Premier SFC: Ballincollig grateful for bench impact as they target further improvement

Ballincollig certainly made use of their available resources in striking late to squeeze past Duhallow in Sunday’s McCarthy Insurance Group Premier SFC quarter-final at Páirc Uí Rinn.

The mid-Cork club only had eight subs to call upon on Sunday and used four – but each of them had an impact.

David O’Leary was introduced in the first half and ended up with three points to his name, while the win was achieved as they came from two down to win by one as three more replacements – Dara Dorgan, Seán O’Neill and Tadhg O’Connell – kicked the winning points as they advanced on a 1-15 to 2-11 scoreline.

Captain Luke Fahy, who more than played his part in securing the semi-final meeting with St Finbarr’s, outlined the overall approach in squad management.

“Yeah, there's a reason for that,” he said.

“We put a big effort into our junior team; I think it's important that we do that.

“They played Saturday, so a lot of them wouldn't have played Sunday. Then, the other lads – Dave O'Leary came on, he's just out of minor and he finished with three points. That's phenomenal scoring.

“We've only been in five semi-finals in our club history for football and getting the minors this exposure is brilliant.

“We're delighted and we'll build for the next day. We've a lot to work on.”

When Duhallow kicked three points between the 47th and 50th minutes, they led by two, but they would not score again. Though Ballincollig took time to wipe out the deficit, 27-year-old Fahy didn’t doubt their ability to salvage something.

“We got four minutes [of added time] and I felt we had a right opportunity,” he said.

“I missed a free, but we really kicked on. The worst I was thinking was that we were going to give away a draw, if I'm really honest about it, but I'm absolutely delighted.

“Over the moon and really relieved – relief is the biggest one.”

The way the semi-final draw has panned out, Ballincollig and Newcestown will be underdogs against St Finbarr’s and Nemo Rangers respectively.

Fahy is keen to ensure that they give themselves every chance to reach another final, though.

“It's not about giving it a rattle, to be honest with you,” he said, “we're going there to win.

“I've been playing senior football now a good while and I'd love to have something to show for it.

“And as captain, I'd really love to do that as well.

“We've a big two weeks – the hurlers are playing this weekend and we'll hopefully give them momentum and they'll all come through that all right.

“Then we'll go again the following week.”

Before the football last-four clash, the Ballincollig hurlers have a premier intermediate championship semi-final against Dungourney.

With the morale high, it’s a case of one code feeding off the other.

“It makes it a lot easier when you're winning!” Fahy laughed.

“We’ll do what we can in the week. I presume we'll be playing on Sunday, so we'll get three sessions in that week, yeah.”