Sarsfields hold off spirited Ballincollig comeback in Premier 1 minor hurling opener
Sarsfields' Kevin Murphy tries to get away from Ballincollig's Bobby Power. Picture: David Creedon
Sarsfields held off a storming comeback from spirited Ballincollig in an entertaining Rebel Óg Premier 1 MHC clash at Ballincollig on Wednesday evening.
This opening game in Section 2 was very competitive for large spells, but there were periods when it looked like league champions Sarsfields would stroll to victory. They led by 10 points after the third quarter, but Ballincollig, in a real team effort, brought the deficit down to two points in added time.
They did battle hard to get a goal, but the away side stood strong to prevail. It wasn’t a fantastic performance from last season’s beaten finalists, but job done. They went 18 minutes without a score in the second half, something that will need to be looked at.
Adam Dunlea was the star man here, scoring 0-10 (0-8 f), but did have to go off injured after 42 minutes. It did help the Village make a comeback.
Sarsfields did get the first score through a Dunlea free, but Ballincollig were very much in the contest in the opening quarter. They goaled after two minutes when Luke O’Mahony set up Brian Cronin for a great Ballincollig green flag.
The sides traded points before a pair of Dunlea frees did draw Sarsfields level after six minutes.
Bobby Power, who was lively, bisected the posts for the Collig, but Sarsfields got a goal that did settle them. It was a brilliant low finish by Finn O’Connor, but not before a peach of an assist from Josh McNamara, 1-4 to 1-2 after 10 minutes.
Driven on by the outstanding Dunlea, who was unerring from frees, Sarsfields pushed into a 1-8 to 1-3 advantage after 17 minutes.
A Power free did keep Ballincollig’s hopes alive, but Sarsfields would hit five of the last six points of the half. Eoin Considine’s long-range effort the pick of them.
Ballincollig’s point did come from Tadhg Murphy, but wayward shooting did leave them down in the closing stages of the opening 30 minutes, 1-13 to 1-5 at half-time.
Ballincollig made a positive impression on the resumption. Cian O’Connor had a goal opportunity but didn’t catch it right, Patrick McCarthy was unlucky not to point from a sideline before a pair of Power frees did leave them just six points adrift.
The teams did share the next four white flags before Finn O’Connor bagged his second goal after 43 minutes. It looked like game over in truth, 2-15 to 1-9.
A Tom Huggins placed ball followed two minutes later and it was expected Sarsfields would manage the last quarter.
At the end, they were hanging on, an improved work rate and better decision-making from Ballincollig helped them claw themselves back.
Kevin O’Leary, Cian O’Connor and Tadhg Murphy all added points for the hosts while sub Cal McCarthy saw his goal-bound effort saved smartly by Sarsfields goalkeeper Finn O’Donovan.
A Power goal low into the corner of the net after 58 minutes reduced the gap down to four points for the home side. Game on.
The momentum was with them and a pair of Power white flags, one from a free, left them 2-16 to 2-14 behind deep in added time.
A Rory Higgins long-range free was Sarsfields’ first score in 18 minutes. It was timed well. Still there was time for Ballincollig to launch one final attack in search of a goal to level proceedings, but it didn't come to fruition.
Sarsfields will face old foes Glen Rovers at home in the second group game in two weeks. Ballincollig are away to Douglas.
B Power 1-8 (0-6 f), T Murphy 0-3 (0-1 f), B Cronin 1-0, K O’Leary, D Miskella, C O’Connor 0-1 each.
A Dunlea 0-10 (0-8 f), F O’Connor 2-2, B O’Mahony, T Huggins (f), C Condon, R Higgins (f), E Considine 0-1 each.
K Coomey; C Ward, P Rose, E Donovan; D Crowley, K O'Leary, C Ahern; J Miskella, D Miskella; T Murphy, C O'Connor, P McCarthy; L O’Mahony, B Cronin, B Power.
J Costello for E Donovan (h-t), C McCarthy for P McCarthy (35).
F O’Donovan; R Boyle, T O'Flynn, J Tierney; E Considine, R Higgins, K Murphy; A Leahy, J McNamara; H Cogan, A Dunlea, C Condon; B O’Mahony, C Galvin, F O’Connor.
C McMahon for A Leahy, T Huggins for C Galvin (both 35), S Sheehan for A Dunlea (42, inj), M Hurley for K Murphy (46), D Crowley for R Boyle (58).
Tom Manley (Inniscarra).
App?
