Brilliant Ballinora power past Ballinhassig to Premier Intermediate glory

Ballinora 4-18 Ballinhassig 2-8

Ballinora were crowned SE Systems Premier Intermediate champions following their win over Ballinhassig at Castle Road.

Four first-half goals put them on the road to victory as they made good use of the wind to build up a commanding lead by half-time, one that it was always going to be difficult for Ballinhassig to claw back. To their credit, they gave it everything led by the likes of Aisling Cussen, Aoife Cottrell and Millie Lombard.

But overall Ballinora were the better side with some outstanding displays from the likes of Meabh Murphy, Amy O’Riordan, Rose Murphy, Cliona Dooley and Kate Dooley, who was deservedly named Player of the Game.

Ballinora took the lead after just 30 seconds when Sarah Leahy saved brilliantly from Kate Dooley, but there was little she could do about the breaking ball, finished to the net by Cliona Dooley. Rachel Murphy and Cliona Dooley added points, before the former made it 1-3 to no score, from a free.

Cliona Dooley, Rachel Murphy and Kate Dooley added points as Ballinora kept the scoreboard ticking over, to lead 1-6 to no score after 13 minutes.

It got worse for Ballinhassig a minute later when Louise O’Neill got Ballinora’s second goal and from the restart, they got their third, this time Rose Murphy finding the back of the net. Two points from Rachel Murphy increased Ballinora’s lead, to make it 3-8 to no score.

Kate Dooley added a point, and O’Neill got her second and her side’s fourth goal to increase their lead further.

Aoife Cottrell got Ballinhassig off the mark from a free, a score their overall play deserved and Grace Healy scored a goal for them.

But two late points from Rachel Murphy saw Ballinora well in control at half-time as they led by 4-12 to 1-1.

Ballinhassig needed a good start to the second half and that they got with Grace Healy pointing, followed by two from Cottrell to reduce the deficit. Rachel Murphy responded, with Cottrell adding another for Ballinhassig, to make it 1-5 to 4-14 after 40 minutes.

Kate Dooley kept her side in control, with Lombard getting Ballinhassig’s sixth point. Rachel Murphy made it 4-18 to 1-6, but credit to Ballinhassig they never gave up.

Two frees from Cottrell and a late goal from Geraldine Collins saw them go down fighting against a top-class Ballinora side.

Scorers for Ballinora: Rachel Murphy 0-10 (0-6 f), L O'Neill 2-1, C Dooley 1-2, K Dooley 0-4, Rose Murphy 1-1, L O’Neill.

Ballinhassig: A Cottrell 0-6 (0-5 f), G Healy 1-1 (0-1 f), G Collins 1-0, M Lombard 0-1.

BALLINORA: T O’Donoghue; E McAuliffe, S O’Keeffe, K Crean; A O’Riordan, M Murphy, A Quirke; Rose Murphy, J Murphy; S O’Regan, Rachel Murphy, A Murphy; K Dooley, C Dooley, L O’Neill.

Subs: K Lane for L O’Neill (h-t), B Holmes for K Crean (40), N Kingston for S O’Regan (52), A Lenihan for C Dooley (55), J Mehigan for J Murphy (56).

BALLINHASSIG: S Leahy; S Whyte, T Healy, M O’Rourke; M Healy, A Cussen, M Lombard; G Collins, C Crowley; E Jordan, M O’Sullivan, E Daly; A Cottrell, A Lombard, G Healy.

Subs: A Casey for S Whyte (15), E Casey for M O’Sullivan (25), E Collins for A Lombard (40), R Cullinane for G Healy, E Healy for E Daly (both 52).

Referee: Cathal Egan (Glen Rovers).