Five-goal blast from Na Piarsaigh just enough to edge out Ballincollig in minor hurling cracker
CLINICAL: Na Piarsaigh's Luke Hurley scores his third goal past Ballincollig goalkeeper Kaden Coomey and Luke Higgins during the Cork ETB Rebel Óg P1 MHC at Ballincollig. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
Luke Hurley's four goals saw Na Piarsaigh started their Cork ETB Premier 1 MHC campaign with a narrow victory over Ballincollig on Wednesday night.
The hat-trick was complete in the first half, in a game that also saw Jamie Coughlan hit the back of the net for the northsiders, who were without Cork minor Callum Coffey, in a classic bout that went all the way. Collig came back to lead by two points, 1-18 to 4-7, in the closing stages but Hurley's fourth goal was a hammer blow for the hosts.
It was a frantic encounter with Na Piarsaigh up 4-6 to 1-10 at the break, despite a strong start by the Village.
Joe Miskella, Cal McCarthy, Shay O’Brien, and Luke O’Mahony all scored from play to give them a 0-4 to 0-2 advantage against two Craig O’Sullivan frees, and each one was hard fought as the game settled down.
Then came Hurley’s first goal from the tightest of angles in the 11th minute and a second followed just 90 seconds later, a 2-4 to 0-6 advantage for the northsiders.
Ballincollig responded by rattling off 1-2, starting with a fine effort from play by Daithí Murphy. Power converted a free and then Murphy and Eanna Hurney set up Shay O’Brien for a goal in the 18th minute, putting the home side back in front at 1-8 to 2-4.
Na Piarsaigh rallied once again, beginning with Cork U20 O’Sullivan splitting the posts from play and then Hurley pounced for his hat-trick by the 22nd minute. A clinical batted finish from close range past Kaden Coomey. Their next advance created a small opening for Hurley, and the forward used it to fire the sliotar in for his hat-trick in the 22nd minute.
Na Piarsaigh led 3-5 to 1-8 and O’Sullivan kept the momentum going by scoring a cracking point from the puck-out.
The Village steadied with a solo effort from Cal McCarthy before Coughlan grabbed the fourth goal for the visitors at the back post in the 29th minute. Power offered some sort of response but Ballincollig went into the break trailing by five after a Murphy goal chance whizzed wide.
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However, Ballincollig returned from half-time fully focused with O'Mahony and Cork minor Power leading the charge. They rattled off 0-5 to go ahead 1-15 to 4-6, with the outstanding Power raising three of those white flags.
Na Piarsaigh could only manage three wides by the 40th minute, a streak broken by a Craig O’Sullivan free.
Ballincollig had settled down defensively at this stage with O’Mahony and a Power brace moving them 1-18 to 4-7 clear and they looked the likely winners. However they never looked like getting the goal they'd need to fully take control.
At the other end, O’Sullivan capitilised on a defensive error to feed Hurley with a clever pass from the right wing, turning down an easy point, and he made no mistake for his fourth and Na Piarsaigh's fifth goal in the 55th minute.
Once again, Na Piarsaigh were in front and Hurley grabbed a point to move them two ahead.
Ballincollig were reeling and now hunting a goal. A long Jack Costello delivery was batted away and resulted in another Hurley point, making it 5-9 to 1-18.
The Village pushed up and swarmed Na Piarsaigh in an effort to get possession. Power converted a free and Costello landed a long-range effort to reduce the gap to the bare minimum.
There was no equaliser, instead a collection of wides from both sides. Na Piarsaigh rejoiced after surviving the seven minutes of added time.
Glen Rovers and Carrigaline are the other two teams in an evenly matched group.
B Power 0-9 (0-5 f), S O’Brien 1-1, L O’Mahony, C McCarthy 0-3 each, J Costello, J Miskella, B Cronin, D Murphy 0-1 each.
L Hurley 4-2, C O’Sullivan 0-7 (0-3 f), J Coughlan 0-1.
K Coomey; D Crowley, L Higgins, J Harrington; E Stack, J Costello, E Lynch; B Cronin, L O’Mahony; C McCarthy, J Miskella, E Hurney; D Murphy, B Power, S O’Brien.
K Walsh for Murphy (37), C Murphy for Crowley (57).
A Crowley; J O’Connor, R Quinlan, D O’Leary; R Manley, R Cronin, D Casey; J Coughlan, N Coffey; J Cahalane, Craig O’Sullivan, J Burke; Corey O’Sullivan, L Hurley, D Downey.
J Constant for Downey (h-t), S O’Neill for Manley (50).
Brendan Barry Murphy (Aghabullogue)
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