The Black Diamond AFL second division newcomers played inspirational football in the second-half, erasing an eight-point deficit within three minutes of the resumption of play.

They then set about cementing their place in the grand final, running Kilarney Vale ragged across the field keeping their nemesis side goalless after half-time and winning by 58 points.

The effort was all the more game with the side down to two fit men on the bench, with backline marshal Stuart Inglis concussed after bravely backing into a pack in the second quarter and the mercurial Cory Kennedy tweaking his groin early in the third term.

Kennedy was able to return briefly to give his teammates a spell on the bench and the team is banking on him being fit for the grand final in two week’s time.

Co-captain Mark Curran’s had to have a head wound from a nasty incident in the third-term in which Kilarney Vale’s ??? struck Curran several times to to the side of the head while he was on the ground. He was reported by two umpires.

 Saints coach Steve Mitchell, who had delivered a stern half-time address to his troops, said the second half was the best the team had played all season, with every player contributing.

“It’s an incredible effort by the boys to make the grand final in their first year,” he said.

“The on-field group has been terrific and really grown into a team and there is terrific support for them behind the scenes.”

Mitchell paid particular praise to the team’s co-captains Curran and Wade Beard for their leadership in the hard-fought win against the Bombers.

“Kilarney Vale has grabbed the jump on us in our three 

matches and Mark and Wade were crucial in marshalling the boys to keep us in touch at half-time,”  Mitchell said.

Mitchell said he believed the team was in with a real chance of winning at half-time but didn’t expect the onslaught in the third term.

Midfielders Beard and Jim Taranto led the way winning the clearances and running themselves into the ground to provide linking play from defence to attack.

 Curran and Adrian Hoffman gave them first use of the ball and were targets around the ground, along with Justin Smith.

Colin Carroll was again in the best this time on the wing, halting numerous attack with his courageous attack on the ball and plenty of run.

Full-forward Scott McLarty kicked three of his five goals in the third term and along with Jay Mitchell (1 goal) contested hard and gave support to the smaller Saints forwards.

Patrick McMahon showed his soccer background slotting a volley with one of 

his four goals. The Bombers again didn’t have an answer for his athleticism and freakish skills.

The Saints young-gun Conor Haswell chipped in with two goals including another soccer-type effort and showed the whole team’s commitment to contested football knocking a much-larger opponent to the ground with a well-timed bump.

The background provided the groundwork for the win with scrambling defence in the first half and then running link-play as the game wore on.

Ben Crowley marked everything that came his way and the centre-halfback will be sorely missed in the grand final (holiday) along with Justin Smith (RAAF training).

The Saints’ grand final opponent will be the winner of Saturday’s preliminary final between Kilarney Vale and Warners Bay, who defeated Lake Macquarie in the elimination final by 55 points.

Maitland 2.1 5.3 14.5 16.8 (104) d Killarney Vale 3.3 6.7 6.8 6.10 (46) Maitland Goals S.McLarty 5, P.McMahon 4, C.Haswell 2, A.Hoffman 1, C.Kennedy 1, J.Mitchell 1, J.Smith 1, J.Taranto 1. 

Maitland Best M.Curran, B.Crowley, P.McMahon, W.Beard, J.Taranto, C.Carroll.