PIHC: Jack Leahy fires Dungourney to upset against Ballinhassig
Ballinhassig's Brian Lynch tries to break through the Dungourney defence. Picture: David Creedon
Jack Leahy was the star of the show at the Co-Op Superstores Premier IHC at Cobh on Saturday as the East Cork men pushed past Ballinhassig.
This was a contest of huge importance as both teams have difficult assignments ahead but the absence of Cork U20s Adam and Darragh O'Sullivan had a major impact on Hassig. The clinical shooting of Leahy saw them pay a heavy price, though Ger Collins was impressive at the other end.
John Ahern, Collins and Leahy were to the fore early on before Bryan Forbes had a goal chance but it was saved by Patrick Collins for a 65, which Leahy duly converted. James O'Callaghan then sent over a fine score to tie up after eight minutes.
Leahy kept the scoreboard ticking, with Ahern setting up a Ryan Denny point, while Fintan O'Leary and Collins (3) moved Ballinhassig 0-8 to 0-7 up after 18 minutes.
Leahy kept landing scores from range while Mike McGrath fired over a gem as it was 0-12 to 0-9 in favour of the East Cork side at the break.
Despite early Ballinhassig pressure on the resumption, a Leahy free and a 65 opened up a five-point gap.
Collins was keeping Hassig in touch, though poor discipline was proving costly for both sides.
Dungourney were still driving on though, Leahy and Niall McGrath added two points to their tally and after 45 minutes, Patrick Collins had to be sharp to save a snap-shot from Kelvin Cody Byrne.
Brian Lynch hit the side-netting up the other end, following a Sean Lombard pass and it was finely poised coming down the stretch.
As time ticked away, Ger Collins was superb, while a fine score from Jack Grainger, left it 0-20 to 0-19 after 57 minutes as the contest was on a knife edge.
Now in injury time, Brian Forbes increased Dungourney's advantage to two and when Conor Desmond fired in a goal-bound shot to grab the lead, the East Cork defence was equal to the task.
The resulting 65 sailed over the bar but the referee called time and Dungourney claimed a big scalp and a vital victory.
J Leahy 0-15 (0-11 f, 0-2 65), J Ahearn 0-2, M McGrath B Forbes, Niall McGrath, R Denny 0-1 each.
G Collins 0-14 (0-8 f, 0-1 65), J Grainger, J O’Callaghan C Grainger, E Cullinhane, F O'Leary, E Lombard 0-1 each.
P Flynn; S Ronan, M McGrath, D Healy; M Leahy, N Motherway, C O’Doherty; B Forbes, R Denny; J Leahy, S Hegarty, J Ahern; N McGrath, J McCarthy, K Cody Byrne.
B Ahern for R Denny (42), James Ahern for Kelvin Coady Byrne (45), S Geaney for S Ronan (55).
P Collins; M Desmond, P O'Leary, J Lyne; J O’Callaghan, C Desmond, S McCarthy; E Lombard, C Grainger, G Collins, S Lombard, E Cullinane; G Kirby, B Lynch, F O'Leary.
M Collins for G Kirby (38), J Grainger for F O’Leary (43)
Ciaran Murphy (Glanworth).
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