PIHC: Ballinhassig impress despite red card while Kilworth now battling relegation

Ballinhassig 2-25 Kilworth 0-21 

Despite being reduced to 14 when Ger Collins was sent off, Ballinhassig powered past Kilworth in the Co-Op Superstore PIHC at Castlelyons.

Ballinhassig’s success ultimately sat with netminder Patrick Collins, who produced three unbelievable saves and scored 0-2, to set up a derby with Carrigaline.

Kilworth, without Cork senior Eoin Carey until the second half, started well as Micheal Sheehan and Noel McNamara had early points, as well as being denied a goal by Collins who saved from McNamara. Cormac Donnellan (2) and Will Condon increased their lead.

Hassig finally opened up their account with a Ger Collins free before Adam O’Sullivan was fouled for a penalty that Collins dispatched to the net. This energised Ballinhassig who claimed the next two points from Darragh O'Sullivan and Evan Cullinane, as they hit the front on 10 minutes, 1-3 to 0-5.

Micheal Sheehan knocked over two frees with Brian Lynch and Collins pointing at the other end. Cork number one Collins then had to be smart to deny Michael Sheehan on 20 minutes.

Darragh O'Sullivan fired over two points as Ballinhassig were beginning to boss this game but Kilworth’s Noel McNamara’s accuracy left it at 1-10 to 0-12 at the break.          

Collins, Lynch and Eoin Lombard scored on the resumption, which drew a response from Sheehan and Jeromy Saich.

Ballinhassig looked to be taking control only to see Ger Collins dismissed for a straight red on 40 minutes.

The advantage didn’t last as Patrick Collins produced another class save and Brian Lynch grew into the game with four second-half points. They led 1-20 to 0-19 after 50 minutes.    

A purple patch for the remaining 10 minutes saw Collins score from a puck-out and a long-range free and Fintan O'Leary killed the contest on 56 minutes, with a second goal as Ballinhassig.

Scorers for Ballinhassig: G Collins 1-7 (1-0 pen, 0-5 f), B Lynch 0-5, D O'Sullivan 0-4 (0-1 f), F O'Leary 1-1, P Collins 0-2 (0-1 f), C Desmond, E Lombard, A O'Sullivan C Grainger, S O'Neill, E Cullinane 0-1 each.

Kilworth: N McNamara 0-8 (0-7 f), F Sheehan 0-4 f, C Donnellan 0-3, L Carey 0-2, L Whelan, E Casey, W Condon, J Saich 0-1 each.

BALLINHASSIG: P Collins; M Desmond, K Maguire, P O’ Leary; J O’Callaghan, M Collins, C Desmond; D O’Sullivan, E Lombard; G Collins, A O'Sullivan, C Grainger; B Lynch, S Lombard, E Cullinane.

Subs: D O Donovan for J O'Callaghan (h-t), F O'Leary for S Lombard (46), S O’Neill for E Cullinane (52), J Grainger for D O'Sullivan (55), J Lyne for M Desmond (60).

KILWORTH: K Heggeveit; M Gowen, K Lane, A O'Hara; L Carey, N Byrne, D Twomey: B Sheehan, J Saich; l Coffey, L Whelan, W Condon; N McNamara, C Donnellan, M Sheehan.

Subs: E Carey for J Saich (41, inj).            

Referee: Willie Wallis, Aghada.