Douglas edge out Ballincollig in lively RedFM Senior Hurling League tie
Stephen Moylan, Douglas, is pursued by Conor Dalton and David O'Sullivan, Ballincollig, in the RedFM Division 1 Hurling League. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
DOUGLAS edged a very closely contested Red FM Senior Hurling League Division 1 clash against Ballincollig on Saturday evening.
It was a compelling duel that went right down to the wire and Ballincollig ensured this game was still up for grabs going into the closing stages. Douglas remained composed and held on for a second league win this week, after beating Na Piarsaigh last Tuesday.
Looking to record their second league victory, Ballincollig began brightly and they got the opening three scores of this contest through a pair of Brian Keating points and a Conor Sexton effort. Conor O’Leary also pointed during what was a promising opening spell but Douglas grew into their stride and that was duly reflected on the scoreboard.
Points from Stephen Moylan, Mark Harrington and Joseph Harte helped the home side to get up and running, while a wonderful long-range score by Daniel Harte saw Douglas 0-5 to 0-4 ahead after 10 minutes, a rip-roaring start to the game.
The momentum was with Douglas and Cian Baldwin and Conor O’Donovan slotted over scores to extend their advantage. Ballincollig were determined and stayed in the hunt. Adam Wills and Keating both split the posts before half-time and a Sean O’Neill goal chance was smartly repelled by Douglas goalkeeper Donal Maher.
Douglas were up at the break 0-12 to 0-9 thanks to that save.
Points by Cian Baldwin and Harte saw Douglas remain in the ascendency during the early stages of the second half.
However, Ballincollig hit a purple patch with just the minimum separating the sides with five minutes of normal time remaining.
Scores by sub Mark Oldham, Conor Dalton and Adam Wills kept the Ballincollig belief strong going into the closing stages. Douglas though held their composure and Conor Kingston and Harte saw Douglas over the line, in what was overall a cracking contest.
Douglas next travel to take on the reigning league and county champions Sarsfields on June 2. The same day Ballincollig will be at home to Fr O’Neills.
J Harte 0-6 (0-4 f), C Baldwin, S Moylan, M Harrington 0-2 each, C Kingston, D Harte, B Hartnett, C O’Donovan, S O’Leary, A O’Connell, S Bourke 0-1 each.
B Keating, A Wills (0-1 f) 0-4 each, M Oldham, S Wills 0-2 each, C Dalton, C Sexton, C O’Leary, C O’Driscoll, S O’Neill 0-1 each.
D Maher; S O’Leary, D Kelly, K McSweeney; D Harte, M Howell, D O’Callaghan; C Baldwin, C Kingston; M Harrington, S Moylan, J Harte; A O’Connell, C O’Donovan, B Hartnett.
S Bourke for Hartnett (17), M O’Callaghan for O’Leary (45), G O’Shea for Kingston (57).
J Linehan; R O’Donovan, C O’Sullivan, D Ward; D O’Sullivan, F Denny, P Kelly; C Dalton, C Sexton; S Wills, B Keating, S O’Neill; C O’Driscoll, C O’Leary, A Wills.
M Oldham for Sexton (38), S Murphy for Ward (50), P O’Neill for O’Leary (54).
Mark Maher(St Finbarr’s).
App?
