BY JJ HURLEY

THE South East’s junior A football and hurling competitions are hotting up as they reach the business end.

Last weekend it was decision time in the Ross Oil Junior A Hurling Championship, with Kinsale and Valley Rovers awaiting the winners of Ballymartle v Ballinhassig, and Belgooly v Carrigaline in the semi-finals.

Under perfect hurling conditions in Shanbally, old rivals Ballymartle and Ballinhassig opened proceedings, the winners set to meet another old foe, Valley Rovers.

Ballymartle fielded a youthful side featuring former Cork minor Leo Hennessy and Ronan Sheehan, while Ballinhassig leaned on the experienced Brendan Lombard and Eddie Finn.

Lombard struck first, bundling the ball home after seven minutes, followed by points from Daniel Lombard and Diarmuid O’Sullivan for a 1-2 to 0-2 lead after ten minutes.

Hennessy responded with a superb point and Sheehan added another as Ballymartle took control. On 27 minutes Hennessy and Sheehan combined for a goal to put five between them, but Gearóid Kirby buried a penalty to narrow the gap.

The sides traded points to the break, Sheehan landing two frees, Ballymartle leading 1-9 to 2-3.

Barely had the second half started when sub Sean Connolly hit 1-2. Four more unanswered points left Ballinhassig 3-8 to 1-9 ahead on 46 minutes. Ballymartle hit back with four points, but late Ballinhassig indiscipline proved fatal. Dan O’Leary (0-3f) and Ken O’Callaghan (0-2f) punished from placed balls to snatch a 1-18 to 3-10 win for Ballymartle. They now play Kinsale in the last four.

The final semi-final berth was settled under Tracton’s new lights in Minane Bridge, where Carrigaline and Belgooly had promised to serve up another thriller.

Level at 0-5 apiece after 16 minutes, Carrigaline edged ahead through Oisín O’Connell, Cian O’Donovan and Josh Carolan. Belgooly stayed close, Barry Dwyer deadly from frees, but Carrig led 0-9 to 0-8 at half-time.

O’Connell opened the second half with a point, only for Belgooly to blaze over five in reply, three from Dwyer. Peter Ronayne briefly halted the run before Eric Lynch inspired a three-point salvo of points.

Tom O’Donovan marshalled a rock-solid Belgooly defence as they moved 0-17 to 0-11 clear on 45 minutes and stretched it to 0-22 to 0-13 by the 62nd minute. O’Connell grabbed a late goal, but Belgooly march on to face Valley Rovers.

Attention now turns to the Procure.ie Junior A Football Championship. Ballygarvan are red-hot favourites to retain their crown and maybe further inspired after seeing off St Catherine’s in the Co-op Superstore Premier Junior A Hurling Championship. They meet Ballymartle on Sunday in Belgooly at noon – dangerous opponents who already dumped Valley Rovers out of the competition.

On Saturday in Crosshaven (2pm), Carrigaline face Shamrocks in a local derby. Carrig, eyeing revenge on Ballygarvan after last year’s final loss, might shade it –  but two-horse races are never easy to call.