Fermoy and Ballinora ends level but scoreline dispute set to be examined by Cork County Board

Fermoy 0-21 (0-3-15) Ballinora 2-15 (2-0-15) 

The official final scoreline shows this McCarthy Insurance Premier Intermediate Football Championship clash finished level but this might not be the end of the story.

However, referee Wayne King, when shown the sequence of scoring after, conceded he could have made an error and will be putting the issue into his report.

The problem arose when Fermoy’s Ben Twomey kicked a point in the 30th minute, followed by a glorious two-pointer by the same player, which should have given his side a 0-10 half-time tally.

Ballinora had scored 2-7 in the opening half. However, Fermoy were only down for nine points at the break per the referee. If Twomey's extra score was included, Fermoy have prevailed 0-22 to 2-15.

Currently, Ballinora, last year's IAFC winners, are in a quarter-final against Macroom, but the Cork County Board will have to look at Wayne King's report and decide if the result stands. They could decide this game was null and void, with the clubs meeting again in a refixture.

As for the game itself, Fermoy looked the superior team, though a David Lardner goal chance was saved. Still, three unanswered points gave them control.

Ballinora settled and Michael Quirke exposed poor defending to drill a shot to the corner after his first effort was saved. When Kevin Werner kicked a magnificent point in the 25th minute, they commanded a two-point lead.

Then came a second goal, Quirke cleverly guiding the ball to the net.

The brilliance of Twomey then saw him execute white and orange flags to pull Fermoy back into the game. 

On the restart, both teams continued to play fast open football and traded scores. Ballinora looked in pole position when Shane Kingston split the posts in the final minute, but Tomás Clancy showed all his experience to bring the teams level on the scoreboard.

There was a strange scenario at the final whistle as Ballinora thought the draw was good enough for them to qualify but the story of this game could change in the coming days after this thrilling encounter.

Scorers for Fermoy: B Twomey 0-6 (1 2pt), D Lardner 0-5 (1 2pt f, 0-3 f), G O’Callaghan 0-4, A Aherne 0-2 (1 2pt), S Aherne, P Murphy, P De Roiste, T Clancy 0-1 each.

Ballinora: M Quirke 2-3, S Kingston 0-3 (0-1 f, 0-1 45), I Quirke 0-3, M O’Brien, K Werner 0-2 each, C O’Donoghue, S O’Neill 0-1 each.

FERMOY: D Dawson; J Molloy, L Aherne, P O’Neill; P De Roiste, T Clancy, F Lardner; P Murphy, J O’Brien; D Daly, G O’Callaghan, E Healy; B Twomey, S Aherne, D Lardner.

Subs: A Aherne for E Healy (44), B Keohane for S Aherne ( 51), M Brennan for G O’Callaghan (55).

BALLINORA: A McAllen, A Laverty, C O’Flynn, T Forde; D Dineen, M Lordan, C O’Donoghue; S Kingston, J Lordan; M O’Brien, I Quirke, L Lyons; M Quirke, R Quirke, K Werner.

Subs: S O’Neill for L Lyons (35), J Wycherley for C O’Donoghue (38), J O’Regan for K Werner (56).

Referee: Wayne King (Banteer).