Chris O'Keeffe goal key as Douglas U21 footballers squeeze past Ballincollig
Ollie Barry of Douglas holds onto possession despite the challenges from Ballincollig's Kevin O'Leary and Peter Kelly during the U21 Football championship match in Ovens. Picture: Howard Crowdy
Douglas U21 footballers qualified for a semi-final against Beara after they saw off the challenge of Muskerry champions Ballincollig at Ovens.
With time running out, the scores were tied at 0-9 apiece. The decisive score came when Chris O’Keeffe pounced on a defensive error to net and give Douglas a three-point advantage.
The Muskerry side, who were without Cork U20 Danny Miskella through injury, rallied to rescue the game in stoppage time but they could only manage a David O’Leary free.
We had a relatively low-scoring first half, dictated by the wind, as Ballincollig made the better start. The elements favoured Douglas in the second half but it still took O'Keeffe's goal to progress.
O’Leary got the opening point for Ballincollig within a minute of the throw-in. They pinned Douglas back but a combination of wayward shooting and spectacular saves by Douglas netminder James O’Flaherty prevented Ballincollig for making it count.
O’Leary traded points with Harry Quilligan and Douglas seized the initiative as persistent fouling was proving to be costly for the Collig.
Then came a key moment as Jack Murray’s goal-bound shot was deflected for a 45 by O’Flaherty. Sean Coakley tied the scores at 0-2 each as he converted a free in the 15th minute.
O’Leary and Coakley scored from play at either end before Pete Kelly left Ballincollig leading 0-4 to 0-3 at the break.
Kelly converted a free for Ballincollig within a minute of the resumption but Coakley levelled matters with the game’s only two-pointer.
Douglas began to take a grip on proceedings as Eoin O’Flynn scored from play and Coakley chipped in with his second free. This left Douglas leading by 0-7 to 0-5.
Sean O’Neill responded with a point from play and this was followed by an David O’Leary free to tie it up once more.
Coakley put Douglas ahead with a score from play, but Ballincollig replied with points in quick succession by Tadhg O’Connell and O’Neill.
Coakley equalised with his fourth pointed free entering the final minute, before the scene was set for a dramatic finish.
S Coakley 0-7 (1 2pt, 0-4 f), C O’Keeffe 1-0, H Quilligan, E O’Flynn 0-1 each.
D O’Leary 0-5 (0-2 f), P Kelly 0-2 (0-1 f), S O’Neill 0-2, T O’Connell 0-1.
J O’Flaherty; D O’Callaghan, J O’Callaghan-Maher; L Fogarty; C Mac Phaidín, J Burke, O Barry; D Buckley, J O’Brien; H Quilligan, S O’Leary, A Young; E O’Flynn, S Coakley, J Cunningham.
D Mac Phaidín for Buckley (7, inj), J Mouret for Young (43), C O’Keeffe for Cunningham (47), N O’Leary for Quilligan (57), C Reddington for Fogarty (60).
D Hurley; C Power, P Rose, B Dore; K O’Leary, C Dalton, T O’Connell; B Moore, B O’Connell; S O’Neill, D O’Leary, G Howard; P Kelly, J Murray, C Buckley.
C O’Connor for Moore (h-t), C Ahern for Howard (39).
Niall Hayes (Carbery Rangers).
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