Ballincollig seal PIHC semi-final spot after great battle with Aghabullogue
Adam Willis in action for Ballincollig against Aghabullogue at Ballyanly. Picture: Larry Cummins
Ballincollig made it three wins from three to secure a direct passage to the semi-final of the Co-Op Superstores Premier IHC after a titanic tussle with Mid Cork rivals Aghabullogue at Ballyanly on Sunday afternoon.
This was a right battle and Collig keeper James Linehan made a couple of magnificent saves. Three times Dano Dineen, once by Fenton Denny with a last ditch tackle, was denied goal chances in a helter-skelter third quarter.
In the end, James Dwyer got the crucial second goal for the winners as he kicked the sliotar to the net in a goalmouth scramble.
Aghabullogue started brightly and opened the scoring with a neat point from Dineen. The opening exchanges were physical and two placed efforts from Shane Tarrant edged Aghabullogue in front.
Ballincollig hit the front after Adam Wills slipped inside the cover and found debutant Danny Miskella, who hit a low shot to the net. Ballincollig’s Cian O’Driscoll added a brace from play to nudge his side clear, 1-4 to 0-5 after 15 minutes, after two sweet James Lane scores.
Aghabullogue then grabbed control and landed three points without reply from Odhran O’Connell, Sean Furey and an absolute beauty from Tarrant.
Dineen added a brace and it was one-way traffic. A well-worked team from Aghabullogue resulted in Tarrant finding the net after an excellent crossfield pass from O’Connell. Crucially for Ballincollig and against the run of play, Stephen Wills nailed a couple of placed balls, 1-11 to 1-7 at the break.
On the resumption, Ballincollig jumped straight from the blocks and points from Miskella and Adam Wills got them within touching distance. Ballincollig had the momentum now and Stephen Wills landed a beauty from play before converting a placed effort.
Aghabullogue’s dangermen Tarrant and Dineen combined superbly but Linehan made a top drawer save to stop a certain goal. Moments later, Dineen was denied again as a combination of Linehan and David O’Leary managed to smoother the Aghabullogue forward.
Ballincollig got back on level terms when James Dwyer landed a superb point, 1-12 apiece after 45 minutes. The scores dried up as the tension mounted.
Tarrant and Wills converted placed efforts and then Adam Willis gave the Collig the lead for the first time since the 18th minute. It was short-lived, Tarrant nailed another free before Aghabullogue edged in front with a fine point from the powerful Dineen with three minutes remaining.
Ballincollig were pressing hard now and Dwyer pounced when the ball broke around the square and the sliotar skidded to the net. Aghabullogue responded with a fine John Buckley shot from a tight angle.
Collig defended resolutely under aerial bombardment before sub Mark Oldham curled over a brilliant score to ease the pressure and nudge the gap out to two. Wills finished out the game with a pair of placed efforts.
S Wills 0-10 (0-7 f, 0-1 65), D Miskella, J Dwyer 1-1 each, C O’Driscoll, A Wills 0-2 each, M Oldham 0-1.
S Tarrant 1-6 (0-6 f), D Dineen 0-4, J Lane 0-3, S Furey, J Buckley, Odhran O'Connell 0-1 each.
J Linehan; R O’Donovan, F Denny, J Murray; B Dore; D O’Sullivan, D O’Leary; H Ahearne, T Morgan; C O’Driscoll, S Wills, T O’Connell; A Wills, J Dwyer, D Miskella.
C Dalton for H Ahern (45 inj), P Kelly for T O’Connell (53), M Oldham for D Miskella (53), B Coleman for J Murray (55).
I Barry Murphy; T Long, C Timmons, TJ Buckley; C Gillespie, P Ring, P O’Sullivan; C Furey, S Furey; S Tarrant, J Foley, D Dineen; J Lane, J Corkery, Odhran O’Connell.
Oisin O’Connell for J Corkery (15, inj), J Buckley for TJ Buckley (38, inj)
W Wallis (Aghada).
App?
