PIHC: Mike Kelly drives Castlemartyr to four-point win over Ballinhassig

Castlemartyr: 2-19 

Ballinhassig: 2-15 

Mike Kelly drove Castlemartyr to an excellent win over Ballinhassig in Group 2 of the Co-Op SuperStores PIHC at Páirc Uí Rinn on Sunday afternoon.

The Imokilly side were deserving victors over a Ballinhassig side who were flat throughout albeit not helped by ill-discipline.

The Blues did rally some bit late on to briefly cut the lead to a goal having trailed by eight points. They will need to improve going forward if they want to extend their campaign.

Mike Kelly was deadly accurate from frees for Castlemartyr, as he finished up with 0-12, all from frees.

It now means all four teams in this group are on two points apiece. Castlemartyr meet Ballincollig in the final group game while Ballinhassig take on Kilworth.

It was Castlemartyr, who were wind-assisted in the opening 30 minutes, started with points from Cork star Ciarán Joyce, who lined out at wing-forward, and Jack McGann.

A pair of Jack Grainger efforts did draw Ballinhassig level with Adam O’Sullivan playing a pivotal role.

The teams traded points with the sides level at 0-3 apiece after 10 lively minutes.

The teams were still deadlocked at 0-5 each after 19 minutes before Ciarán Joyce pointed to edge his team in front.

The Imokilly team hit three of the next four points with Mike Kelly landing three frees, as Castlemartyr deservedly led 0-9 to 0-6 with three minutes to the break.

Ballinhassig were struggling to get their forwards into the game from play, though a Ger Collins placed ball left two points in it. Ill-discipline from the Ballinhassig defenders didn’t help their cause, a Mike Kelly free gave his team a 0-10 to 0-7 half-time advantage.

An inspirational point from the excellent Darragh O’Sullivan, who covered every blade of grass, was the perfect start for Ballinhassig a minute into the second half. They now had the wind advantage as Charlie Grainger cut his side’s deficit to a point.

Another Mike Kelly free and a Joe Stack effort did settle Castlemartyr after a slow opening to the new half from them, 0-12 to 0-9 after 38 minutes.

The sides exchanged white flags as the team in red and white remained in a positive position. Ger Collins did once again cut the gap to two points, but a crucial score arrived 16 minutes from time when Jack McCann finished smartly to the net, 1-13 to 0-11.

It was pretty much game over three minutes later when Billy McGann finished his shot low into the corner of the net.

Ballinhassig did get a fortuitous green flag after 50 minutes when Patrick Collins’ long delivery into the square was dropped into his own net by Brian Lawton, 2-13 to 1-11.

Castlemartyr were the better team overall and led 2-15 to 1-12 with seven minutes remaining.

The winners tacked on two successive points before the Blues did rally. They firstly got a goal from a Ger Collins close-range free, 2-17 to 2-12.

Brian Lynch and Ger Collins points did briefly leave Ballinhassig a goal behind. The teams traded points until once more another Mike Kelly free made sure of the victory for Castlemartyr.

Scorers for Castlemartyr: M Kelly 0-12 f, J McGann 1-2, B McGann 1-0, C Joyce, J Stack 0-2 each, D Joyce 0-1 f.

Ballinhassig: G Collins 1-6 (1-4 f), B Lawton 1-0 (og), B Lynch 0-3, C Grainger, J Grainger 0-2 each, D O’Sullivan, A O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

CASTLEMARTYR: D Bowens; D Leahy, C Martin, J Lawton; D Joyce, C Whyte, B Ó Tuama; M Kelly, M O’Dwyer; C Joyce, J McGann, B Lawton; B McGann, J Stack, A Kelly.

Subs: L Martin for A Kelly (41).

BALLINHASSIG: P Collins; C Kirby, K Maguire, P O’Leary; J O’Callaghan, D O’Sullivan, C Desmond; C Grainger, E Lombard; J Grainger, A O’Sullivan, E Cullinane; B Lynch, G Collins, S O’Neill.

Subs: D O’Donovan for J O’Callaghan (45), P O’Regan for S O’Neill (47), S McCarthy for A O’Sullivan (50), F O’Leary for J Grainger (53).

Referee: Patrick O’Mahony (Kilbrittain).