Two second-half goals give Ballinora footballers the edge over Glenville

Ballinora 2-12 Glenville 3-7 

BALLINORA are up and running in the Cork County IFC after a powerful second-half display was too much for Glenville at the splendid new complex in Grenagh last Saturday evening.

This was a fine game of ball and to use the well-worn cliche, it was very much a game of two halves.

Glenville were the dominant force in the opening 30 and they made full use of the strong wind to lead at the interval by 2-6 to 1-4.

The wind was a very significant factor throughout and on the turnover it was Ballinora’s turn to dictate matters.

In that opening half, Sean Desmond and Adam Murphy were very prominent for Glenville, both raising green flags and making life difficult for the Ballinora rearguard.

Colin Cronin was on the scoresheet as well with James Lordan and Alan O’Shea impacting, the latter with a fine goal.

The Ballinora ’keeper Joe Conway denied Josh Cooke with a sublime save as the half ended with the East Cork unit in control.

However, it was a different story thereafter and in the entire second half, Glenville could only manage two more scores.

Ballinora sun Brian Murphy made an immediate impact with a fine point while James and Neil Lordan also pointed.

Glenville lost substitute Shane Field to a red card as the complexion of the game changed rather dramatically.

Neil Lordan was hauled down for a Ballinora penalty and from the resultant kick, Darragh Holmes made no mistake.

Glenville sub James Gowen pointed for Glenville before the water break but Ballinora were now in front by a brace of points.

But Glenville were not done yet and Adam Murphy levelled it all up in the 59th minute with his second goal. However, Ballinora responded again and points from Neil Lordan and Holmes sealed it.

Glenville will rue some poor wides in both halves but the character of Ballinora shone through in that second-half.

Both sides must face Millstreet and the Barrs in the group but it’s advantage Ballinora for the moment.

Scorers Ballinora: N Lordan 0-4 (0-2 f), D Holmes 1-1 (1-0 penalty), J Lordan 0-3, A O’Shea 1-0, I Wycherley 0-2, B Murphy, C Lougheed 0-1 each. 

Glenville: A Murphy 2-2, S Desmond 1-2, J Gowen, C Cronin, J Cooke 0-1 each.

BALLINORA: J Conway; K Greally, T Forde, K O’Regan; G Forde, M Lordan, I Wycherley; A O’Neill, J Lordan; N Lordan, J Keohane, A O’Shea; L O’Donovan, D Holmes, P Fitton.

Subs: B Murphy for O’Shea, C Lougheed for O’Donovan, B Aherne for O’Neill.

GLENVILLE: D Quirke, D Farrell, M Kennedy, S O’Reilly; K O’Neill, E Dehalunt, D McCarthy; D O’Donoovan, PJ Dennehy; W Connolly, D Dennehy, C Cronin; J Cooke, A Murphy, S Desmond.

Subs: S Field for Connolly, J Gowen for Cooke, A Desmond for Kennedy, C Healy for PJ Dennehy.

Referee C Egan (St Nicholas).