P1 U16 hurling: Ballinora go two from two, Éire Óg survive late fightback, Midleton edge Glen
Donagh Conway, Ballinora, scored 0-3 from play against Kiltha Óg, while Tiernan Galvin, Midleton, netted a crucial goal in their win over Glen Rovers. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
Ballinora moved to the top of Group 1 in the Premier 1 U16 Hurling Championship, after seeing off Kiltha Óg at Dungourney on Friday.
They took control early and were the better side for much of the opening spell, retiring at the interval with a 1-11 to 2-1 advantage, as Kiltha’s goals from Conor Ronayne and Seán Barry against the run of play kept the hosts in the hunt.
The Dungourney/Castlemartyr amalgamation surged back on the restart and Luke O’Riordan hit their third and fourth goals, setting up a tense finish, but a 14-man Ballinora prevailed. Denis O’Mahony and Billy Mehigan were superb for the visitors, while Fionn Murphy did well in defence, along with Jack O’Riordan who played as a fourth man in the half-back line.
Bill Leahy and Bobby Fitzgerald showed up well for Kiltha, and though goalkeeper Donagh Hayes made an excellent save midway through the second half to keep Kiltha in it, Ballinora hung on.
C Ronayne 1-7 (0-4 f), L O’Riordan 2-0, S Barry 1-0, W Collins 0-3..
D O’Mahony 1-7 (0-5 f), B Mehigan 1-6 (0-2 f), D Conway 0-3, C Murphy, F Murphy 0-2 each, P O’Mahony 0-1.
D Hayes; D Murphy, R Costigan, B Fitzgerald; T O’Brien, Liam O’Riordan, S Padden; D Óg McCarthy, J Forrest; J Hayes, W Collins, Luke O’Riordan; S Barry, C Ronayne, B Leahy.
P McGovern for Barry (35).
C O’Mahony; P Burke, R O’Sullivan, D Lynch; P Kelly, J O’Riordan, F Murphy, C Noonan; D O’Mahony, P O’Mahony; B Murphy, K O’Mahony, C Murphy, D Conway.
J Lynch for Burke (21).
In the other Group 1 clash at Ovens, Éire Óg prevailed against Ballyhea/Milford, winning by two goals after another entertaining battle.
Ballyhea/Milford had the upper hand early, Ronan Hayes in particular on song during that first-quarter spell, as they moved four points ahead. Ryan McCarthy struck for a goal to get Éire Óg back on track, which left the teams tied at the break.
The hosts were better on the restart and nailed two early goals along with several points, which eventually pushed them nine points clear, seemingly out of sight.
However, Ballyhea/Milford came roaring back from there, and had worked the margin down to four, but the Ovens outfit netted a goal late on to seal victory and get their first win on the board.
Luke Hogenes, Patrick O’Brien and Ben Ronan were all excellent in defence for the north Cork amalgamated side, while Muiris O’Riordan fought hard in midfield. Seán Hogan was immense for Éire Óg, while Jack Casey did well once more.
J Casey 1-10 (0-7 f, 1-0 pen, 0-1 65), S Hogan 1-2, R McCarthy, D Roche 1-0 each, T O’Neill 0-1.
R Hayes 1-8 (1-5 f, 0-1 65), T Brosnan 1-0, M O’Riordan 0-2, J Ronan, F Ronan, J Larkin 0-1 each.
T O’Brien; R O’Connell, C Murphy, C Dineen; J Boland, C Sheehan, C Fitzgerald; R Searles, L McNeill; D Crean, J Casey, R McCarthy; D Roche, T O’Neill, C Hayfield.
S Hogan for O’Neill (HT), T Sheehan for McCarthy (50).
P Crowley; D Daly, L Hogenes, D Newman; P O’Brien, B Ronan, E Broderick; M O’Riordan, F Ronan; O Geary, R Hayes, P Sexton; J Ronan, J Larkin, M Madigan.
T Brosnan for Geary, B Murphy for Daly (both 51), Geary for O’Riordan (56).
In the sole Group 2 contest last Friday, it was Midleton who prevailed against the Glen, getting back on track after their first-round defeat to Ballincollig. Eoghan Donovan’s penalty and Tadhg Cronin’s goal from play were key, as they secured a three-point victory.
Jamie O’Donovan starred for Rovers, while Seán Barry, Donovan and Michael O’Connor were key to Midleton in defence. Tadhg O’Dowd and Conor McSharry were excellent in attack.
C McSharry 0-8 (0-4 f), E Donovan 1-2 (1-0 pen, 0-2 f), D McInerney 0-4, T Cronin 1-0, T O’Dowd 0-2, L O’Sullivan, F Byrne 0-1 each.
J O’Donovan 1-6, C McGuckin 0-6 (0-3 f), R Crean 0-2, M Gale, K Geaney, H Quirke, D Coade 0-1 each.
W Stokes; D Glavey, M O’Connor, T Galvin; J McSweeney, E Donovan, L Cronin; K Lester, T Cronin; C McSharry, D McInerney, L O’Sullivan; F Byrne, T O’Dowd, M Richards.
S Barry for Galvin (26), A McSweeney for Lester (46), B Collins for M Richards (51), H Lutz for O’Sullivan (57).
J Hogan; C McSweeney, K Barry, K McCarthy; L Tynan, M Gale, C Cronin; R Crean, J Murray; K Geaney, C Ricken, C McGuckin; H Quirke, D Coade, J O’Donovan.
App?
