Ballincollig into PIHC knockout stages after strong second half against rivals Éire Óg

Ballincollig 2-23 Éire Óg 1-18 

Ballincollig outgunned neighbours Éire Óg in convincing fashion in this PIHC derby at Riverstick. 

Stephen Wills was clinical, nailing 1-10 in total which included a superbly struck early goal from a 20m free. It was a collective effort though, with Ballincollig having to compensate for the absence of two of their marquee forwards, Cork panellist Brian Keating and Seán O'Neill.

To be fair, Éire Óg’s David Kirwan kept his side in touch throughout and they started the game well, causing their neighbours major issues in the air. 

But Ballincollig march on with a second victory in the group which sets them up nicely for their final group game, another Mid Cork derby against Aghabullogue who are also two from two.

Wills registered the opening point from a placed effort but Éire Óg responded almost immediately with a super long-range effort from Óisin Ó Shea. This was a real helter-skelter start and Cork footballer Colm O’Callaghan edged the Ovens men in front with a neat strike. 

Ballincollig replied with an excellent score from James Dwyer who was deployed to the forward line for this outing. Éire Óg hit the front again courtesy of a brace of frees from David Kirwan. 

Wills reclaimed the lead courtesy of a brilliant free which was drilled to the bottom corner of the net. 

Further points from Dwyer and a placed effort from Wills gave Ballincollig a three-point lead. Both free-takers were unerring and Kirwan clipped over again for Éire Óg. 

The free-flowing pattern continued and Harry Aherne landed a beauty from around the middle of the field. Kirwan responded with a close-in free to keep his side in touch. Slowly but surely Ballincollig were getting on top and Dwyer landed a well-worked score from play before Wills landed a monster free to edge them in front, 1-7 to 0-6 after 15 minutes.

The Ovens men responded again with a beauty from Jerome Kelleher and another placed effort from Kirwan. 

Ballincollig replied through Brian Dore, who landed a terrific long-range effort from wing-back before Wills nailed a couple of difficult frees. Collig finished out the half strongly with very impressive midfielder Theo Morgan landing a beauty from out on the wing, while Adam Wills showed a clean pair of heels before neatly flicking over to ensure his side led by 1-12 to -09 at the break.

Éire Óg clipped over a placed effort from Kirwan on the resumption before the Collig got a huge boost with a terrific goal from Cian O’Driscoll, who had slipped inside the cover after a neat flick from James Dwyer. 

Kirwan landed his eighth free before Wills curled a beautiful point from play out on the wing. Further points from Morgan and Wills gave Ballincollig a 10-point lead, 2-16 to 0-12 after 40 minutes.

Éire Óg desperately needed a goal and it duly arrived courtesy of an excellent finish from the powerful O’Callaghan. Dylan Foley added another for the Ovens side straight after as they threatened a comeback. 

But Ballincollig were having none of it and another Dore point was followed by a monster effort from David O’Sullivan. Wills nailed another long-range free before the hard-working David O’Leary stretched their lead to eight. 

Ballincollig’s goalkeeper James Linehan brilliantly denied Daniel Healy a goal and then Dylan Desmond threw himself at a Pete Kelly shot to deny the Collig a third goal

Morgan rounded out the scoring for Eamonn Keating's side with his third from play, with what should be a cracking clash with Aghabullogue to come in two weeks.

Scorers for Ballincollig: S Wills 1-10 (1-8 f), J Dwyer, T Morgan 0-3 each, C O’Driscoll 1-0, B Dore, D O’Sullivan 0-2 each, A Wills, D O’Leary, H Ahearne 0-1 each.

Éire Óg: D Kirwan 0-12 f, C O’Callaghan 1-1, O O’Shea, J Kelleher, D Clifford, D Foley, D Healy 0-1 each.

BALLINCOLLIG: J Linehan; R O’Donovan, F Denny, B Dore; D O’Sullivan, J Murray, D O’Leary; T O’Connell, T Morgan; C O’Driscoll, S Wills, H Ahearne; A Wills, J Dwyer; M Oldham. 

Subs: P Kelly for M Oldham (45), B Coleman for J Murray (53), C Dalton for Harry Aherne (56).

ÉIRE ÓG: D Desmond; J Mullins, J Kelleher, C Clifford; K Beechinor, C McGoldrick, O O’Shea; D Kirwan, E O’Shea; J Galvin, D Foley, C O’Callaghan; J Kelleher, K Hallissey, S Hurley. 

Subs: D Clifford for K Hallissey (h-t), D McCarthy for J Kelleher (40), D Healy for É O’Shea (42). 

Referee: K O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers)