SAHC: Late points steer Ballinhassig past Inniscarra fightback

Ballinhassig: 1-19 

Inniscarra: 1-16 

Ballinhassig, inspired by Ger Collins, held off a brave fightback from Inniscarra to deservedly win this Co-Op SuperStores SAHC clash at Ovens on Sunday evening.

The Blues finished three points clear, though at one stage it looked like they would win with a bit to spare, having built a seven-point cushion heading into the final ten minutes. They kept their opposition at arm’s length for long spells, but wayward shooting and sloppy play left the door open for Inniscarra.

There was just the bare minimum in it going into added time, and Ballinhassig were down to 14 men for the five minutes of stoppage time after Darragh O’Sullivan picked up a second yellow. They stood tall, however, with two late points getting them over the line. They were deserving winners.

Last year’s PIHC winners now sit top of Group 3 on three points heading into the final round, with Inniscarra and Carrigtwohill on two each and Courcey Rovers on one.

Inniscarra were without their star man, Cork defender Seán O’Donoghue, through injury and were overly reliant on Joseph Enright. It took them 21 minutes to score from play, yet they still had a goal chance at the death to draw level — but Andrew McCarthy’s effort went narrowly wide when a green flag looked likely.

Inniscarra’s bench, including Ardal O’Connell, gave them a different dimension, but they will have regrets about their display for much of the contest.

It was a scrappy start, frees dominating the early stages, with the sides level at 0-2 apiece after nine minutes. Joseph Enright was the main man for Inniscarra, while Ger Collins delivered for Ballinhassig.

Conor Desmond, Evan Cullinane and Ger Collins pushed the Blues three clear before the sides traded points. Simon O’Neill made it 0-7 to 0-3 after 18 minutes.

Inniscarra hit two of the next three scores, Enright landing placed balls, before their first point from play arrived on 21 minutes through the hard-working David O’Keeffe.

That left them just 0-8 to 0-6 behind, but Ballinhassig had more punch, hitting three of the last four points of the half. Jack Grainger and Brian Lynch were highly effective, while Ger Collins struck three frees as the Carrigdhoun men went in 0-11 to 0-7 ahead.

Desmond extended the lead on the restart, though wides were becoming a concern for Ballinhassig.

Inniscarra got a lifeline on 39 minutes when David Enright did superbly to set up O’Keeffe for a smashing goal into the roof of the net, making it 0-12 to 1-7.

Ballinhassig responded well, hitting three of the next five points, Cullinane landing a beauty.

The sides traded scores, Ballinhassig leading 0-16 to 1-10, before a Ger Collins point and a Michael Collins goal — the sub finishing after a Desmond assist.

With ten minutes left, it looked like the game would drift to a predictable conclusion.

But Inniscarra roared back with six points in a row, O’Connell hitting three of them. All the momentum was with them, and they had the extra man after O’Sullivan’s dismissal.

A Ger Collins free settled Ballinhassig, and sub Shane McCarthy bisected the posts.

It seemed enough, but deep in added time Andrew McCarthy saw the goal open up. The defender couldn’t get a proper connection, his effort hitting the side netting — some Inniscarra supporters even celebrating, not realising it had gone narrowly wide.

A huge sigh of relief for Ballinhassig, and a big win all the same.

Scorers for Ballinhassig: G Collins 0-9 (0-7 f), C Desmond 0-3, M Collins 1-0, S O’Neill, E Cullinane 0-2 each, P Collins, Darragh O’Sullivan, S McCarthy 0-1 each.

Inniscarra: J Enright 0-9 (0-8 f), D O’Keeffe 1-1, A O’Connell 0-3, A McCarthy, D Murphy, C Geoghegan 0-1.

BALLINHASSIG: P Collins; E Lombard, K Maguire, J Lyne; C Kirby, Darragh O’Sullivan, C Desmond; C Grainger, J Grainger; G Collins, S O’Neill, E Cullinane; B Lynch, P O’Regan, S Lombard.

Subs: M Collins for S Lombard (44), R Lombard for J Grainger (50), T Madden for B Lynch (56), S McCarthy for S O’Neill (58), Diarmuid O’Sullivan for C Grainger (61).

INNISCARRA: K Rice; D Keane, C O’Leary, L Ryan; B Daly, F Horgan, A McCarthy; J Enright, D Enright; P Holland, D Murphy, D O’Brien; D O’Keeffe, C Geoghegan, J O’Mahony.

Subs: A O’Connell for J O’Mahony (36), T Lyons for D O’Brien (48), N Buckley for D O’Keeffe (50).

Referee: Niall Fahy (Brian Dillons).