Premier SFC: Ballincollig edge out Newcestown to earn first victory
Ballincollig's Shane Murphy tries to get away from Newcestown's Colm Dinneen during the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier Premier SFC game at Ovens. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
After 64 minutes of football, it all came down to one kick.
Ballincollig, leading by a point, had just seen a breakaway end with the ball in the net but scorer Peter O’Neill was in the small rectangle when the ball was played to him.
Newcestown had one last attack and Tadgh Twomey was fouled just inside the 45, close to the right-hand touchline. David Buckley, whose points had narrowed the gap as Ballincollig scored just once in the last 20 minutes plus stoppages, was the man to take it.
A draw and the West Cork side would be in the driving seat for a qualification spot going into the last set of fixtures. And, uniquely, there was a third interested party – host club Éire Óg, also in the group, needed a Ballincollig win to keep alive their hopes of advancing, having already lost to Newcestown and Nemo Rangers.
Buckley curled his kick well but, unfortunately for Newcestown, not by enough and Ballincollig took the points when referee James Regan brought an end to proceedings immediately afterwards. The tense and physical nature of the game was perhaps a factor in things spilling over after the whistle, but cooler heads ensured that order was rediscovered before anything serious occurred.
Ballincollig, who lost their opening games in 2020, 2022 and 2023 but still qualified, will look to make it four out of five when they take on Éire Óg in the final set of games while Newcestown take on Nemo. The permutations are many, which is scarcely surprising given how this match hung in the balance.
The biggest lead at any stage was the three-point advantage that Ballincollig forged after half-time. After the first half saw ten points equally shared, twice in the opening stages of the second half Newcestown were turned over and Ballincollig profited, with points from Darragh O’Mahony and Cian Dorgan. A good Newcestown move in response almost ended with Luke Meade playing in Séamus O’Sullivan for a goal chance but JP Murphy defended well and Ballincollig were 0-8 to 0-5 in front when Dorgan landed his sixth point of the day.
They couldn’t build on that, though, and Newcestown clawed their way back with a pair of Buckley scores, the latter a superlative effort – however, in between, they needed goalkeeper Christopher White to save well from Dara Dorgan.
With five minutes left, Newcestown might have had a goal of their own. Buckley’s lay-off allowed Gearóid O’Donovan – strong throughout at midfield – to combine with Meade and set up sub Olan Walsh. He was unable to hold on to the ball but still got a shot away, however Jack Gibbons saved well. Ballincollig made the most of the let-off as Luke Fahy combined with sub Frank Down before firing over for a two-point advantage.
Newcestown are never done, and Buckley’s fifth point, deep in injury time, left one in it. White came forward to midfield as they pressed the kick-out but Ballincollig sub Brian Keating won possession and the ball was worked through the hands of Cian Dorgan and sub Evan Cooke to set up O’Neill for what looked like a clinching goal, but it was disallowed and the drama continued.
The opening half had been even but imperfect, Ballincollig striking early with a pair of points before Newcestown came back well. James Kelleher had them 0-5 to 0-4 in front coming up to half-time before Cian Dorgan levelled in the third minute of injury time.
He was again to the fore as they pushed on in the second half. They got the job done but it was in the mix until the very end.
C Dorgan 0-6 (0-4 f), L Fahy, S Kiely, D O’Mahony 0-1 each.
D Buckley 0-5 (0-4 f), N Kelly, S O’Sullivan, J Kelleher 0-1 each.
J Gibbons; C Moore, L Jennings, S Murphy; JP Murphy, P O’Neill, C Dalton; S O’Neill, S Dore; L Fahy, S Kiely, D Desmond; D Dorgan, D O’Mahony, C Dorgan.
B Keating for D Dorgan (44), F Down for Dalton (46), E Cooke for Kiely (59), T O’Connell for O’Mahony (65).
C White; E Collins, C Twomey, J Kelleher; F Keane, M McSweeney, L Meade; G O’Donovan, C Goggin; N Kelly, T Twomey, C Dinneen; J Meade, D Buckley, E Kenneally.
S O’Sullivan for Kenneally (15, injured), O Walsh for Buckley (18-23, blood), C O’Donovan for Keane (41), S O’Donovan for Goggin (46), O Walsh for O’Sullivan (50), J Kenneally for Kelly (57).
James Regan (Lough Rovers).
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