Billy McGann inspires Castlemartyr to U21 C Hurling final after cracker with Ballincollig

Castlemartyr 0-21 Ballincollig 1-14

Castlemartyr are through to the Co-op Superstores U21 C HC final following their win over Ballincollig at the Páirc Ui Chaoimh 4G pitch on Sunday evening.

But they were made fight all the way by the Village side who gave it their all. A brilliant solo goal from Cian O’Connor in the second half looked like swinging the game in their favour, but credit to Castlemartyr who never panicked and inspired by Billy McGann drove on to victory.

The Village might be left wondering though what might have been as they started with Tadhg Murphy on the bench. He came on after 20 minutes and hit 10 of their 14 points and you can only wonder would starting him have made a difference?

Darragh Leahy opened the scoring for Castlemartyr with Ciaran Sice doubling their lead. Jack Murray pulled a point back for Ballincollig before a free from McGann made it 0-3 to 0-1.

Sean Morgan added another as Castlemartyr were enjoying the better of the early exchanges.

Kevin O’Leary scored a great point from distance for the Village before they thought they had a goal. A free from Cian O’Connor ended up in the net, but it was disallowed for a square ball.

From the restart, Castlemartyr worked the ball down the pitch, with Niall O’Driscoll saving magnificently from Charlie O’Neill, for what looked like a certain goal.

Castlemartyr then enjoyed their best spell of the half as they grabbed six without reply, to make it 0-10 to 0-2 after 20 minutes. McGann hit five of them, with Morgan also on target. 

Murphy, just on as a sub, pulled a point back for Ballincollig from a free and added another from play, to make it 0-10 to 0-4. He got his third as he made a telling impact after coming on to reduce the deficit.

Sice and McCann hit late points for Castlemartyr to see them lead by 0-12 to 0-6 at half time.

Murphy opened the scoring in the second half with Castlemartyr hitting back through McGann.

Murphy (3) along with one from Murray made it 0-16 to 0-12 in Castlemartyr’s favour after 47 minutes, before the Village got the only goal of the game.

A brilliant run from O’Connor saw him burst past several defenders before finding the back of the net in some style. Murphy was fouled in the next play and converted the free and it was level: 0-16 to 1-13.

But Castlemartyr responded excellently with McCann hitting two, along with a long-range Darragh Joyce free, to restore their three-point lead.

Murphy reduced the deficit before late points from Oran Murphy and McCann ensured Castlemartyr advanced to the final.

They will now face Ballycastle Gaels in the decider next weekend, with details to be confirmed.

Scorers for Castlemartyr: B McGann 0-13 (0-7 f, 0-1 65), C Sice, D Joyce (f), S Morgan 0-2 each, D Leahy, O Murphy 0-1 each.

Ballincollig: T Murphy 0-10 (0-7 f, 0-1 65), C O’Connor 1-1, J Murray 0-2, K O’Leary 0-1.

CASTLEMARTYR: J O’Donovan; R Burke, W Broderick; T Fleming, D Joyce, D Lynch; D Leahy, C Sice; B McCann, C O’Neill, M Dwyer; O Murphy, S Morgan.

Sub: E Cashman for S Morgan (47).

BALLINCOLLIG: N O’Driscoll; J Lucey, D Lee; J Murphy, K O’Leary, O Buckley; C O’Connor, E Donovan; J Murray, T Morgan, E Carew; C Lee, D Keohane.

Subs: T Murphy for C Lee (20), B Moore for D Keohane (43), J Wills for E Donovan (56).

Referee: Cathán Treacy (Nemo Rangers).