Premier SFC: History is on Ballincollig's side ahead of Sunday's clash against Castlehaven

BALLINCOLLIG will travel down to Enniskeane this Sunday afternoon for the Bon Secours Hospital Premier SFC quarter-final against Castlehaven at 4pm in confident mood in more ways than one.

The Village come into this big clash on the back of a 2-10 to 1-11 win over neighbours Éire Óg in the final group-stage game over a week ago, which was a winner-takes-all-encounter in Coachford. That morale boasting two-point victory will give the Muskerry club a huge shot in the arm heading into the meeting against Castlehaven, a team that Ballincollig have an outstanding record against in the championship.

The two teams have locked horns on six occasions to date, with Ballincollig winning four times, one draw and just one Haven triumph. While the lineups have changed and it is a different era, Collig's great record against Castlehaven and their ability to turn up on the big days, has to stand for something this weekend especially when their manager Podsie O’Mahony played in a couple of memorable victories over the team from West Cork.

Ballincollig won the IFC in 1994 captained by David Bourke, with O’Mahony finishing up as top scorer in the championship that season with 4-13. The Village had been steady without making an impression in the top grade in the first few years, getting knocked out in the second round in four seasons on the trot (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998).

1999 was different as Ballincollig made it to the quarter-final where Castlehaven, who were and still are one of the big hitters in the top flight, were expected to be too strong for the Collig. But, inspired by Fergal Keohane, who hit 2-2, the Mid-Cork side won 2-11 to 0-13 played in Clonakilty’s old pitch. UCC beat Ballincollig, 0-16 to 0-11, in the semi-final.

The next meeting was June 2006 in Bandon, a round three encounter which Ballincollig won comfortably, 3-16 to 0-9. Ballincollig turned it on with Colin Weste in top form hitting 2-5. The Village edged out Ilen Rovers by a point in round four before Aghada won 1-12 to 0-10 in the quarter-final. It was progression for the Collig in reaching the last eight, having lost in round three in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005.

The sides collided in a round four meeting in August 2010 in Bandon, the sides couldn’t be separated the first day out as it finished 0-13 to 2-7, with goals from Seanie Cahalane and Mark Collins proving crucial for the Haven. The replay a month later in the same venue saw Ballincollig prevail by 3-10 to 2-9. The winners breezed into a 1-6 to 0-1 lead after 20 minutes which gave them the platform for the victory. Ian Coughlan was on fire for the team in green and white as he finished up with 2-3. The Village would lose to St Finbarr’s by three points in the quarter-final a week later.

Castlehaven’s only championship triumph against Ballincollig to date was September 2015 in the quarter-final in Dunmanway. The Haven knocked out the 2014 champions with a 1-14 to 1-11 success on an evening when Brian Hurley shot the lights out scoring 1-6. The West Cork side defeated rivals O’Donovan Rossa by three points in the last four before losing to Nemo Rangers in the final by two points after a replay.

The Muskerry outfit got revenge a year later, which was the last championship meeting between the teams. Ballincollig were too strong down in Clonakilty which was a quarter-final tie, winning on a scoreline of 3-15 to 0-7, with Cian Dorgan the star of the show with 1-6. The Village would go on and beat Nemo Rangers in the semi-final by a point, but lost out to Carbery Rangers by a goal in the decider.

Both clubs did meet in Enniskeane before. Back in 2010 in the U21 A football championship final. Castlehaven denied the Village two-in-a -row, by winning comprehensively on a scoreline of 2-13 to 1-3. The swashbuckling performance from Brian Hurley in that game will always be etched in my mind.

Sunday’s game should be a cracker. Both teams are full of confidence after beating their Divisional rivals last time out by two points, with Ballincollig beating Éire Óg and Castlehaven edging out Clonakilty. History is on Ballincollig’s side, and even though the Haven will rightly start as favourites, it wouldn’t be a surprise if the team in green and white prevail. The Haven have been favourites a few times before against this weekend's opposition.