Ballincollig minor footballers power on past Glanmire in the second half

Ballincollig 3-14 Glanmire 2-10

A CRACKING Premier 1 Minor Football joust in Ballincollig was decided by a 10-minute powerplay either side of the second half water-break.

Level 1-5 apiece at half-time and again 1-8 each after 39 minutes, the Village then outscored a fancied Glanmire 2-3 to 0-1 and never looked back. While Naoise Marron fired in a late goal for the Tomás Ó Sé coached East Cork outfit, the hosts were never going to be caught.

Electric inside forward Darragh O'Mahony nailed a penalty after he was fouled, Mark Oldham hit 1-1, the goal after a flowing team move, and sub Paraic O'Keeffe curled over a lovely point. 

By the time Sean Dore, a dominant figure at midfield, split the posts it was 3-11 to 1-9 and effectively game over.

The first-half goals were netted by Dan Hogan, in the opening exchanges, and O'Mahony, who rolled the ball low after a trademark jinking run from a Dore off-load. Ballincollig were motoring well through O'Mahony, Dore, Liam O'Connell, Tadhg O'Connell and Brian Keating in the first 15 minutes.

Glanmire then excelled in the second quarter, necklacing four unanswered points. Class efforts they were, from Cathal McCarthy (2), Eric Nolan and James Crowley to come from 1-5 to 1-1 in arrears. Crowley and McCarthy were constant threats but Glanmire needed a better return on the scoreboard during their purple patch, with target man Luke Elliot's goal chance flying wide.

Tellingly, Glanmire had five wides to the Collig's one in the first half and when the game restarted it was score for score initially. Jack O'Sullivan and David Lynch upped the ante for Glanmire in the middle third, though Liam O'Connell was majestic at centre-back for Ballincollig, his reading of the breaks and athleticism ensuring he picked up the world of ball.   

In the end, they couldn't quibble with the loss, but will rue a few missed goal chances.

Glanmire are still in contention for a semi-final spot, once they beat bottom of the group Nemo. If Douglas defeat Ballincollig at home, all three teams will be tied and scoring difference will kick in. Currently, Ballincollig are +24, Douglas +4, Glanmire -2

If the Collig and Glanmire win, then Douglas, last year's county champions, are out.

Scorers for Ballincollig: D O'Mahony 2-5 (1-0 pen, 0-4 f), M Oldham 1-2, B Keating 0-2, R O'Connor, P O'Keeffe, H Aherne, S Dore, D O'Sullivan 0-1 each.

Glanmire: C McCarthy 0-3, D Hogan, N Marron 1-0 each, J Crowley 0-3 (0-1 f), D Lynch 0-2 (0-1 45) L Elliot, E Nolan 0-1 each. 

BALLINCOLLIG: C Walsh; D Horgan, S O'Donoghue, S Buckley; R O'Connor, L O'Connell, H Aherne; C O'Driscoll, S Dore; D Ebili, M Oldham (c), T O'Connell; D O'Mahony, D O'Sullivan, B Keating.

Subs: P O'Keeffe for Ebili (37), S Kelly for O'Driscoll (54), S O'Flynn for T O'Connell (55).

GLANMIRE: L Cotter; J Gibson, J Bowen, E Geary; K McCarthy, O Kelleher, D Murray; R O’Brien, D Lynch; J Kingston, D Hogan, C McCarthy; E Nolan, L Elliot, J Crowley.

Subs: J O'Sullivan for K McCarthy (15), A Marron for Nolan (45), N Marron for R O'Brien (55).

Referee: David Murnane (Macroom).