Carrigaline rally late on to snatch a draw against Ballymartle in PIHC derby cracker

Carrigaline 3-17 Ballymartle 3-17

It was honours even between Carrigaline and Ballymartle in their Co-op Superstores PIHC clash at Kilbrittain on Saturday afternoon.

For both sides, it was not the result they wanted, but it probably favours Carrigaline slightly going into their final group games.

The two teams are now on a point each as Carrigaline face Kilworth and Ballymartle play Valley Rovers.

If Carrigaline beat Kilworth, they will go ahead of them on points and will then hope Valleys beat Ballymartle to go through. Ballymartle will need to beat Valleys and hope the other game ends in a draw as it would then come to scoring difference to see who progresses.

Ballymartle will be the more disappointed with this result as they led well into injury time before Carrigaline got a late goal to secure the draw, with Rhys McCarthy raising the all-important green flag.

Finn O’Connell opened the scoring for Carrigaline with Fionn Desmond replying for Ballymartle from the restart. Brian Kelleher put Carrigaline back in front from a free, with Shane Cummins replying to make it 0-2 each after six minutes.

Points from Eanna Desmond and Kelleher put Carrigaline two to the good, with O’Connell getting their fifth to stretch their lead.

Hennessy replied for Carrigaline before we had the first goal of the half as Ronan Sheehan set up Paul Geary to score for Ballymartle, to make it 1-3 to 0-5.

Kelleher and David Griffin replied for Carrigaline, with Cillian Lordan scoring for Ballymartle to make it 1-4 to 0-7 after 19 minutes.

Points from O’Connell and Kevin O’Reilly put Carrigaline two up, before Kelleher scored their goal, to make it 1-9 to 1-4.

He then pointed a free to extend their lead, before Cummins got Ballymartle’s second goal, to put two between the sides, 1-10 to 2-5.

Hennessy and Eanna Desmond exchanged scores, with Lordan getting the last score of the half as Carrigaline led by one at the break, 1-11 to 2-7.

Lordan had the sides level in the 31st minute, before Carrigaline got their second goal, with O’Connell setting up O’Reilly to score.

Deasy and Hennessy hit back with points for Ballymartle, before Lordan got their third goal, to make it 3-11 to 2-11 after 38 minutes.

Cummins increased their lead, before two frees from Kelleher put two between the sides, 3-12 to 2-13.

Hennessy and Lordan both pointed for Ballymartle and by the 50th minute it was 3-15 to 2-14 in their favour.

Kelleher put a goal between the sides and with 57 minutes played it was 3-16 to 2-16 in Ballymartle’s favour.

Simon Dorney hit what looked like the insurance point for them, but Carrigaline kept battling.

David Drake pointed with two minutes to go and deep into injury time, McCarthy got the all-important goal to secure the draw that keeps their chances of progressing alive.

Scorers for Carrigaline: B Kelleher 1-7 (0-5 f), K O’Reilly 1-1, F O’Connell 0-4, R McCarthy, E Desmond 0-2, D Griffin, Kevin Kavanagh, D Drake 0-1 each.

Ballymartle: C Lordan 1-5 (0-4 f), L Hennessy 0-5, S Cummins 1-2, P Geary 1-0, R Deasy 0-3, F Desmond, S Dorney 0-1 each.

CARRIGALINE: R Foster; D Stack, D Greene, Kevin Kavanagh; O O’Connell, D Griffin, P Mellett; R Kelleher, E Desmond; R McCarthy, B Kelleher, C Kearney; K O’Reilly, N Coleman, F O’Connell.

Subs: Kieran Kavanagh for D Stack (36), D Drake for C Kearney (39), H Andrews for O O’Connell (48), S Williamson for D Greene (51).

BALLYMARTLE: D McCarthy; E Deasy, C Coleman, TJ Murphy; C Allen, R Cahalane, E Healy; R Deasy, F Desmond; S Cummins, C Lordan, R Sheehan; L O’Callaghan, P Geary, L Hennessy.

Subs: S Dorney for C Coleman (28), B Corry for R Sheehan (40), S Corry for S Cummins (51).

Referee: Brendan Barry Murphy (Aghabullogue).