Aghabullogue defeat Aghada but both clubs into PIFC last six

Aghabullogue 1-13 (1-2-9) Aghada 0-10 (0-3-4) 

Despite a late scare, Aghabullogue saw off Aghada in a highly-charged McCarthy Insurance Premier Intermediate Football Championship tie at Ballincollig.

Aghabullogue had many solid performers but once again the scoring talent of Luke Casey, who finished with an impressive 1-4 from play, led their charge.

The tenacity shown by Aghada in the opening exchanges was extraordinary as they won the majority of possession that yielded points from Diarmuid Byrne and Cian Hegarty after four minutes.

Aghabullogue looked to be struggling with the press and aggression shown by their opponents and it took them 12 minutes to get a foot in the game courtesy of a point from the boot of Evan O’Sullivan.

It only took them a minute to level proceedings with a classy Aaron O’Sullivan point as they suddenly looked a team in ascendency.

A two-pointer from captain John Corkery midway through the half has their fans in rapture and a minute later they punished Aghada with a goal of sheer class.

A pinpoint pass towards corner forward Luke Casey saw the Agabullogue talisman round his man with ease before finding the net with a thunderous shot.

After going 23 minutes without a score, the Aghada drought ended with points from Hegarty and James Hanlon.

In the final kick of the half, Hegarty nailed a two-pointer that reduced the deficit to three points at the interval, 1-6 to 0-6.

Credit to both teams, the tempo increased on the restart and three consecutive points from Aghabullogue in the opening 10 minutes put them back in pole position.

In a nutshell, Aghada could have easily folded and although it took them 12 minutes to score it was a stunning two-pointer from Hegarty, his second of the game. Suddenly, Aghada looked a side with a new lease of life and when substitute Jack Norris nailed their third two-pointer the deficit was reduced to five points.

The Aghada veteran Pearse O’Neill was battling like a trojan and when another substitute Scott White was hauled down by Conor Smith a penalty was awarded, and a black card issued to the corner-back. The resultant penalty was missed by James O’Hanlon though. 

And when Tim Hartnett hit the post in the final minute, Aghada knew it wasn’t going to be their night. However, with results going their way, they managed to book a quarter-final berth on total scoring tally, despite only winning one group game.

A late Mathew Bradley free sealed the deal for Aghabullogue as they kept their unbeaten run intact after a highly entertaining encounter.

Scorers for Aghabullogue: L Casey 1-4, E O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-2f), J Corkery 0-2 (2pt), M Bradley 0-2 f, A O’Sullivan 0-1.

Aghada: C Hegarty 0-6 (2-2pt), J Norris 0-2 (2pt), D Byrne, J Hanlon 0-1 each.

AGHABULLOGUE: J Buckley; C Smith, D Merrick, T Long; P Ring, S Tarrant, B O’Sullivan; C Gillespie, A Murphy; A O’Sullivan, J Corkery, P O’Sullivan; M Bradley, E O’Sullivan, L Casey.

Subs: O O’Connell for B O’Sullivan (inj 16), C O’Sullivan for P O’Sullivan (49), P Dilworth for A O’Sullivan (56).

AGHADA: C O’Shea; E Leahy, J Colbert, K O’Shea; J Tynan, J O’Donoghue, R Murphy; D Phelan, C Hegarty; D Byrne, T Hartnett, S Manley; S Morrissey, J O’Hanlon, P O’Neill.

Subs: S White for S Moloney (38), C O’Driscoll for J Tynan (46), J Norris for R Murphy (46).

Referee: Brian Crowley (Castlehaven).