P1 U16 Hurling: Ballyhea/Milford snatch top spot from Ballinora, Glen Rovers hold Ballincollig to draw

Ballyhea/Milford 4-17 

Ballinora 1-12 

A sensational second-half display from Ballyhea/Milford saw them down Ballinora and take top spot of Group 1 in the Cork Premier 1 U16 Hurling Championship.

The result sets up a semi-final with Midleton after the Magpies beat Blarney, while Ballinora must now face Ballincollig in the other semi.

It had been tightly contested in the first half at Milford under heavy rain, with Ballinora leading 1-6 to 0-8 at the interval after a 22nd minute goal from Denis O’Mahony.

Donagh Conway and Jack O’Riordan had also done well in that opening period, but on the restart Ballyhea/Milford were a class above, in control in all areas of the pitch and dominant against a strong Ballinora outfit.

They immediately hit 1-1 from play in the second half, James Larkin with the goal, and while Ballinora forced a good save from Páraic Crowley, the game quickly got away from them.

Ballyhea/Milford hit three goals and eventually finished 14-point winners. Luke Hogenes was outstanding in defence for the winners, while Muiris O’Riordan put in a terrific shift in midfield.

Ronan Hayes starred at centre-forward, with Finn Curtin influential too.

Scorers for Ballyhea/Milford: R Hayes 2-14 (0-9 f, 1-0 pen, 0-1 65), P Sexton 1-1, J Larkin 1-0, M O’Riordan, F Curtin 0-1 each.

Ballinora: B Mehigan 0-6 (0-4 f), D O’Mahony 1-2, D Conway 0-2, J Lynch, J O’Riordan 0-1 each.

BALLYHEA/MILFORD: P Crowley; D Newman, L Hogenes, D Daly; P O’Brien, B Ronan, E Broderick; F Ronan, M O’Riordan; O Geary, R Hayes, P Sexton; J Ronan, J Larkin, F Curtin.

Sub: P Curtin for Broderick (50).

BALLINORA: C O’Mahony; P Burke, R O’Sullivan, C Noonan; P Kelly, P O’Mahony, C Murphy; D O’Mahony, J O’Riordan; B Murphy, B Mehigan, K O’Mahony; J Lynch, D Conway, D Lynch.

Subs: J Coakley for Burke (48), S O’Sullivan for J Lynch (54).

Glen Rovers 1-12 

Ballincollig 0-15 

In Group 2, Ballincollig were held to a draw by Glen Rovers, but it proved enough to finish top of their group, while Rovers now progress to the Challenge Cup.

The Collig had led 0-11 to 0-6 at the break, but Glen Rovers put in a ferocious second-half shift to get themselves back in contention. They even moved in front at a late stage with Jamie O’Donovan flying up front, but Ballincollig would get the final score of the game to grab the draw they needed for top spot.

Scorers for Glen Rovers: J O’Donovan 1-4, C McGuckin 0-4 f, M Gale 0-3, J Murray 0-1.

Ballincollig: F O’Leary (0-2 f), S O’Brien (0-2 f) 0-6 each, E Stack 0-2, C Hannigan 0-1.

GLEN ROVERS: D Hickey; C McSweeney, K Barry, K McCarthy; L Tynan, M Gale, C Cronin; J Murray, C Ricken; Z Creamer, K Geaney, C McGuckin; H Quirke, D Coade, J O’Donovan.

Sub: M Finnegan for McGuckin (HT inj).

BALLINCOLLIG: R O’Sullivan; E Murphy, Jack O’Sullivan, R Creedon; C Murphy, C Hannigan, O Harrington; E Stack, W Twomey; R O’Gorman, L O’Brien, F O’Leary; C Gleeson, S O’Brien, C Connaughton.

Subs: L Healy, O Power for Connaughton, K McSweeney for E Murphy.

Kiltha Óg 2-15 

Éire Óg 1-15 

Kiltha Óg edged out Éire Óg after a terrific battle, a late goal from Will Collins proving the difference as the sides were evenly matched throughout at Castlemartyr.

Kiltha got the win they needed to try and reach the semis, but Ballyhea/Milford’s win meant they would not progress.

The hosts had led at half-time, 0-10 to 0-7, and Conor Ronayne nailed a 21-yard free on the restart to push Kiltha further ahead.

Daithi Roche would strike back for Éire Óg as Jack Casey kept them in touch with frees, but Kiltha would snatch the win late when a long-range free dropped short, and Collins flicked beautifully to the net on the edge of the square. Ronayne was exceptional and Collins was on song, while Roan Kelleher and Bill Leahy both put in good shifts.

Scorers for Kiltha Óg: C Ronayne 1-14 (1-5 f, 0-2 65), W Collins 1-1.

Éire Óg: J Casey 0-12 (0-10 f), D Roche 1-0, D Crean, T O’Neill, S Hogan 0-1 each.

KILTHA ÓG: D Hayes; B Fitzgerald, L O’Riordan, A Falahee; T O’Brien, R Kelleher, B Walsh; R Costigan, J Forrest; L O’Riordan, W Collins, D Óg McCarthy; S Barry, C Ronayne, B Leahy.

Subs: S Crowley for McCarthy (HT), B Loughnane for Barry (35), A Whelan-Curtin for O’Brien (46).

ÉIRE ÓG: T O’Brien; R O’Connell, J Clifford, J Boland; T Mullins, O O’Mahony, C Fitzgerald; R Searles, C Sheehan; R McCarthy, J Casey, D Crean; D Roche, T O’Neill, C Hayfield.

Subs: S Hogan for O’Neill, C Murphy for McCarthy, D Hegarty for Boland.

Blarney 0-10 

Midleton 0-13 

Midleton had enough to overcome hosts Blarney in the other Group 2 fixture, with Conor McSharry and Eoghan Donovan excellent in midfield across the hour.

Mason Richards did well up front and finished with three from play, while Sam Hassett led the way for Blarney.

Scorers for Blarney: S Hassett 0-5 (0-4 f), G McCarthy, B Fitzgerald 0-2 each, S Lynch 0-1.

Midleton: C McSharry (0-1 f), M Richards 0-3 each, L O’Sullivan 0-2, T O’Dowd, K Lester, H Lutz, L Cronin, E Donovan 0-1 each.

BLARNEY: D Ring; F O’Sullivan, M Delea, C Staples; J Forrest, J Donovan, C O’Sullivan, E O’Keeffe, D McAuliffe; S Lynch, S Hassett, G McCarthy; B Fitzgerald, H Hogan, J Shakeshaft.

Sub: D Cotter for Shakeshaft (48).

MIDLETON: W Stokes, T Galvin, M O’Connor, S Barry; D Glavey, E Donovan, L Cronin; C McSharry, T Cronin; D McInerney, K Lester; M Richards, T O’Dowd, L O’Sullivan.

Subs: H Lutz for Lester (45), B Collins for O’Sullivan (55).