Ballymartle's Ricky Cahalane impressive as they topple Kilworth in PIHC opener
Kilworth players Jeremy Saich, Luke Carey and Liam Whelan looking to tackle Simon Dorney, Ballymartyle during the Co-Op Superstores Premier IHC match at Watergrasshill, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan
Ballymartle found the extra gear in the second half to defeat Kilworth in the opening round of the Premier Intermediate HC in Watergrasshill on Sunday afternoon.
It was a complete team performance with Ricky Cahalane scoring six from play, while Padraig Dorney put in a good shift at wing-back.
The absence of Eoin Carey was costly for Kilworth, but they lacked the sharpness up front that was so integral to their PIHC final run last year.
Ballymartle had a four-point lead at the break, but it really should have been seven – as Liam Whelan’s first half goal for Kilworth was a gift.
The Carrigdhoun side came out in the second half and made up for it and hit three scores without reply to go 1-18 to 1-11 in front. Kilworth needed a response, and Noel McNamara followed up his free with an excellent crossfield sideline to Liam Whelan, who pointed.
The Avondhu side then cut the gap to four, as Will Condon scored a brilliant goal from 25 metres out while being dragged down by the jersey with 15 minutes to go.
That was as close as they got, and after 10 more minutes they had been outscored three points to two and needed to overturn a five-point deficit.
Substitute Matthew Higgins had an immediate impact, assisting Cillian Lordan for a close-range finish that wrapped up the game heading into extra time, and Ballymartle held out for the win against last year’s runner up.
A minute into the action a wayward handpass from Ballymartle at the back was straight to Whelan, who couldn’t have had an easier goalscoring opportunity, and he fired home from close range to put Kilworth in front.
Ballymartle did make the most of the first half breeze, as Darren McCarthy sent over a free before Ricky Cahalane got a brilliant score from midfield. Wing-back Padraig Dorney produced an even better score from distance to level it after six minutes, 1-1 to 0-4.
Anytime Kilworth got back in front Ballymartle replied – and Fionn Desmond, Luke O’Callaghan and John McCarthy combined for the latter to score, levelling it again after eight minutes.
The Riverstick side were solid at the back with Kieran Lane and Austin O’Hara both making impressive blocks in the former half, but they failed to do enough going forward.
A couple of scores put Ballymartle back in front and the point trading continued, and the teams drew level a total of seven times in the first half, until Bally got a crucial goal at the end of it.
Darren McCarthy made a brilliant solo run in the 30th minute breaking two tackles, and though he dropped the ball it was no problem for the forward – he pulled on it, and his powerful strike sailed into the back of the net to give Ballymartle a lead they would not relinquish.
D McCarthy 1-5 (0-4 f), R Cahalane 0-6, C Lordan 1-3, P Dorney, S Cummins, J McCarthy 0-2 each, D O’Leary (65), F Desmond, L O’Callaghan 0-1 each.
L Whelan 1-5, N McNamara 0-6 (0-5 f), W Condon 1-1, L Carey 0-2, M Sheehan, S Keane, L Coffey 0-1 each.
D O’Leary; C Coleman, TJ Murphy, R Stweart; R Deasy, J Dwyer, P Dorney; F Desmond, S Dorney; R Cahalane, S Cummins, J McCarthy; D McCarthy (Cpt), C Lordan, L O’Callaghan.
B Corry for J McCarthy (44), M Higgins for O’Callaghan, L Corry for Cummins (both 58).
K Heggtveit; M Gowen, K Lane, A O’Hara (Cpt); J Saich, N Byrne, D Twomey; L Whelan, L Coffey; M Sheehan, L Carey, W Condon; N McNamara, S Keane, B Sheehan.
C Donnellan for B Sheehan (41, inj).
Eoin Coleman (Youghal)
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