Brian Coughlan lands late winner against Ballydesmond

Kinsale 2-13 Ballydesmond 1-15 

Kinsale secured the all-important three points following a narrow victory over Ballydesmond in the McCarthy Insurance JFC at Donoughmore on Friday.

With both teams looking to get off the mark in a competitive group that includes Glenville and Cullen, this game was expected to be a cracker and certainly didn't disappoint, with three goals and late drama to decide the winner.

With time almost up it was Kinsale who managed to sneak into the lead as Brian Coughlan sent over a free to give his side a one-point victory.

Trailing by two goals at the interval, it was Ballydesmond who came out with all guns blazing in the second half, as Brian Linehan blew this game wide open with a goal on 34 minutes.

Indeed, by the 48-minute Ballydesmond had hit the front, thanks to four unanswered points as the tallies stood at 1-14 to 2-9.

In a game that had the spectators on the edge of their seats both sides fought it out as Cork football legend Donncha O'Connor and Coughlan drove their teams on as the end of the drama beckoned.

The first half had not indicated such a grand-stand finish as Kinsale pushed on thanks to goals from John O'Brien and David Looney.

With the great start, Kinsale had led 2-4 to 0-5 after 21 minutes.

The ageless Donncha O'Connor was keeping his side in the contest with some tremendous scores but Kinsale’s half-back line was dominating the exchanges as Kian O'Callaghan motored up and down the pitch.

Leading up to the interval points from O'Brien and a fine score from Cathal O'Leary had the Seasiders in front by 2-6 to 0-6.

As the drama unfolded in the second half, both sides had chances to finish out this game as James Murphy fired a ball past the Ballydesmond goal on 44 minutes and O'Connor uncharacteristically dropped a free short.

Former Cork underage footballer Coughlan however capped off a fine performance with a free that could yet prove crucial.

Scorers for Kinsale: B Coughlan 0-6 (0-3 f), J O'Brien 1-3, D Looney 1-0, C O'Leary, J Murphy, N McCarthy, T Broderick 0-1 each.

Ballydesmond: D O'Connor 0-8 (0-5 f), N Fleming 0-5, B Linehan 1-1, D O'Sullivan 0-1.

KINSALE: S O’Neill; C O'Leary, Kris O’Callaghan, C Fitzpatrick; Kian O'Callaghan, N McCarthy, D O'Leary; B Coughlan, D Coughlan; S O’Callaghan, J O’Brien, D O’Mahony, G Kearney, D Looney, J Murphy.

Subs: T Broderick for D Couglan (41), M McCarthy for S O’ Callaghan (48), B Grey for C O’Leary (60).

BALLYDESMOND: J Clogan; T Fitzgerald, S Murphy, D O'Connor; D O’Sullivan, D Kelly, R Flynn; S Kelly, Donncha O’Connor; M Collins, S Cronin, N Fleming; B Linehan, K O’Connell, D O’Callaghan.

Subs: L Sheehan for M Collins (44), C Dunlea for R Flynn (52), D Kelly for T Fitzgerald (60). 

Referee: Luke Knight (Kilmurry).