Premier 1 MFC: Danny Miskella inspires Ballincollig to a first title in 13 years following victory over Mallow
Ballincollig players celebrate after defeating Mallow in the Rebel Óg Premier 1 MFC final at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Ballincollig have been crowned Rebel Óg Premier 1 MFC winners for the first time since 2011 following victory over Mallow at Páirc Uí Rinn on Monday night.
This decider drew a large crowd to the Boreenmanna Road venue, but it never got going with Ballincollig the better team throughout and had the composure and quality to get over the line. Mallow did have occasional bursts of dominance but they could never get a proper grip on the game.
The celebrations from the Collig camp after the game said it all as the players delivered a county title that will give football a shot in the arm in the Muskerry club. Danny Miskella was without a doubt the Player of the Match here as the Cork minor footballer put in an outstanding display.
They had many impressive performers with full-back Peter Rose rock solid, corner-back Ethan Donovan was sublime, while joint-captain David O’Leary and George Howard covered a world of ground. The list goes on.
While Mallow will be disappointed naturally enough to miss out on a first title at this grade, they have had a wonderful season. They will be looking to build on it.
Mallow were first to get on the scoreboard when Ben O’Shea tacked on a free after three minutes before patient Ballincollig play resulted in a levelling score two minutes later. Great work by Shane Rue O’Sullivan and Howard resulted in Miskella drilling over a point. It was a half goal chance, but Miskella’s shot was always rising.
The opening quarter was very cagey with both defences on top as the two points in the first five minutes was a false dawn. The next score didn’t arrive until the 18th minute, some 13 minutes after the last score, and it was worth the wait when the hard-working Cillian Power clipped over a point to nudge the Village ahead, 0-2 to 0-1.
Despite the lack of scores, Ballincollig were the better team and as the half wore on, their possession was awarded with points from Miskella and a Cian Ahern free with Ahern’s effort coming after 27 minutes.
Mallow were very well set up in defence in what was a tactically minded contest, but the Avondhu side struggled to create chances. They got their second point, first from play, a minute into added time, when Andy Hourigan bisected the posts after a great pass by O’Shea. Mallow’s first score in 28 minutes, 0-4 to 0-2 at half-time.
The intensity picked up slightly in the second half. The Village were quick out of the traps when Charlie Murphy pointed two minutes in. The sides traded white flags before Mallow were slowly coming into the game. A Cathal Mullins free reduced the deficit down to two points after 40 minutes, 0-6 to 0-4.
The Muskerry side pushed out their lead to three points when the impressive Ahern slotted over a free with eleven minutes remaining. It was all Ballincollig now and a neat effort from sub Jack Murray gave his side a healthy advantage. That man Miskella played a part in the score along with Cian O’Connor.
It was getting to a stage when Mallow needed to look at raising a green flag but great defensive work from Con O’Connell’s side snuffed out any danger. The sides swapped white flags as the Village led 0-9 to 0-5 after 57 minutes.
Points from Hourigan and Mullins (free) did briefly leave two points in it going into three minutes of added time. Howard raised a white flag following a driving run to settle the Collig nerves. Howard then received a second yellow card with less than a minute of stoppage time remaining.
A goal chance for Mallow right at the death was kicked away as Ballincollig bridged a 13-year gap, which sparked great celebrations.
D Miskella 0-4, C Ahern 0-2 f, C Murphy, J Murray, G Howard, C Power 0-1 each.
C Mullins 0-3 (0-2 f), B O’Shea (0-2 f), A Hourigan 0-2 each.
M Murray; D Lee, P Rose, E Donovan; C Power, T Morgan, C O’Connor; K O’Leary, G Howard; D O’Leary (j-c), C Ahern, C Summers; D Miskella, C Murphy, S Rue O’Sullivan.
J Murray for C Summers (37), P McCarthy for C Murphy (62).
D Frey; D Kingston, E Sheehan, P Murphy; E Walsh, G Daly, P Britton (c); T Kiely, J Murphy; L Buckley, J Roche, A Murphy; B O’Shea, A Hourigan, C Mullins.
B Noonan for J Roche, R McAuliffe for A Hourigan (both 37), E Murphy for P Murphy (46, inj), A Hourigan for B Noonan (53).
Cormac Dineen (Douglas).
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