Premier 1 MFC: Ben Corkery‑Delaney masterclass powers Carrigaline to big win over Ballincollig
Carrigaline's Eoghan Ahern looking for a way past Ballincollig's Darragh Crowley during the Cork ETB Rebel Óg P1 MFC at Carrigaline. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A slick performance from Carrigaline saw them comfortably dispatch holders Ballincollig in the Cork ETB Rebel Óg Premier 1 MFC at Carrigaline on Wednesday evening.
This Section 1 Round 1 game was largely dominated by an excellent Carrigaline outfit who fully merited their 13-point victory. They were driven by a majestic display from Ben Corkery-Delaney, who finished with an outstanding 2-10.
Carrigaline conceded the first score but were never troubled thereafter. Their defence provided the launchpad, with Gavin O’Brien and David Scannell-Murphy central pillars throughout.
They led by five at the quick whistle and kept Ballincollig at arm’s length for the entirety of the second half.
The winners had Cork minor star Eoghan Ahern up front and, while he only chipped in with a point, he contributed plenty of unseen work.
Ballincollig, who have won this competition in the last two seasons, will be disappointed with this showing, though there is still time to rectify matters.
One of several Cork minors involved, Éanna Lynch, got Ballincollig up and running with a point after 50 seconds, but that was as good as it got for the Muskerry side. They more or less played second fiddle from there.
Carrigaline stitched together six unanswered points — Corkery-Delaney three, Luke Jordan two, and Jack O’Grady one.
The sides traded points before Corkery-Delaney landed an excellent two-point free to push Carrigaline 0-9 to 0-2 ahead after 19 minutes.
Ballincollig enjoyed a brief purple patch, hitting three scores on the bounce: Luke O’Mahony raised an orange flag, followed by points from Fionn Lordan and Joe Miskella. The latter also missed a penalty, with Carrigaline goalkeeper Danny McSorley guessing correctly.
To compound Ballincollig’s problems, Carrigaline went straight down the field and Corkery-Delaney unleashed a powerful finish to the net, making it 1-9 to 0-6 with a minute to the break. Conor Cogan pointed to leave Ballincollig five down at half-time.
Corkery-Delaney extended the margin with a point before an O’Mahony two-pointer from a free kept Ballincollig in touch, 1-10 to 0-9 after 37 minutes. It could have been worse but for Daithí Murphy, who denied Cillian Murphy a goal chance.
Corkery-Delaney added another two-point free shortly afterwards and from there it was plain sailing for the victors. Carrigaline hit 1-1 without reply through Lordan and goalscorer Murphy.
Ballincollig sub Bobby Power, lively when introduced, bagged a tidy goal, but they remained a long way back — 2-13 to 1-9 with eight minutes left. They wouldn’t score again as Carrigaline finished with 1-3.
It was fitting that the best player on the pitch, Corkery-Delaney, had the final say, his driving run ending with the forward rifling the ball into the net.
As first championship outings go, it couldn’t have gone much better for the home side.
Carrigaline travel to Bishopstown next in two weeks, while Ballincollig host Nemo Rangers.
B Corkery-Delaney 2-10 (2 2pt f, 0-3 f, 0-1 45), C Murphy 1-1, L Lordan 0-3, E Ahern, J O’Grady 0-1 each.
L O’Mahony 0-4 (1 2pt f, 1 2pt), B Power 1-0, F Lordan, J Miskella, C Cogan, B Cronin, E Lynch 0-1 each.
D McSorley; C Moloney, G O’Brien, J Bryan; D Ó Beoláin, D Scannell-Murphy, O Lynch; S Collins, C Hanratty; E Ahern, B Corkery-Delaney, C Murphy; L Jordan, J O’Grady, C Murphy.
D Carroll for D Scannell-Murphy (49), J Murphy for C Hanratty (55), E Bowens for O Lynch (57).
D McCarthy; L Higgins, C O’Regan, D Murphy; J Costello, E Lynch, J Ryan; B Cronin, C Cogan; D Crowley, J Miskella, E Stack; S O’Brien, L O’Mahony, F Lordan.
B Power for L Higgins (h-t), A Jozefowski for C Cogan (48), S Twomey for E Stack, E Ó hUrnaí for S O’Brien (both 57).
Adam Cummins (Ballymartle).
App?
