Premier IHC: Ballinhassig hoping history will repeat against Ballincollig

Since the introduction of group phases to the Cork county championships, there have been six occasions where a hurling final has been a repeat of a clash from earlier that season.

The meeting of Ballinhassig and Ballincollig in Sunday’s Co-op SuperStores Premier IHC is the seventh instance and, having won when the clubs met at Church Road in the opening round of fixtures, Ballinhassig might be able to take some solace from recent history.

It will be the third time in six seasons that the third tier has thrown up such a scenario: last year, Watergrasshill overcame Carrigaline in the final, having also won their earlier meeting, whereas in 2020, the first year in the new landscape, Blarney turned the tables on Castlelyons.

That Blarney victory is just one of two examples of the first outcome being flipped: the other occurred at Intermediate A level in 2022, when Dungourney beat Cloughduv in the decider heaving lost to them in the group.

The fifth tier, initially known as Lower Intermediate and now Premier Hunior, is the only one not to have thrown up a repeat pairing in a final. It has happened twice in senior A – in 2022 and 2023, with Fr O’Neills and Newcestown twice successful against Courcey Rovers and Blarney respectively; while 2022 also saw the only example at premier senior, with St Finbarr’s getting the better of city rivals Blackrock in both of their meetings.

Of course, Ballinhassig will be well aware that history can never be relied upon to puck the ball over the bar and that the Ballincollig side that they face in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday will be a more formidable prospect than 11 weeks ago.

EVEN

Such is the even nature of the grade that Ballincollig followed that defeat with a win over Kilworth while Ballinhassig lost to Castlemartyr – it meant that all four teams in that group went into their last match on two points, making those fixtures quarter-final qualifiers.

Ger Collins' late point – one of nine – helped Ballinhassig to beat Kilworth by a point and, with Ballincollig overcoming Castlemartyr, the south-east side topped the group on head-to-head record and were able to avail of an automatic semi-final spot.

Such a prize can often prove to be a double-edged sword but, against Cloyne in the last four, they showed no signs of rustiness, never trailing as they prevailed by 3-15 to 2-14, the goals scored by Shane McCarthy, Seán Lombard and James O’Callaghan.

With Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins and county panellist Darragh O’Sullivan in their ranks and Fintan O’Leary bringing his influence to bear in attack, the Blues are on a roll but they will know the size of the task facing them. They've had injury issues with Evan Cullinane, Brian Lynch and Adam O'Sullivan but will hope they're fit and firing on Sunday.

In a grade like this, nobody could ever be called champions-in-waiting but Ballincollig have established themselves as perennial contenders – this year was their third straight year to reach the semi-finals.

They got to that stage with an impressive win over last year’s finalists Carrigaline and then used goals to build a wind-assisted lead against Dungourney before sitting in to defend against the East Cork side’s fightback.

Players like James Dwyer, Tadhg O’Connell and Brian Keating have benefited from exposure with Cork underage sides, though Dwyer and Cian Dorgan were limited to substitute appearances in the semi, which Stephen Wills missed, and they will hope for good news on the fitness front.

With little likely to separate the sides, every available body can make a difference.