Premier SFC: Ballincollig defeat neighbours Éire Óg to advance to the quarter-finals
Ballincollig's Darragh O'Mahony palms the ball to the Éire Óg net past Chris Kelly, during their Premier SFC clash at Coachford. Picture: David Keane
Ballincollig: 2-10
Éire Óg: 1-11
AT the end of an enthralling historic Muskerry derby, it was Ballincollig who secured the bragging rights and progression to the knockout stages of the Bon Secours Hospital Premier SFC following a gripping battle with neighbours Éire Óg at Coachford on Sunday evening.
In front of a huge crowd, this was the first football championship meeting between the respective first-teams and it didn’t disappoint. Both sides knew what they had to do before throw-in. It was a winner-takes-all encounter to decide who joined Nemo Rangers from Group B into the knockout stages. A draw would have been enough for Éire Óg to advance, but it’s Ballincollig who claimed the victory over their local rivals and they just about deserved it as they were just that small bit slicker.
Podsie O'Mahony's side will now face Castlehaven in the last eight.
Ballincollig made a strong start with a point after just 21 seconds from Cian Dorgan following good work by Rob Noonan. After a number of wides from both teams, the Collig raised a green flag after six minutes as Noonan set up Liam O’Connell, and the latter finished coolly to the back of the net giving Éire Óg goalkeeper Chris Kelly no chance. Dorgan raised a white flag before Éire Óg finally got their first score after 14 minutes, which was a point, a 45-metre free from goalkeeper Kelly, 1-2 to 0-1. This was never going to be a high scoring classic but it was very intriguing with both sides on top in defence in the early stages.
A close-range Daniel Goulding free left three points between the teams before the team in green and white took a firm grip on proceedings with a second green flag after 21 minutes. Great work involving O’Connell and the majestic Harry Ahearne resulted in Darragh O’Mahony palming the ball into the back of the net, 2-2 to 0-2.
Dorgan scored a free for Ballincollig, which was a mark, before Goulding converted a free for the Ovens side at the other end. There was just one score in the closing stages of the half as Goulding landed a free for Éire Óg to reduce the deficit down to five points at the interval, 2-3 to 0-4.
Ballincollig made a fast start to the new half, O’Mahony kicked over a point before Dorgan nearly netted his sides third goal, only denied by an excellent save from Éire Óg’s netminder Kelly, 2-4 to 0-4 after 33 minutes. Goulding rolled back the years with a sweet point with the outside of the boot as it flew over the bar. Ballincollig were on top though, far more energetic, and a white flag from Cian Kiely restored their six-point advantage, 2-5 to 0-5 after 37 minutes.
The sides traded points, Daire McCarthy for Éire Óg while Dorgan landed a sublime free from an acute angle for the winning team. Goulding landed another free for his side but Dorgan replied with a white flag for the Collig. Éire Óg required a goal and they got it after 49 minutes, a driving run from Colm O’Callaghan resulted in the Cork senior footballer billowing the back of the net, 2-7 to 1-7.
The Collig’s response was a free from Dorgan before O’Callaghan pointed for the Ovens club but a Cian Kiely white flag gave the Village a four-point buffer after 53 minutes, 2-9 to 1-8. The teams then swapped white flags, Dorgan and a Goulding free with the scores.
A point from Éire Óg sub Jack Sheehan left a goal in it approaching injury-time before Goulding kicked another free a minute into additional time. Ballincollig held on to secure a knockout place.
C Dorgan 0-7 (0-2 f, 0-1 mark), D O’Mahony 1-1, L O’Connell 1-0, C Kiely 0-2.
D Goulding 0-7 (0-6 f), C O’Callaghan 1-1, C Kelly (45), D McCarthy, J Sheehan 0-1 each.
J Gibbons; S O’Donoghue, L Jennings, C Moore; E Cooke, H Ahearne, C Kiely (c); S Dore, S Kiely; M Oldham, L O’Connell, P O’Neill; R Noonan, D O’Mahony, C Dorgan.
S O’Neill for S Kiely (16, inj), T O’Connell for C Moore (35, inj), D Murphy for R Noonan (49), D Dorgan for E Cooke (52).
C Kelly; M Corkery, J Mullins (c), C McGoldrick; D O’Herlihy, M Griffin, J Kelleher; D McCarthy, C O’Callaghan; E O’Shea, J Cooper, D Kelly; D Goulding, R O’Flynn, J Murphy.
H Murphy for D Kelly (38), J Sheehan for D McCarthy (53), D Foley for E O’Shea (57), D Dineen for J Kelleher (59).
Alan Long (Argideen Rangers).
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