Late drama as Paul Shanahan hits two-pointer for Carbery Rangers to deny Ballincollig

Ballincollig 1-9 (1-1-7) Carbery Rangers 0-13 (0-2-9)

Carbery Rangers stay top of the Division 2 in the McCarthy Insurance Football League after their dramatic win over Ballincollig.

They won with the last kick of the game as their keeper, Paul Shanahan, landed his second two-pointer free. For long periods it looked like Ballincollig were going to win, but late on they had possession and lost it.  

Ross broke down the field and they were awarded a free which Shanahan coolly slotted home to secure the win for the West Cork side. 

The Village deserved a draw from this entertaining clash, a result that either side could have argued with. But that late turnover cost them dearly as a win would have seen Ballincollig go top of the table instead of their rivals.

John Hodnett put the visitors in front before Dara Dorgan equalised for the home side from a free. Evan Cooke put the Village in front, before Dorgan got his second to make it 0-3 to 0-1 after 14 minutes.

Their lead didn’t last long with Tom O’Rourke scoring from the restart to put a point between them before Mark Hodnett had the sides level. Some good work from Conor Dalton and Peter O’Neill set Dorgan up and he found the back of the net, to make it 1-3 to 0-3 after 18 minutes.

O’Neill extended their lead, before Conor Twomey, just on a sub, got a great point for Carbery Rangers.

A sweeping move, involving O’Neill and Dara Dorgan set up Cian Dorgan to score as Ballincollig were playing some impressive football as they led by 1-5 to 0-5 at halftime.

John O’Rourke got an early second-half point with Dorgan replying at the other end.

Shanahan hit the first of his two-point frees after 43 minutes, to make it 1-7 to 0-9 and he added another point from a free to level it.

An O’Rourke free put them in front before Dara Dorgan hit a two-point free for Ballincollig for what looked like the winner. But that last-gasp two-pointer from Shanahan swung it.

Scorers for Ballincollig: D Dorgan 1-5 (1 2-pt f, 0-1 f), E Cooke, P O’Neill, C Dorgan, D Murphy 0-1 each.

Carbery Rangers: P Shanahan 0-5 (2 2-pt f, 0-1 f), J O’Rourke (0-1 f), J Hodnett 0-2 each, T O’Rourke, M Hodnett, C Twomey, S Linehan 0-1 each.

BALLINCOLLIG: C Noonan; C Moore, L Jennings, S O’Donoghue; B Dore, JP Murphy, C Dalton; S Coughlan, D Desmond; E Cooke, K Browne, P O’Neill; D Dorgan, C Dorgan, D Murphy.

Subs: B Keating for S O’Donoghue (h-t), G Howard for B Dore (45), P Kelly for D Murphy (50), S O’Neill for C Dalton (55), Dore for JP Murphy (56).

CARBERY RANGERS: P Shanahan; C Daly, J Riordan, C Hayes; S Linehan, T O’Rourke, J Hodnett; B Hodnett, K Scannell; P O’Rourke, John O’Rourke, C McCarthy; M Hodnett, D Hayes, C Hayes.

Subs: C Twomey for K Scannell (26 inj), B Linehan for C McCarthy (38), K Eedy for T O’Rourke (43), J O’Regan for C Hayes (50).

Referee: James Regan, Lough Rovers.