Aghada knock out Ballygiblin and move straight into IAHC semi-finals

Aghada 2-20 Ballygiblin 1-15

Aghada finished their group series unbeaten in the Co-op Superstores Intermediate A Hurling Championship as they defeated Ballygiblin in their final group game at Páirc Uí Rinn.

This game produced an evenly contested first half, but Aghada were on top in a goalless second half, where wayward shooting was proving to be costly for Ballygiblin.

Aghada's Noah Devoy traded points with Ballygiblin’s Ryan Donegan. Joseph O’Sullivan set up Dean Barry for the opening goal for Ballygiblin but this was immediately cancelled out as Fionn O’Connor got the Imokilly side’s first goal.

William Leahy tagged on a point from play for Aghada and Darragh Flynn replied with the game’s first pointed free to tie the scores at 1-2 apiece.

Ballygiblin seized the initiative as they scored three unanswered points, including a free by Flynn.

Charlie Terry tagged on a point from play for Aghada. Ballygiblin replied with a point from play by Shane Beston and Flynn's third free.

The East Cork side tagged on three unanswered points before Flynn converted his fourth free.

Aghada continued to have Ballygiblin on the back foot as Jamie O’Hanlon and Ronan Murphy got a point each. Leahy drilled home a goal from a long-range free on the stroke of half-time. This gave the East Cork side an interval lead of 2-8 to 1-8.

Aghada upped the ante after the interval with points from play by Devoy, Murphy and O’Hanlon. Leahy also chipped in with his first pointed free, before Flynn replied with his first two points from play.

Flynn pointed his fifth free, before the Imokilly side got three unanswered points.

Aghada remained on top for most of the final quarter as they scored six points from play in this period the North Cork side replied with three points from play and one from a free by Flynn.

Scorers for Aghada: W Leahy 1-4 (1-1 f, 0-1 65), F O’Connor 1-0, N Devoy, C Terry, R Murphy 0-3 each, J O’Hanlon, P O’Neill, J Looney 0-2 each, T Hartnett 0-1.

Ballygiblin: D Flynn 0-8 (0-6 f), D Barry 1-1, J O’Sullivan 0-2; R Donegan, C O’Mahony, S Beston, C Walsh 0-1 each.

AGHADA: J Walsh; T Hartnett; J Norris, K O’Shea; J Tynan, M Russell, J McDonnell; R O’Connell, W Leahy; F O’Connor, N Devoy, C Terry; R Murphy, P O’Neill, J O’Hanlon.

Subs: J Looney for O’Connor (h/t), A Stafford for Tynan (51), S O'Driscoll for O’Hanlon, S O’Callaghan for Norris (both 58).

BALLYGIBLIN: C Noonan; L Finn; F Herlihy, K Roche; M Lewis, J O’Sullivan, A O’Brien; C Walsh, R Donegan; K Duggan, D Flynn, S Beston; C O’Mahony, S O’Sullivan, D Barry.

Subs: E Flynn for Duggan (41), C Walsh for Barry (45), B Coffey for O’Brien (58, inj), M Walsh for O’Mahony (60).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).