Ballincollig U21 hurlers push on in fiery derby with Éire Óg
Ballincollig captain David O'Sullivan and players celebrate after defeating Éire Óg. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Ballincollig were crowned Farho U21A Hurling champions after a comfortable win over neighbours Éire Óg at Ballyanly on Sunday.
A two-goal burst from Brian Keating and Cian O’Driscoll early in the second half proved decisive for a third Muskerry title in a row, having trailed by a point at the break.
They had some big performances too from Brian Dore, Sean O'Neill, James Dwyer and Tadhg O'Connell but really upped the ante overall in the second period. Next up is a county quarter-final against Shandrum with the winners meeting St Finbarr's.
Ballincollig’s Pete Kelly registered the opening score of this local derby with a fine individual score. Éire Óg played all the hurling in the opening quarter and Danny Healy rattled the net with an excellent goal.
O’Connell clipped over a point for Ballincollig but the Ovens outfit replied with a fine point score from the lively David Casey.
Éire Óg were sharper early on and two placed efforts from David Casey and a super point from full-forward Sean Hurley ensured they led by 1-5 to 0-4 after 14 minutes.
Ballincollig’s Dillon Horgan landed a good score, but Hurley cancelled it out with another well-taken point. Brian Keating clipped over a free and set up Sean O’Neill for a tap-over score from another placed effort which reduced the gap to two points.
Éire Óg’s David Casey was clinical from placed efforts and two more scores stretched their lead. Ballincollig were now warming to the task and the lively O’Neill was denied a certain goal by an excellent save from Éire Óg’s goalkeeper Michael Brennan.
Another Casey free put five between the sides but four points with reply from Dore, O’Neill, Keating (f), and Dwyer (f) left a point between them, 1-9 to 0-11 at halftime.
On resumption, Ballincollig looked a different team and points from Keating and Tadgh O’Connell set the tone. Moments later Cian O’Driscoll rattled the net after an excellent defensive clearance from Dore.
A second Ballincollig goal followed within a minute as Brian Keating buried to the net after slipping inside the Éire Óg defence after picking up an excellent pass from Ronan Power.
Ballincollig completely dominated the third quarter and points from Keating, O’Neill, Ciaran Buckley left nine points between the sides.
Ballincollig’s Keating added another brace and O’Neill added his fourth from play to put the result beyond doubt.
Éire Óg’s Daniel Healy scored his second goal which in truth was a consolation score.
Ballincollig’s Eoin Dwyer landed a beauty from play and followed it with a fine long-range free.
The game petered out in the closing minutes and Éire Óg’s Colm Clifford received a red card for a wild pull.
B Keating 1-6 (0-3 f), S O’Neill, E Dwyer (0-2 f) 0-4 each, C O’Driscoll 1-0, T O’Connell, C Buckley 0-2 each, P Kelly, B Dore, D Horgan 0-1 each.
D Casey 0-7 (0-6 f), D Healy 2-1, B Hurley 0-2, D Coakley 0-1
D Hurley; D O’Leary, D O’Sullivan, R Power; D Dalton, J Dwyer, B Dore; P Kelly, T O’Connell; E Dwyer, D Horgan, B Keating; S O’Neill, C O’Driscoll, C Buckley.
B O’Sullivan for C O’Driscoll (inj, 37), S Dore for D Horgan (50), Horgan for Kelly (56 inj).
M Brennan; C Buckley, C Malone, C Clifford; M Sheehan, K Beechinor, E O’Shea; A McCarthy D Clifford; J McCarthy, B Thompson, D Coakley; D Healy, S Hurley, D Casey.
K Murphy for A McCarthy (40), C Sheehan for D Coakley (50), S O’Callaghan for M Sheehan (55), A Power for J McCarthy (60).
J McEvoy (Blarney).
Ballincollig's second team, captained by Niall O'Driscoll, won the Mid Cork U21 C title on Saturday afternoon in Ballinora with a strong finish against Inniscarra. Down 0-12 to 0-11, they scored 2-4 without replay, Conor Lee pouncing for both goals.
Jack Murray and Darragh Keohane were their top scorers, with Cian O'Connor, Tadhg Murphy and Theo Morgan also raising white flags. Diarmuid Ward, Jack Murphy and Kevin O'Leary also made telling contributions.
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