Three-in-a-row for Ballinora in the Muskerry JAHC

BALLINORA were crowned MJK Oils Muskerry JAHC winners for a third consecutive season last Sunday following a hard-fought 0-15 to 1-9 win over a gallant Dripsey side.

A huge crowd made their way to Cloughduv for the decider and even though it wasn’t a final that will live long in the memory bank, the closeness of the tussle kept everyone on tenterhooks. After waiting 19 years to win the divisional crown in 2016, Ballinora have now been the dominant team in recent years. Runners up in 2018 and 2020 before completing three-in-a-row last weekend.

Ballinora were heavy favourites before the start of this season to win the divisional crown so it’s no great surprise that they are the last team standing for the third straight campaign. The manner of their win over Dripsey on Sunday would have pleased manager Don O’Brien and his selectors. Dripsey were never going to wilt, and in typical Dripsey fashion they died with their boots on. Ballinora led 0-6 to 0-5 at the break in a half where wayward shooting let both sides down. Michael O'Riordan, Eoghan Maher and Dean O'Sullivan were integral for Dripsey in the opening 30 minutes.

Dripsey, who are back in the Mid-Cork JAHC this year for the first time since 2008, made a flying start to the second-half and five minutes into the new half the team in red and blue led 1-7 to 0-8. The vastly experienced Diarmuid O’Riordan with the green flag. It was one way traffic for the remainder of the game, as Ballinora’s crafty hurlers stepped up, with the team showing character in abundance.

With 15 minutes left Ballinora led 0-12 to 1-7, with captain Darragh Holmes, James Keohane and Kevin Murphy all prominent in the forward department. Shane Kingston, who did so well for the Cork U20 hurlers this year as they won Munster and All-Ireland titles, was rock solid at centre-back, and was voted man of the match, with James Byrne and Tommy Burns influential in midfield.

With four minutes remaining Ballinora led 0-14 to 1-7, before Dripsey got their first score in 21 minutes through Michael O'Riordan to leave just a goal separating the sides. The sides traded points until Dripsey applied late pressure as they desperately went in search of a goal, but the green flag remained elusive.

Another Mid-Cork title in the bag for the team in green and red and while they will be delighted with that achievement trying to make a favourable impression in the county is most certainly a necessity. It’s hard to believe that Ballinora, who were founded in 1924, have yet to win a county championship game in hurling. There is no doubt they will look to change that in the coming weeks. The club will turn 100 next year and they would love to be playing in the premier junior grade in 2024.

Ballinora have a nice age profile, and playing in the RedFM Division 7 league this year would have benefited the group, playing different teams with different styles instead of playing the usual suspects in the Muskerry Division 1 league. They narrowly missed out on promotion as they finished in third position two points below Glen Rovers second string, who finished in second spot. Despite missing out on promotion, the league served its purpose for the team.

So, they have ticked many boxes so far with making a mark in the county championship next on the agenda. The team in green and red got a bye to the county semi-final last season where Erin’s Own’s second team won by five points in what was a cracking last four encounter and we have all seen what the Imokilly side have done since, back-to-back county titles. Ballinora aren’t too far away, but can they deliver in this campaign? We will soon find out.