Ballinacurra are Junior C Football champions after hard-fought win over Grange in an exciting final

Ballinacurra 3-11 

Grange 1-12 

The McCarthy Insurance Confined Cork Junior C Football Championship silverware went the way of Ballinacurra following this cracking final against Grange, which was played at Páirc Uí Rinn on Saturday.

Ballinacurra, who suffered defeat in the 2023 final at the hands of Lismire in this particular competition, got the opening score of this contest when Shane Wiggins kept his composure and slotted over the bar in the 2nd minute.

This was subsequently added to by a free by Jake Hegarty, the former League Of Ireland Footballer with Cobh Ramblers, who ended the contest with a very impressive 2-7 to his name.

Grange then got their scoring account in this final up and running when Darren O’Riordan slotted over from a free. 

This was then subsequently added to by a lovely taken score from play by Sean Holland.

At the midway point of the opening half, Ballinacurra responded with a Scott Richards score. 

But things were to get even better for Ballinacurra in the 19th minute, when Hegarty blasted home from close range following a slick collective attacking move.

Darren Roche then responded with a Grange point. 

But Ballinacurra then struck for a second goal of the contest in the 21st minute. 

Hegarty once again showed his predator instinct in front of goal by slotting home when the ball broke his way, as his side led 2-4 to 0-3 at this juncture.

Grange looked to find a rapid response and they got a string of scores in a row as John Magnier, John Carmody and Darren O’Riordan all pointed.

Given the opening half he was having, it was fitting Hegarty had the final say as he got a gem of a point from distance. 

This meant at the half time break Ballinacurra held the advantage at 2-5 to the 0-7 of Grange.

Early into the second half, Grange reduced the deficit when a Gavin Dawson free split the posts. 

Ballinacurra were keeping their noses in front as James Nagle pointed, but they then saw red off when Scott Richards was given his marching orders following an off the ball incident.

With less than ten minutes remaining Grange ensured they were still in the fight as O’Riordan got a lovely score.

At a crucial juncture Ballinacurra got a decisive third goal, as Kelvin Kruschel raced through and finished to the bottom corner on the counter attack.

Darren O’Riordan got a late Grange goal in stoppage time. 

But Ballinacurra, with late points by Hegarty, were not going to be denied championship glory.

Scorers for Ballinacurra: J Hegarty 2-7 (0-4f), K Kruschel 1-0, J Nagle 0-2 f, S Wiggins, S Richards 0-1 each.

Grange: D O’Riordan 1-4 (0-2f), G Dawson (0- 2f), D Roche, S Holland 0-2 each, J Magnier, J Carmody 0-1 each.

Ballinacurra: J Wyer; E Hegarty, C Lynch, T Costigan; M Furlong, K Kennedy, R Swayne; S Wiggins, P Nagle; K Kruschel , J Nagle, D Daly ; T O’Leary, J Hegarty , S Richards.

Subs: P Horan for Daly (HT), B O’Donoghue for Swayne, K Harty for Wiggins (both 57), D O’Donoghue for Kennedy (60).

Grange: G Dawson; J Magnier, K Murphy, L Dorgan; L Burke, M Timlin, P Dolan; D Roche, P Stapleton; PJ Lloyd, S Holland, J Roche; D O’Riordan, J Carmody, G Carmody.

Subs: D Roche for Stapleton (29), J McCarthy for G Carmody (HT), D Keating for Dolan (41), M Hennessy for J Carmody (49), J Kelleher for Magnier (57).

Referee: Brian Crowley(Castlehaven).