14-man Carrigaline hold off Ballincollig comeback to reach PIHC final

Carrigaline 1-19 Ballincollig 1-18  

Carrigaline are through to the Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC final after edging out Ballincollig in Ballygarvan.

A collective effort got this over the line for Eddie Murphy’s team with Brian Kelleher scoring 0-9 and Rhys McCarthy hit 1-3, with the goal in the 36th minute crucial in stopping growing Collig momentum. They will now face the winners of Mallow and Watergrasshill in the final, with their game scheduled for next weekend.

Ballincollig will look on with regret after qualifying automatically for the semi-finals. Danny Dwyer’s side were led by Steve Wills, who put over 0-11, but it wasn’t enough.

Carrigaline just dominated every position and they responded to Cian O’Driscoll’s opener by rattling off 0-3 with Brian Kelleher getting a brace and Rob O’Shea raised a solo white flag.

Pearse Morris goaled from the edge of the square in the 6th minute and it was 1-1 to 0-3, and Ballincollig led. Brian Kelleher ensured parity and Brian Keating put his club in front for the final time at 1-2 to 0-4.

Carrigaline then put over 0-8. Brian Kelleher and Rhys McCarthy got two each during that run, with the rest of the scores coming from Ciaran Kearney, David Griffin, O’Shea, and David Drake.

Steve Wills ended that burst by making the scoreboard read 0-12 to 1-3 and Eanna Desmond retaliated for Carrigaline.

A hat-trick from Steve Wills and a single white flag by David O’Sullivan helped their cause, but they still trailed 0-14 to 1-7 at the break.

Carrigaline only hit 1-5 during the second half, with the vital crucial score being Rhys McCarthy’s goal after a scramble around the square.

That made it 1-15 to 1-9 but crucially Kelleher kept the scoreboard ticking for Carrigaline. Steve Wills struck 0-5 during the same period as Carrigaline had to deal with the late dismissal of Drake, who received a second yellow card.

There was no moment of drama, instead there an abundance of wides for both clubs. Ballincollig could only get as close as one point, their season ended by the smallest of margins after they missed a late chance to force extra time.

Scorers for Carrigaline: B Kelleher 0-9 (0-4 f), R McCarthy 1-3, R O’Shea, C Kearney 0-2 each, E Desmond, D Griffin, D Drake 0-1 each.

Ballincollig: S Wills 0-11 (0-9 f), P Morris 1-1, J Lenihan (f), D O’Sullivan, J Dwyer, B Keating, C O’Driscoll, C Dorgan 0-1 each.

CARRIGALINE: R Foster; D Stack, S Williamson, D King, K Kavanagh, D Griffin, C Vaughan, R Kelleher, C Barry, R McCarthy, E Desmond, R O’Shea, C Kearney, D Drake, B Kelleher.

Sub: F O’Connell for King (HT).

BALLINCOLLIG: J Lenihan; 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: C Dorgan for O’Neill (HT); B Dore for O’Driscoll (42), P Kelly for Coleman (52), C Sexton for A Wills (55).

Referee: Niall O'Neill (Midleton)