0-1), J O'Connor; P Codd (0-7), C Byrne, B O'Leary (0-3). Sub: A Codd (1-0) for C Byrne.

OULART-THE-BALLAGH: P Dempsey; G Jacob, Declan Stamp, P Roche; Darren Stamp, L Dunne, K Rossiter; P Finn (0-3), M Jacob; D Nolan (0-1), A O'Leary (1-1), M Storey (0-1); D Mythen (0-2), R Jacob, D Roche. Subs: D O'Connor for Roche; P Redmond for Dunne (inj); S Dunne for Nolan.

Referee: D Murphy (Enniscorthy).