Castlehaven always in control against youthful Ballincollig side to set early marker
Ballincollig's Cian O'Connor tries to get past Castlehaven's Cathal Maguire during the McCarthy Insurance PSFC clash at Clonakilty. Picture: Martin Walsh.
Castlehaven began their quest for an eighth McCarthy Insurance Group Cork Premier SFC title by seeing off Ballincollig at a balmy Clonakilty on Sunday evening.
Seanie Cahalane’s side ensured their campaign got off to a positive start on a weekend that champions St Finbarr’s and perennial contenders Nemo Rangers both lost.
There were no such slip-ups for a clinical Haven side in which the winners had nine different scorers. Brian Hurley and Michael Maguire provided half of their winning total.
It was Ballincollig, now under the stewardship of Aidan Kelleher after working alongside previous manager Podsie O’Mahony, who got off to a dream start.
Cian Kiely’s long delivery was punched to the net by Tadgh O’Connell inside the opening minute. Castlehaven’s response was methodical as Mark Collins and Michael Maguire each scored prior to Cork star Brian Hurley curling over a sublime two-pointer.
The Carbery side would have been further ahead but for poor shooting and lost Robbie Minihane to a shoulder injury inside the opening quarter. Ballincollig’s attempts to reduce the deficit floundered in the final third until Dara Dorgan split the posts.
The Muskerry club, without Luke Fahy, Cian Dorgan, Ben O'Connell and Sean Dore through injury, struggled to gain enough primary possession around midfield and were guilty of numerous turnovers. Hurley and Collins took advantage, extending their team’s lead, 0-6 to 1-1, 10 minutes before the break.
Consecutive Cian Kiely and Conor Dalton efforts offered Ballincollig renewed hope but it was their opponents who finished the half stronger.
Backed by a light wind, Castlehaven reeled off a succession of scores beginning with a Damien Cahalane two-pointer. Rory Maguire, Michael Maguire and two points from Brian Hurley handed the Haven a merited six-point interval advantage.
JP Murphy got Ballincollig’s fourth point immediately after the restart but wayward shooting halted their progress. It took a superb Dara Dorgan two-pointer to rouse Ballincollig’s supporters and make it 0-12 to 1-6.
Brian Hurley replied before being yellow-carded along with JP Murphy following a brief scuffle. Cian Ahern fisted over and Ballincollig took advantage of Sean Browne rattling an upright before debutant Ahern slid home a goal at the opposite end.
That was the Haven’s cue to up the tempo and dominate the closing quarter. Michael Hurley, Danny O’Donovan, Michael Maguire and Conor Cahalane all scored prior to Ballincollig sub Danny Miskella, one of six players making their first senior appearance, landing a badly-needed free.
The Union Hall-Castletownshend outfit kept pressing as Michael Maguire and Jamie O’Driscoll efforts further stretched the leaders’ advantage, 0-19 to 2-8.
A fisted Sean O’Neill point preceded consecutive Michael Hurley and Michael Maguire white flags before Miskella converted a free for a three-up infringement.
The league champions were six points ahead and looking comfortable when Daragh O’Shea raced in and found the net deep into injury-time. It proved academic as Castlehaven ran out deserving winners. Ballincollig will be pleased with their efforts but could have little argument with the outcome.
Looking ahead, Clonakilty’s victory over Knocknagree has set up a blockbuster west Cork derby with Castlehaven on Sunday, August 16th. Ballincollig will look to rebound against John Fintan Daly’s side that same afternoon.
B Hurley 0-6 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), M Maguire 0-5, M Collins, D Cahalane (1 2pt), M Hurley, C Cahalane 0-2 each, R Maguire, D O’Donovan, J O’Driscoll 0-1 each.
C Ahern 1-1, D Dorgan 0-3 (1 2pt, 0-1 f), D Miskella 0-2 f, T O’Connell, D O’Shea 1-0 each, C Kiely, C Dalton, JP Murphy, S O’Neill 0-1 each.
D Cahalane; J Bohane, T O’Mahony, S Walsh; R Maguire, R Minihane, M Collins (c); D Cahalane, C Maguire; S Browne, D O’Donovan, C Cahalane; M Maguire, B Hurley, M Hurley.
J O’Driscoll for R Minihane (11, inj), A Whelton for S Browne (47).
C Walsh; S O’Donoghue, L Jennings (c), P Rose; JP Murphy, C Dalton, C Kiely; P O’Neill, S Kiely; C Ahern, K O’Leary, T O’Connell; D Dorgan, R Noonan, D O’Leary.
D Miskella for R Noonan (h-t), C O’Connor for C Kiely (39 inj), S Murphy for S O’Donoghue (44), S O’Neill for T O’Connell (50), D O’Shea for D Dorgan (56).
Conor Lane (Banteer/Lyre).
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