Premier 1 U16 FC final: Midleton seal stunning recovery to win from 10 points down against Ballincollig

Midleton: 3-5 (3-0-5) 

Ballincollig: 1-10 (1-0-10) 

Midleton completed a remarkable comeback to stun a fancied Ballincollig team in the Rebel Óg Premier 1 U16 Football Championship final at Sallybrook on Wednesday night.

The Village looked to have been in complete control for 54 minutes, until 3-2 without reply from the Magpies saw them crowned champions in amazing fashion.

Ballincollig were in such a commanding position for so long. They will have huge regrets over this one. They were led on by Cork minor footballer Joe Miskella, but lost their shape and nerve at the most crucial stage.

Midleton trailed by eight points at the interval, but were 10 points behind after 54 minutes with the game looking done and dusted.

It was an incredible comeback and a great night for Midleton, who would be better known more so for their hurling exploits.

They had heroes all over the pitch. The Magpies complete the double at Premier 1 level having won the hurling last Saturday also against the Village.

It didn’t take long for Ballincollig to settle into their stride, slotting over the first four points.

Éanna Ó hUrnaí, Miskella, Fionn Lordan and Bobby Power all raised white flags inside nine minutes.

Branden Dunlea, Midleton’s only scorer in the opening 30 minutes, did point after 10 minutes, but three minutes later, Ballincollig took a firm grip on proceedings when Power beautifully placed the ball into the top corner of the net after Ballincollig pounced on a Midleton mistake, 1-4 to 0-1.

The sides traded points before both teams were guilty of wayward shooting in a low-scoring first half.

A pair of Miskella frees gave the Village a comfortable 1-7 to 0-2 half-time lead.

Midleton did start the new half on the front foot. They were doing a lot of things right, but it was just that final ball that was lacking. They would eventually get it right.

Charlie McCarthy kicked over an easy free, but there was another lull in terms of the scoring until Miskella popped over an easy free. Ballincollig 1-8 to 0-3 clear with 18 minutes remaining.

It didn’t look like the great comeback from the Magpies was on the cards despite their best efforts.

Points from Evan Stack and Miskella looked to have put their side in an untouchable advantage, 1-10 to 0-3 after 48 minutes.

The Collig wouldn’t score for the remainder. Instead, Midleton made the greatest of comebacks, full of courage, belief and composure.

Peadar Egan got his side’s first goal from close range with six minutes to go and it did look like a consolation score. 

But a minute later, the Imokilly outfit raised a second green flag when Dunlea finished low into the corner of the net after an excellent run.

It was then down to a single point when Midleton’s full-back Riain McCormack scored one of the best goals you will see when he rifled his shot into the top corner from long range, 1-10 to 3-3 after 59 minutes.

Their opponents were after losing complete control by this stage. Midleton incredibly drew parity when Finn Cahill converted a difficult 45.

A replay looked on the cards, but Charlie McCarthy had other ideas. He pointed from a free two minutes into added time.

The final whistle brought unbridled joy from the winning camp. Ballincollig dropped to the ground in utter devastation.

Scorers for Midleton: B Dunlea 1-2, R McCormack, P Egan 1-0 each, C McCarthy 0-2 f, F Cahill 0-1 45.

Ballincollig: J Miskella 0-6 (0-4 f), B Power 1-1, E Ó hUrnaí, E Stack, F Lordan 0-1 each.

MIDLETON: J Sweeney; L Cronin, R McCormack, P Egan; C Hogan, F Cahill, A Molumby; A Hennessy, C Kelly (c); J Cahill, C McCarthy, L Walsh; C O’Brien, B Dunlea, J O’Sullivan.

Subs: R Nolan for J O’Sullivan (13, inj), L O’Sullivan for J Cahill (39), A Murphy for C Hogan (51).

BALLINCOLLIG: D McCarthy; S Richmond, L Higgins, D Murphy; J Harrington, E Lynch, E Harris; J Miskella (c), E Ó hUrnaí; C McCarthy, E Stack, F Lordan; B Power, J Costello, S O’Brien.

Subs: C Barr for C McCarthy (40), A Jozefowski for F Lordan (45), P Skehan for B Power (52).

Referee: Brian Crowley (Castlehaven).