PIHC: Slick Ballincollig sweep aside Mallow

Ballincollig: 2-19 

Mallow: 2-12 

An accomplished display from Ballincollig as they proved too good for Mallow in the Co-Op SuperStores PIHC at an overcast Ballyanly on Sunday afternoon.

In front of a large and vocal crowd, Danny Dwyer’s side were full value for their win in this Group 2 battle in what was a solid team performance from the Muskerry team in challenging conditions. It’s Ballincollig’s first hurling championship win at the first hurdle since beating Inniscarra’s second team in the IHC (now IAHC) back in 2017. 

It was a baptism of fire for Mallow who are back at this grade after getting relegated from the SAHC last season. They were down by six points at the break but could have been closer if it wasn't for wayward shooting, but they were just hanging on in truth and got overpowered in the second half. Mallow did keep going right to the end but they have work to do if they want to keep a top two finish alive.

Ballincollig were aided by a strong wind in the first half, and did all the hurling in the early stages as they led 0-3 to 0-1 after eight minutes with James Dwyer’s long range effort the pick of those scores.

The sides traded frees with Steve Wills converting for Ballincollig and Mark Tobin doing likewise for his side. A beauty of an effort from Adam Wills pushed the Village 0-5 to 0-2 clear but Mallow should have been closer. Poor shooting left them down big time as they had six wides in the opening quarter.

Ballincollig were much the slicker though, playing a nice brand of hurling, as they hit four of the next five points, 0-9 to 0-3 after 27 minutes. Seán Hayes converted an easy free for Mallow but they were playing second fiddle. A pair of white flags from the excellent Steve Wills pushed Ballincollig further ahead. Paul Lyons did bisect the posts from a difficult angle for the North Cork side as they trailed by six points at the interval, 0-11 to 0-5. 

Mallow had the wind advantage for the second half but they knew themselves that they had to improve their distribution and accuracy if they wanted to reel in their opposition. The team in red and yellow got the first score and it was the score of the match, an incredible sideline cut from sub Simon Leneghan three minutes in.  

It wasn’t the launch pad to kick on for Mallow, as the Collig tacked on points from Pearse Morris (free) and Dwyer. Mallow did hit two of the next three points but the game was all but over when Ballincollig got two goals in the space of a minute, Seán O'Neill and Cian O’Driscoll with the green flags. Two well taken goals, 2-14 to 0-8 after 43 minutes.

The sides swapped points before Mallow got a goal of their own 14 minutes from time courtesy of Lyons. A low drive which tucked into the bottom corner of the net, 2-15 to 1-9. The game fizzled out with Ballincollig 2-18 to 1-12 clear with five minutes remaining. Mallow did keep going and would have had a goal if it wasn’t for a super stop by Collig netminder James Linehan to deny Mark Kelleher. 

The North Cork outfit did get their second green flag in added on time when Leneghan goaled from close range. Fittingly, it was Steve Wills who had the final say when he landed a long range point for Ballincollig.

The Village face near neighbours Éire Óg in their next group game in three weeks’ time while Mallow go up against Aghabullogue.

Scorers for Ballincollig: S Wills 0-6 (0-2 f), P Morris 0-5 (0-3 f), C O’Driscoll, S O’Neill 1-1 each, T O’Connell, J Dwyer 0-2 each, D O’Sullivan, A Wills 0-1 each.

Mallow: S Hayes 0-7 (0-5 f), S Leneghan (sl), P Lyons 1-1 each, M Tobin 0-2 f, D Sheehan 0-1.

BALLINCOLLIG: J Linehan; R O’Donovan, C O’Sullivan, C Moore; D O'Sullivan, F Denny, T O’Connell; J Dwyer, B Coleman; S Wills, B Keating, S O’Neill; A Wills, P Morris, C O’Driscoll.

Subs: B Dore for B Coleman (47).

MALLOW: P Buckley; S Copps, P Healy, R Sheehan; B Kingston, D Moynihan, K Sheehan; P Lyons, S O’Callaghan; M Kelleher, S Hayes, F O'Neill; M Tobin, G Linehan, D Sheehan.

Subs: S Leneghan for S O’Callaghan (h-t), B Murphy for K Sheehan (38), D Hayes for F O’Neill (50).

Referee: Brian Murphy (Carrigtwohill).