Eugene O'Leary shines for Ballyhea as Bishopstown head to relegation playoff

Ballyhea 3-14 Bishopstown 1-9 

A brace of first-half goals from Eugene O’Leary ensured Ballyhea avoided a Senior A relegation playoff in Buttevant on Saturday night.

Instead, Bishopstown, who battled hard in terrible weather conditions, must face Courcey Rovers to avoid the drop.

Led on the field by Pa O’Callaghan and O'Leary, as well as Tom and Luke Hanley, Ballyhea started with a bang. O’Leary’s first goal came inside 90 seconds, and importantly, just 30 seconds after Bishopstown themselves spurned a golden chance to raise green.

Bishopstown played against the wind in the first half and needed to make the most of every chance but unfortunately for the city side, six wides, some of them really disappointing efforts, hurt their cause to stay with the Avondhu men to the break.

O’Leary’s brace of majors in the first 30 were the main interventions but despite the weather, some scintillating points, especially from Bishopstown’s James Scally and Thomas Murray were worthy of note.

Ballyhea cruised to a half-time advantage of six points (2-8 to 0-6) but faced a determined Bishopstown and a strong wind in the second half to ensure they took the spoils.

It didn’t take long for the victors to stretch their advantage though, courtesy of a point from Tom Hanley and then a third goal, this time from Kieran Morrissey. Both arrived inside the opening five minutes of the second period and Ballyhea never looked back.

Scally continued to slot over efforts for Bishopstown but in reality, the city side never really looked like turning this one around, not even a goal from Brian Murray on 61 minutes could lift the mood of a side heading for a relegation playoff tie to save their status as a senior hurling club.

Scorers for Ballyhea: E O’Leary 2-4, P O’Callaghan 0-5 (0-4 f), K Morrissey 1-1, M Browne (f), J Morrissey (65), L Crowley, T Hanley 0-1 each.

Bishopstown: J Scally 0-7 (0-6 f), B Murray 1-0, T Murray 0-2.

BALLYHEA: M Browne; A Barrett, L Hanley, D Crowley; C Cox, J Copps, T Hanley; M O’Sullivan, J Morrissey; L Crowley, K Morrissey, T Hanley; E O’Leary, G Morrissey, P O’Callaghan. 

Subs: D Curtin for G Morrissey (43), D Copps for K Morrissey (55), F O’Sullivan for D Curtin (63).

BISHOPSTOWN: C O’Donoghue; M Scally, D Lester, G Murphy; D Murray, K McFadden, C O’Hora; C Hegarty, C Murray; C Dunne, B Murray, C O’Driscoll; J Scally, R Foley, T Murray. 

Subs: D Daly for C Hegarty (39), L O’Driscoll for C O’Hora (43), N O’Hora for C Dunne (55), D Quaid for C O’Driscoll (65).

Referee: R Whelan (Ballincollig)