Premier 1 U16FC: Macroom push Ballincollig to the wire in thriller

Ballincollig: 3-14 (3-1-12) 

Macroom: 0-19 (0-3-13) 

Goals proved vital as Ballincollig eked out a cracking win over Macroom in the Rebel Óg Premier 1 U16 football championship semi-final at Bishopstown on Monday night.

This last four clash was thoroughly enjoyable, helped by referee Peter Cotter allowing the game to flow as much as possible.

Ballincollig ultimately got the scores at the vital stages, with two green flags before the short whistle giving them a four-point buffer at half-time.

Cayden Murphy helped keep the defence intact, while Cork minor Evan Stack was a driving force from midfield for the winners. The likes of Liam O’Brien, Will Twomey and Shay O’Brien supplied the scores that got their side over the line by four points.

It was level midway through the second half, but Ballincollig had the firepower to squeeze through.

The Collig will meet Douglas in the decider after they overcame Nemo Rangers by six points.

There were plenty of green shoots for Macroom, who were driven on by the excellent Dylan O’Shea in midfield. He scored a tally of 0-14, including three orange flags.

They will benefit from playing Premier 1 this year, while their minors are in the Premier 2 semi-final on Wednesday against St Finbarr’s.

The excellent O’Shea got Macroom up and running with a free, followed by a David Bradley effort, but a two-point free from Stack drew Ballincollig level.

An O’Shea orange flag pushed Macroom 0-4 to 0-2 ahead after 14 minutes, with wing-back Con Moss having a stormer.

Ryan Brophy extended the advantage out to three, but the Collig replied with three points on the trot, with Shay O’Brien key in that scoring spree.

The sides were level at 0-7 each after 27 minutes, but the first of Ballincollig’s three goals arrived just before the break when Will Twomey showed his pace as he billowed the back of the net.

Macroom’s response was an O’Shea two-point free, but Ballincollig grabbed their second green flag in added time when Liam O’Brien finished low into the back of the net, making it 2-7 to 0-9 at half-time.

Macroom didn’t wilt despite the concession of those goals. They started the new half with three unanswered points — two O’Shea frees and a David Bradley effort.

Ballincollig kicked two of the next three points before the impressive O’Shea landed his second two-point free to draw Macroom level, 2-9 to 0-15 after 43 minutes.

The Village, though, had more scoring power, and two Shay O’Brien white flags — one from a free — and a Faolán O’Leary fisted effort steadied them.

O’Shea did land a 45 in between those scores, with the game still finely poised with 12 minutes to go, 2-12 to 0-16.

A real sucker punch arrived for Macroom 10 minutes from time when the powerful Alan Jozefowski burst through the defence and netted Ballincollig’s third goal.

It was the most important score of the game, as the Collig were able to manage the closing stages.

Macroom did land three of the next four points, but they really needed a goal that didn’t come to fruition.

Stack got the final score of an enjoyable game with a fine 45.

Ballincollig were pushed to the wire but passed the test.

Scorers for Ballincollig: L O’Brien 1-3, S O’Brien 0-4 (0-2 f), W Twomey 1-1, E Stack 0-3 (1 2pt f, 0-1 45), A Jozefowski 1-0, C Hannigan, F O’Leary, C Connaughton 0-1 each.

Macroom: D O’Shea 0-14 (0-6 f, 2 2pt f, 1 2pt, 0-1 45), D Bradley 0-2, R Brophy, A Hopkins, D O’Connell 0-1.

BALLINCOLLIG: R O’Sullivan; R O’Connell, C Murphy, O Harrington; R Creedon, J O’Sullivan, C Hannigan; E Stack, K McSweeney; A Jozefowski, W Twomey, F O’Leary; C Connaughton, L O’Brien, S O’Brien.

Subs: D Jozefowski for W Twomey (43), O Power for C Connaughton (58).

MACROOM: C Lee; T Mullane, M Deasy, D Condon; C Moss, C Murray, L Slattery; D Twomey, D O’Shea; R Brophy, A Hopkins, D Creed; D Bradley, C Angland, D O’Connell.

Subs: B McCrory for D Twomey (29-31, temp), D Twomey for L Slattery (31).

Referee: Peter Cotter (Gleann na Laoi).