Ballincollig footballers want to push on after reaching knockout stages: 'We have unfinished business' 

It wasn’t pretty, it was never going to be pretty given the weather conditions, but job done for Ballincollig.

The Muskerry side defeated Douglas in the McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC Group 3 Round 3 battle in Ballygarvan on Sunday evening.

Cork senior football boss John Cleary was in attendance as the Collig won on a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-11 in what was effectively a winner-takes-all encounter to see who would progress to the knockout stages.

The wind had a major bearing on this contest with Ballincollig putting in the hard work in the first 30 minutes, trailing by two points at half-time having played against the wind. They could have been ahead though at the short whistle if they were more clinical in front of goal.

“Hard-earned win, the conditions weren’t great, but we knew that coming down here,” Ballincollig selector Brian Cotter said to The Echo post-match.

“It was just the case of who was the hungrier of the teams and who would play confidently. We had enough to play for and enough work done to come out on top. I’m just happy to get out of here with a win today.

“We felt confident coming down here. We had the legs and we had the bench to come on and take over in the second half. It probably didn’t transpire that way but we ground it out. It wasn’t a big win but it’s a win and that’s all we needed today.” 

Ballincollig showed their character once again. They have shown so many times in recent years of coming up with the answers when their backs are against the wall.

“We only spoke about that during the week, it has happened quite a bit alright,” the Collig mentor says.

“It’s nearly when we can throw caution to the wind and forget the tactics that we tend to throw the shackles off and perform.

“We beat Valley Rovers three years ago when the odds looked against us in the final game of the group stage. It came down to scoring difference.” 

Former Cork footballer Podsie O’Mahony is in his sixth season at the helm of his beloved Ballincollig. He took over from Tom Dorgan in the winter of 2019. 

Since then, they have qualified out of their respective group every year apart from 2021, when they were very unlucky not to do so.

“It’s a fantastic achievement, it shows consistency,” Cotter states on the Collig making the business end yet again.

“We feel we’ve unfinished business. We haven’t troubled the big three. We’ve come close over the last six years or so, but we haven’t troubled them. Hopefully we’ll make an impression this time.

“We kind of stuttered through the group this year to be honest. We gave a decent performance against Nemo Rangers the first day out, but we still came away empty-handed. We were embarrassed with our performance in the draw against St Michael’s.

“I suppose you have to give credit to the lads for digging it out on the day to get the draw, even though the performance was one to forget. It was just all about getting out of the group.” 

Ballincollig will take on divisional side Duhallow in the quarter-finals in just under two weeks’ time. The last time the Village made the last four was in 2022. That will be their aim.

“Look, it’s something different. We haven’t played Duhallow in a long time. They’re one of the flag-bearers in terms of what they have done as a divisional side.

“We’ll go back to the drawing board during the week and prepare for Duhallow in a couple of weeks’ time. Looking forward to it.” Cotter concluded.