Clinical Ballincollig sweep Clyda aside as former Cork City midfielder hits a goal

Ballincollig 5-15 Clyda Rovers 0-6 

THE 2014 SFC winners Ballincollig showed their class as easily accounted for the challenge of Clyda Rovers in Blarney on Saturday evening to secure their place in the third round of the Cork SFC.

They were the better side all over the field and just had too much for their rivals from Avondhu as they put their season back on track following a first-round defeat to O’Donovan Rossa and will now meet Kiskeam for a slot in the slot eight.

Key to their success was their dangerous inside forward line of Darren Murphy, Garry Comerford, who recently joined the club having started the season playing soccer with Cork City, and Cian Dorgan who plundered 3-8 of their total. U21 ace Murphy was particularly impressive as he shot 2-4 while attacking wing-backs Cian Kiely and JP Murphy were also a constant menace to the Clyda rear-guard.

Seán Kiely and Peter O’Neill dominated midfield and Colm O’Connell led the defence brilliantly from centre-back. Sterner test lie ahead, starting next weekend, but it was still a strong statement of intent from Tom Dorgan's side after a mixed league campaign.

Darren and JP Murphy put Ballincollig ahead early on before Ronan and Conor Flanagan levelled matters for Clyda after 10 minutes. Cian Kiely and Cian Dorgan then pushed Ballincollig two in front again and when Conor Flanagan left just one between them at the end of the opening quarter, a close game seemed likely But Clyda were treading dangerously as Ballincollig were hoovering up more of the breaking ball and, as a result, were dominating possession.

In the second-quarter they made that dominance count as they outscored Clyda by 2-6 to 0-1. Darren Murphy shot 1-3, Kevin Browne slotted over two points and Garry Comerford had one of his own while JP Murphy billowed the net after a defence splitting pass from Pa Kelly.

Cian O’Sullivan added one more for Clyda before the break but as they went in at half-time they faced a monumental task, trailing by 2-10 to 0-6.

Any notions they may have had about making a comeback were ruthlessly put down on the resumption when Comerford goaled after 90 seconds.

The game petered out after that as Ballincollig continued to dominate. Darren Murphy struck for his second goal, the excellent Cian Kiely scored their fifth while Cian Dorgan and Seán Kiely had two points each before sub Rob Noonan completed their scoring.

Clyda, as ever, plugged away but could only manage two more points from O’Sullivan and Darragh Buckley and they now face a long winter of reflection.

The show goes on for Ballincollig, however, as they take on Kiskeam in round 3 next Saturday evening.

Scorers for Ballincollig: D Murphy 2-4, JP Murphy, C Kiely, G Comerford 1-1 each, C Dorgan 0-3 (0-1 free, 0-1 45), K Browne and S Kiely (0-1 f) 0-2 each, R Noonan 0-1.

Clyda Rovers: C Flanagan (f), C O’Sullivan 0-2 each, R Flanagan, D Buckley 0-1 each.

BALLINCOLLIG: J Gibbons; N Galvin, L Jennings, K Coleman; JP Murphy, C O’Connell, C Kiely; S Kiely, P O’Neill; K Browne, P Kelly, C Moore; G Comerford, C Dorgan, D Murphy.

Subs: R Noonan for Kelly (32), R Bourke for Galvin (38), S O’Donoghue for Jennings (48).

CLYDA: E Sheehan; Sean Ronayne, R Carey, Seamus Ronayne; J Buckley, P Kissane, M Forde; K Fitzgerald, C Flanagan; C Kelly, C O’Sullivan, S Kelly; R Flanagan, P Cronin, C Buckley.

Subs: D Buckley for Seamus Ronayne, O O’Hanlon for Kelly (both h-t), R Willis for R Flanagan (38), B O’Connor for S Kelly (48), Seamus Ronayne for C Buckley (57).

Referee: Eamonn Sheehy (Newcestown).