Joe Miskella stars as Ballincollig win Premier 1 U14 league

Ballincollig 3-11 St Finbarr’s 1-8

BALLINCOLLIG won the Rebel Óg Premier 1 U14 football league title after a deserved win over the Barrs at St Michael’s GAA grounds.

There can be no denying they were the better side over the 60 minutes and have a chance of completing the double when they face Midleton in the hurling decider next week. Credit to the Barrs they never gave up with Edmund Burke and Liam O’Regan leading by example for the Togher side.

The winners had plenty of fine displays with the likes of Eanna Hurney, Eanna Lynch, James Harrington and Bobby Power all impressive. 

But the Player of the Game was, without a doubt, Joe Miskella. From start to finish he never stopped going and chipped in with five points as well.

Ballincollig’s win was secured with their first-half display, scoring three goals against the wind and from here it was always going to be difficult for the Barrs to come back.

The Barrs took the lead in the first minute when Burke pointed from their first attack.

But the Village were soon in front when Rory Fitzgerald played Cillian McDonnell in to raise their first green flag. From the restart, they could have had another with Miskella’s effort coming back off the crossbar.

They had another shot come back off the bar before they raised their second green flag. Ballincollig’s second goal came after 12 minutes, when Fitzgerald set up McDonnell again, to make it 2-0 to 0-1.

David Clarke O’Mahony pulled a point back from a free for the Barrs and when they raised a green flag of their own they were back in contention. A 45 from Liam O’Regan deceived everyone and flew into the net, to make it 1-2 to 2-0.

McDonnell pointed for the Village before Miskella set up Fionn Walsh for their third goal, to see them lead 3-2 to 1-2 at halftime.

.

Lee O’Donovan pointed again for the Togher side before one from Power and two more from Miskella secured the win for Ballincollig, who now turn their attentions to the hurling decider.

Scorers for Ballincollig: C McDonnell 2-1, J Miskella 0-5 (0-3 f), B Power 0-3, F Walsh 1-0, P Skehan 0-2.

St Finbarr’s: L O’Regan 1-1 (1-0 45, 0-1 f), D Clarke O’Mahony, L O’Donovan 0-2 each, E Burke (f), C O’Donovan 0-1 each.

BALLINCOLLIG: D McCarthy: D Murphy, L Higgins, S Richmond; J Harrington, E Harris, E Lynch; J Miskella, E Hurney; C McDonnell, B Power, F Walsh; R Fitzgerald, M Downey, J Costello.

Subs: P Skehan for Murphy (h-t), C McCarthy for McDonnell (39), C Barr for Downey (51), Downey for Costello (58), Murphy for Barr (59).

St FINBARR’S: R Dunne; J O’Sullivan, D Akar, J O’Sullivan Crowley; S Fleming Byrne, CJ Barrett, E Naughton; K McCabe, L O’Regan; D Clarke O’Mahony, C O’Donovan, E Burke; D Hurley, H McTernan, A O’Herlihy.

Subs: A Martin for J O’Sullivan, T Cromie for D Hurley, F Power for C O’Donovan (all 35), C Garvey Higgins for S Fleming Byrne (45), J O’Sullivan for H McTernan (51), S Fleming Byrne for E Naughton (57), C O’Donovan for J O’Sullivan (59).

Referee: Peter Finnegan (Douglas).