Peter O'Neill kicks late two-pointer for Ballincollig to deny St Michael's
David O'Leary, Ballincollig, closes in on Adam Hennessy, St Michael's, at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
A long-range two-pointer deep into added time from Peter O’Neill saved Ballincollig’s season in a disappointing McCarthy Insurance Premier Senior Football Championship clash at Páirc Uí Rinn.
When Adam Hennessy kicked a wonderful point for St Michael’s in the 60th minute, it gave them a three-point lead before a Cian Dorgan free and O’Neill’s stunning leveller.
Both sides came into the game on the back of opening round defeats with Ballincollig going down by two points to Nemo while St Michael’s lost to Douglas by 11 after a very poor display against their fellow city side.
Now it's all to play for going into the last group game, Ballincollig needed to beat Douglas with Michael's taking on already qualified Nemo Rangers.
After some good patient build-up play, Ballincollig opened the scoring in the second minute when Sean Kiely showed his experience with a lovely point.
Michael's never touched the ball in the opening three minutes, but they did manage to open their scoring account courtesy of an Adam Hennessy point.
Hennessy almost punished Ballincollig in the seventh minute when his pace saw him get in behind but his shot crashed off the crossbar.
To be fair, the city outfit were now settling into their stride and a brace of Luke O’Herlihy points from placed balls edged them ahead 0-3 to 0-2. Michael’s were now winning the centre-field battle and increased their lead to three points midway through the half.
Ballincollig were held scoreless for 13 minutes before a Sean O’Neill white flag ended their drought. An issue for Michael’s was the space allowed Ballincollig get in towards goal but their finishing was poor at times.
Following a Fionnan Leahy point in the 25th minute, Michael's increased their lead to four points and were in a strong position. Unfortunately for them, Darragh O’Mahony was allowed to gilde through unchallenged before placing a low shot to the corner of the net for a crucial goal.
Both sides exchanged points in the closing minutes before half-time as St Michael’s went in 0-8 to 1-4 up after a battling opening 30 minutes.
It was hard to believe at this level of football not a single two-pointer was attempted by either side in perfect conditions in the opening half.
On the restart, Ballincollig wing-back Donnacha Desmond kicked a point in the 36th minute to tie the game.
The city side were struggling to gain possession but Dan Meaney will be wondering how he missed the target two minutes later when he was allowed through on goal unchallenged. Ballincollig punished them, Cian Dorgan landing two scores, one a neat effort from play, before a Kiely 45 made it 1-8 to 0-9.
Gradually, Michael’s recovered and after going 17 minutes without scoring, Hennessy kicked a monstrous point, and in the closing 10 minutes, Michael’s took control with five consecutive points to go three up entering added time.
Ballincollig responded to the wake-up call, Dorgan pointing before O'Neill's vital two-pointer.
St Michael’s departed Páirc Uí Rinn left wondering how they failed to close out this game.
C Dorgan 0-4 (0-3 f), D O’Mahony 1-0, S Kiely (0-1 45) 0-2, P O’Neill 0-2 (1 tpt), B O’Connell, S O’Neill, D Demond 0-1 each.
St Michael’s: L O’Herlihy 0-5 (0-4 f), F Leahy, A Hennessy 0-3 each, E Buckley, E Hickey, L O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
J Gibbons: JP Murphy, L Jennings, H Ahearne; D Desmond, F Down, L Fahy; S Kiely, D Dorgan; S O’Neill, B O’Connell, P O’Neill; D O’Leary, C Dorgan, D O’Mahony.
S Dore for D O’Mahony (h-t inj), T O’Connell for D Dorgan (49), E Cooke for D O’Leary (60).
M O’Connell; L Carroll, A O’Callaghan, S Keating; R Kavanagh, A Murphy, F Leahy; E Hickey, R O’Shaughnessy; E Sheehan, L O’Herlihy, D Meaney; K Hegarty, E Buckley, A Hennessy.
L O’Sullivan for E Buckley (45), D Corkery for E Sheehan (46).
Conor Lane (Banteer).
App?
