Premier 1 MFC: Ballincollig hold off late Nemo rally to get back on track
Joe Miskella in action for Ballincollig against Nemo Rangers. Picture: Jim Coughlan
Ballincollig are back on track in the Cork ETB Rebel Óg Premier 1 MFC after hanging on to overcome the late challenge of Nemo Rangers at Ballincollig on Wednesday evening.
This Section 1 Round 2 encounter was pretty much do-or-die for the Village, given their defeat to Carrigaline first day out. Nemo Rangers, meanwhile, had the safety net of an opening-round victory over Bishopstown.
It was the champions of the last two seasons who held their nerve — but only just.
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Michael O’Brien’s side looked to be coasting to victory. They led by ten points after 54 minutes, but a hat-trick from Nemo’s sharp forward Mark O’Keeffe left everyone on tenterhooks in added time.
Ballincollig, though, got over the line in a game they bossed for the majority. O’Keeffe had the chance to win it for the visitors, but his two-point effort went wide. It was a very tricky shot.
The Village will be pleased to have come away with the victory, with Cork minor captain Joe Miskella a key contributor on the scoreboard. Charlie O’Regan and Jack Costello stood out in defence, but the concession of three late goals will be something Ballincollig will need to address.
The first four points were evenly shared before Alan Jozefowski nudged Ballincollig in front. A two-pointer from Nemo’s excellent centre-back, Cian Power, handed his team a 0-4 to 0-3 advantage after 15 enjoyable minutes.
A minute later, Ballincollig goaled. Bobby Power’s two-point effort dropped short, but Luke O’Mahony was alert to finish to the net.
The Muskerry side were now in control. Fionn Lordan could have raised a second green flag before Miskella, with the outside of his boot, landed an orange flag to make it 1-5 to 0-4 with 11 minutes to the break.
Michael Scott cut the gap to three points, but a splendid O’Mahony two-point free gave Ballincollig a 1-7 to 0-5 half-time advantage.
A Miskella free pushed Ballincollig’s lead out to six on the resumption. It was a slow burner of a half. Another O’Mahony point gave Ballincollig a 1-9 to 0-5 buffer after 37 minutes.
A tidy Morgan Corkery effort was timely for Nemo with 18 minutes remaining as they struggled to create chances in the second half.
Ballincollig then all but put the game to bed, or so it looked, with a fantastic Jozefowski goal after 47 minutes, making it 2-9 to 0-6.
A Miskella free put Ballincollig into a strong position, but an O’Keeffe goal from close range got the home side thinking with six minutes left.
Ballincollig were wasteful in the closing stages and were punished again when O’Keeffe netted another green flag for Nemo heading into added time.
The Trabeg-based outfit finished strongly and, when O’Keeffe grabbed his third goal to leave the bare minimum in it, Nemo sensed a winner might be there for them.
O’Keeffe had the chance to snatch victory with a two-pointer, but it drifted wide — albeit it was a difficult shot.
Ballincollig hung on and remain firmly alive.
They will face Bishopstown at home in the last group game. Nemo Rangers travel to the leaders Carrigaline.
Scorers for Ballincollig: L O'Mahony 1-3 (1 2pt f), J Miskella 0-5 (0-3 f, 1 2pt), A Jozefowski 1-1, S O’Brien 0-1.
Nemo Rangers: M O’Keeffe 3-0, C Power 0-3 (1 2pt), M Scott, O Jordan (0-1 f), M Corkery 0-1 each.
BALLINCOLLIG: D McCarthy; D Crowley, J Ryan, C O’Regan; E Stack, J Costello, E Lynch; B Cronin, C Cogan; A Jozefowski, J Miskella, S O’Brien; F Lordan, L O’Mahony, B Power.
Subs: C McCarthy for J Miskella (28-30, temp), D Murphy for J Costello (35-37, temp), C McCarthy for C Cogan (51), E Ó hÚrnaí for S O’Brien (53), S Twomey for A Jozefowski (58).
NEMO RANGERS: C McCarthy-O’Donovan; D Geary, J McGorry, A Quinlivan; M McCarthy, C Power, J Randles; O Jordan, C Randles; R Denn, M Scott, L Butler; C Herlihy, M O’Keeffe, M Corkery.
Subs: D Kelleher for C Herlihy (44), S O’Flaherty for O Jordan (46), M Lynch for L Butler (58).
Referee: Brian Crowley (Castlehaven).
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