Superb Ballincollig sink Midleton in P1 U15 HC semi-final
Ballincollig's Cal McCarthy shoots as Midleton's Patrick Spelman chases in their P1 U15 HC semi-final in Bishopstown.
Against the odds, Ballincollig put on a stellar showing to defeat Midleton and secure a Premier 1 U15 HC final clash with Sars.
Goals do win games – but there was so much more at play in the Village’s win over Midleton in Bishopstown on Saturday.
The inside threat of Cal McCarthy and Daithí Murphy supplemented by their star performer Bobby Power saw the Muskerry side turn a seven-point deficit after 15 minutes into a five-point victory over the next 45.
Joe Miskella and James Harrington stood out in the second half, but it was the efforts of the entire 15 that got Ballincollig over the line.
A blitz of three goals across a nine minute spell had Ballincollig in front on the eve of half. Midleton did eventually draw level after 41 minutes, but were unable to build on it.
A score from McCarthy preceded two frees from Power, and suddenly Ballincollig were three points to the good with a quarter to go.
The difference could have been doubled had Power’s quick thinking paid off, as he played a quick free to the wide open third midfielder of Éanna Ó hUrnaí, but his shot was marginally wide.
It served as a desperately needed wake up call for the Magpies. Breaninn O’Dalaigh set up Ciaran Kelly for a point – before the centre-back returned the favour 60 seconds later.
That brought the lead to the minimum before Miskella took flight in the 54th minute, while McCarthy and Jack Costello added scores to leave it 3-12 to 0-17 going into additional time.
With the clock winding down and the four point deficit becoming a point of no return – Midleton went goal hunting.
Their opponents defended well – though one pulled chance from Rian McCormack could have slipped through were it not for a brilliant save from Kaden Coomey.
A deserved win for Ballincollig but a bitterly disappointing result for Midleton – especially given the fast start.
Within 10 minutes they had eased to a 0-6 to 0-1 advantage. The forwards were creating space and creating problems.
John O’Sullivan looked the likeliest goal threat inside, while Finn Cahill and Liam Walsh were most effective in chance creation. The scores were flowing, and Ballincollig needed a stopper as they trailed by seven.
They found one after 19 minutes, with Shay O’Brien dropping the ball into Power, who volleyed it in from close range to reduce to gap to three with their first score from play.
Walsh and O’Sullivan got Midleton four in front, but Ballincollig, in the space of three minutes, turned that into a two point lead.
Éanna Lynch set up Murphy for a thunderous strike across goal, while the third green flag arrived two minutes later courtesy of McCarthy’s brilliant finish.
The swing rocked Midleton, but they would fight back to draw level after 33 minutes, thanks to two frees from Walsh – who finished with seven scores from seven shots.
Unfortunately for the Magpies, as Costello grew into the game so too did the rest of Ballincollig’s defence, and they shut down Midleton’s offensive output. The Magpies succumbed.
Victory for this Ballincollig group over Midleton for the first time since the two had met at U12. Redemption for final defeats at U13 and U14.
B Power 1-7 (0-4 f), C McCarthy 1-2, D Murphy 1-0, J Costello (2 f), J Miskella 0-2 each.
L Walsh 0-7 f, J O’Sullivan 0-4, A Hennessy, J Cahill, C McCarthy, A Molumby, C Kelly, B O’Dalaigh 0-1 each.
K Coomey; S Richmond, L Higgins, P Skehan; J Harrington, J Costello, J O’Sullivan; J Miskella, E Stack; E Lynch, B Power, S O’Brien; D Murphy, E Ó hUrnaí, C McCarthy.
C McDonnell for Ó hUrnaí (15-17 temp), McDonnell for O’Brien (40).
W Stokes; C Hogan, B Dunlea, J Quill; P Egan, C Kelly, F Cahill (c); A Hennessy, R McCormack; A Molumby, C McCarthy, L Walsh; J O’Sullivan, J Cahill, R Nolan.
B O’Dalaigh for McCarthy (13-17 temp), O’Dalaigh for Nolan, P Spelman for Hogan (both HT), T O’Dowd for Molumby (45).
Kevin O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers)
App?
