P1 U16 HC Semi-finals: Ballinora stun Ballincollig, Ballyhea/Milford take down Midleton
Denis O'Mahony celebrates scoring a goal against Ballincollig in their P1 U16 HC semi-final. Picture: Damien O'Sullivan
Ballinora banished the ghosts of last year's P1 U16 semi-final in emphatic fashion, defeating favourites Ballincollig at Ballinhassig on Monday.
Eight of the team beaten by 23 points by Midleton at the same stage 12 months ago started here. They made amends – and more – with a 12-point dismantling of their neighbours.
It was 1-9 apiece at the break, after Ballinora had to make an early adjustment following the loss of full-back Ronan O’Sullivan to injury. Their second-half surge was made even more impressive by the fact Ballincollig’s bright restart saw the Village push themselves four points clear. But, Ballinora struck back through Donagh Conway, as he struck 1-1 to get them back on level terms.
And once they pulled in front, there was no stopping this Ballinora team.
“We're all thrilled with that performance by our lads against our neighbours tonight,” said Ballinora manager Martin Fenton. “Ballyhea/Milford were outstanding in defeating us in the last round robin match.
“It was a chastening experience in tough conditions, we were all determined to bounce back. The boys worked so, so hard in training prior to and in that win tonight. We're really looking forward now to a tough rematch against Ballyhea/Milford.” Scorers for B Mehigan 0-11 (0-3 f), D Conway 2-1, D O’Mahony 1-2 (0-2 f), J O’Riordan 0-3, J Lynch 0-2, C Murphy, F Murphy, P Kelly 0-1 each.
C O’Mahony; P Burke, R O’Sullivan, C Noonan; P Kelly, F Murphy, D Fenton; P O’Mahony, D O’Mahony; B Murphy, B Mehigan, K O’Mahony; C Murphy, D Conway, J O’Riordan.
D Lynch for O’Sullivan (12 inj), J Lynch for K O’Mahony (33), J Coakley for Conway (59). O Kilmartin, O O’Reilly, S O’Sullivan, L McCoy, A Chivite O’Regan.
In the other semi-final, which had been tightly contested for much of the hour, Ronan Hayes’ penalty proved crucial as Ballyhea/Milford eventually found enough to see off Midleton at Rathcormac.
The eventual winners led by the minimum at the break, 0-9 to 0-8, and would have been further clear were it not for two brilliant saves from Midleton goalkeeper Will Stokes, who denied Ronan Hayes in the ninth and 15th minutes.
But, when Hayes nailed the penalty in the 37th minute, the north Cork amalgamation would not be beaten as Finn Curtin, Muiris O’Riordan and Ben Ronan were on form.
Darragh Glavey, Liam Cronin and Michael O’Connor impressed at the back for Midleton, while Tadhg Cronin and Dylan McInerney did well.
R Hayes 1-10 (1-0 pen, 0-6 f, 0-1 65), F Curtin 0-4, M O’Riordan, H O’Connor 0-2 each.
D McInerney 0-3, J McSweeney, C McSharry (2 fs), M Richards, T O’Dowd, L O’Sullivan 0-2 each, F Byrne, E Donovan, K Lester, H Lutz 0-1 each.
P Crowley; D Daly, L Hogenes, D Newman; E Broderick, B Ronan, P O’Brien; M O’Riordan, F Curtin; O Geary, R Hayes, J Larkin; P Sexton, J Ronan, H O’Connor.
P Curtin for Broderick (inj), M Collins for Newman (temp), Collins for Sexton (inj).
W Stokes; T Galvin, M O’Connor, S Barry; D Glavey, E Donovan, L Cronin; C McSharry, T Cronin, J McSweeney, D McInerney, F Byrne; M Richards, T O’Dowd, L O’Sullivan.
K Lester for Byrne (HT), C Power for O’Sullivan (38), H Lutz for T Cronin (40).
In the Challenge Cup semi-finals, Kiltha Óg had enough to see off Blarney. They profited from a fortuitous early goal and led by four at the break, and pushed further ahead in the second half when Jack Hayes flicked to the net after 40 minutes.
Defensively the east Cork amalgamation were excellent, with Sean Padden and Ben Walsh standing out, while Donagh Hayes made a good save from a Blarney penalty. Jack Donovan and Bobby Fitzgerald were Blarney’s top performers on the night.
C Ronayne 1-8 (0-6 f), J Hayes 1-2, D Óg McCarthy, D Murphy 0-2 each, W Collins 0-1.
B Fitzgerald 0-5, S Hassett 0-4 (0-1 pen, 0-1 f), M Delea (f), S Lynch (f), J Shakeshaft, F O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
D Hayes; B Leahy, L O’Riordan, A Falahee; S Padden, R Kelleher, B Walsh; J Forrest, D Murphy; D Óg McCarthy, W Collins, T O’Brien; J Hayes, C Ronayne, B Fitzgerald.
L O’Riordan for Forrest (38), S Barry for Fitzgerald (48), B Loughnane for O’Brien (55), S Crowley for McCarthy (55), J Bowens for Kelleher (60 inj).
D Ring; F O’Sullivan, C O’Sullivan, C Staples; J Forrest, M Delea, J Donovan; E O’Keeffe, D McAuliffe; S Lynch, S Hassett, G McCarthy; B Fitzgerald, H Hogan, J Shakeshaft.
D Cotter for McCarthy (45), O Kelly for Shakeshaft (55), D O’Brien (59).
In the other Challenge Cup semi-final, Glen Rovers cruised to victory over an Éire Óg side were without marquee forward Jack Casey.
The northsiders were dominant all throughout, and now advance to the final where they’ll face Kiltha Óg, forming a double-header with the main event.
C McGuckin 0-9 f, J O’Donovan 0-3, H Quirke 1-2, L Tynan, D Coade, K Geaney, L Hooley, Z Creamer, R Crean 0-1 each.
S Hogan 0-9 (0-6 f).
D Hickey; C McSweeney, M Gale, C McCarthy; L Tynan, J Murray, Z Creamer; R Crean, C Ricken; C McGuckin, D Coade, K Geaney; L Hooley, J O’Donovan, H Quirke.
J Lynam for Creamer, S O’Sullivan for Crean, D Murphy for Ricken, M Finnegan for Hooley, D Foley for McGuckin.
T O’Brien; R O’Connell, J Clifford; C Dineen; C Sheehan, O O’Mahony, T Mullins; C Murphy, R Searles; R McCarthy, D Roche, D Crean; L McNeill, S Hogan, C Hayfield.
T O’Neill, D Hegarty, P Moloney, R O’Neill, T Sheehan, R O’Brien, J Boland.
App?
