Ballincollig minor hurlers grab crucial win at Glen Rovers with Bobby Power and Kaden Coomey immense
Ballincollig's Bobby Power shoots from Glen Rovers' Kyle Foley during the Cork ETB Rebel Óg P1MHC at The Glen. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
A magnificent win for Ballincollig as they got the better of Glen Rovers in their Cork ETB Premier 1 MHC clash at the Glen Field on Wednesday night.
The Village can thank two players in particular for their deserved victory on the night, with Bobby Power leading their attack and at the other end, Kaden Coomey made some superb saves.
Na Piarsaigh are on top in the group after beating Carrigaline, while Ballincollig and the Glen both have a win apiece. It’s all to play for in their final games in two weeks when Ballincollig head to Carrigaline and Na Piarsaigh meet the Glen.
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The game was preceded by a minute’s silence for Diarmuid O’Driscoll, who passed away recently and had been a mentor with both Glen Rovers and St Nicholas for many years.
Ballincollig took the lead in the first minute when Power split the posts and he added a second from a free to double their advantage. Cal McCarthy got their third as the Village were making good use of the strong wind.
Gavin O’Callaghan got the hosts up and running after nine minutes as the Glen started to settle. But two more frees from Power had Ballincollig 0-5 to 0-1 in front with 12 minutes gone.
O’Callaghan was on target from a free, with Michael Forde getting the Glen’s third point, to make it a two-point game. Power stretched Ballincollig’s lead again as they were dominating all over the pitch at that stage.
O’Callaghan converted another two placed balls to keep the Glen in contention and added another from play. Brian Cronin landed a fine effort from distance to make it 0-9 to 0-6.
Power nailed another free, with O’Callaghan responding with another 65 and a free: 0-10 to 0-8.
Joe Miskella got Ballincollig’s 11th point with James O’Mahony replying before Luke O’Mahony and Éanna Lynch put the visitors 0-13 to 0-9 ahead at the break.
O’Callaghan and Power exchanged scores, with Evan McGuckin also on target for the Glen. Forde pointed again but after 39 minutes it was 0-16 to 0-13 in Ballincollig’s favour thanks to Daithí Murphy and Luke O'Mahony, with his second.
Cork minor ace Power clipped two more before Coomey made a magnificent save to deny McGuckin what looked like a certain goal. James Murray did raise a white flag for the hosts to cut the gap to three but Shay O’Brien converted a free at the other end.
With 52 minutes gone, Coomey pulled off another outstanding save, this time denying O’Callaghan a green flag.
O’Callaghan nailed two 65s and a free to trim the margin to the minimum.
It was fitting that the outstanding Power got the last score to keep the Village in contention for a semi-final place on a night where their ferocious work-rate and unselfish team play were rewarded.
G O’Callaghan 0-12 (0-7 f, 0-3 65), J O’Mahony, M Forde 0-2 each, E McGuckin, J Murray 0-1 each.
B Power 0-11 (0-7 f, 0-1 65), L O’Mahony, E Lynch 0-2 each, C McCarthy, B Cronin, J Miskella, D Murphy, S O’Brien (f) 0-1 each.
S McCarthy; C Singleton, C Burke, K Foley; R O’Callaghan, C Cunningham, L Woods; J Brosnan, C O’Brien; J O’Mahony, M Brosnan, T Murphy; J Murray, G O’Callaghan, M Forde.
C Turnbull for C O’Brien, E McGuckin for T Murphy (both h-t).
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.
Simon Stokes (Tullylease).
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