Cork SAHC: Eugene O'Leary lands the blow that saves Ballyhea and sinks Fermoy
Ballyhea's Tom Hanley goes high with Fermoy's Brian O'Sullivan during the Co-Op Superstores Senior A HC relegation decider at Kildorrery. Picture: Eddie O'Hare
One goal in this relegation decider at Kildorrery. That one goal proved the difference between Senior A survival and the trapdoor.
Eugene O'Leary's 58th-minute finish, arriving immediately after Fermoy had cut the deficit to two, preserved Ballyhea's Senior A status and brought to an end their Avondhu rivals' seven-year residency in the grade. Fermoy will play in the Premier Intermediate HC in 2027.
The margin at the finish read five, but that did no justice to Fermoy’s efforts. It was a ferocious battle between the north Cork sides from start to finish. A physical one at that, teetering on the edge of legality on several occasions.
When Fionn Lardner slotted a 57th-minute free to leave it 0-16 to 0-14, the pursuing side were as close as they'd been at any stage of the second period, and the Ballyhea lead which had stood at six on 26 minutes suddenly looked very, very vulnerable.
But Ballyhea’s response was immediate, and incisive.
Forty-four seconds after Lardner’s point, Ballyhea hit back. John Morrissey popped a beautiful short pass over a couple of Fermoy heads, and O’Leary caught it and thundered towards goal. James Molloy – the only black and amber defender in his way – was quickly shaken off. O’Leary lashed it to the far corner.
Hammer, nail, coffin.
O’Leary took the long way around the goal in celebration; Ballyhea went into raptures.
Fermoy fought desperately, to their credit. And they could certainly feel aggrieved by some of the decision-making. Their senior status hung by a thread, and they pressed hard. A close-range free offered a sliver of hope, but Fionn Lardner’s goal attempt went over the bar.
Then, in the 64th minute, Maurice O’Sullivan cut what sliver remained of that Fermoy thread with another Ballyhea white flag.
Ballyhea’s first-half blueprint worked a treat. A double sweeper act caused their opponents early problems, and Fermoy pushed one up to create a four-man half-forward line. But, by the time they got to grips with Ballyhea’s approach, they trailed 0-6 to 0-2 after 15 minutes.
By the 26th minute, that Ballyhea lead was six, 0-10 to 0-4. Tom Hanley had been a nuisance for Fermoy any time he had possession. Hanley would add a sideline cut to take his tally to four in the 29th minute, and Ballyhea would lead 0-12 to 0-7 at the break.
But no such Ballyhea control would be found in the latter half. Fermoy tied Hanley up, and sent Pádraig De Róiste forward. Five of the first seven points would come Fermoy’s way, and suddenly they were back in with a chance.
Kieran Morrisson was flying. Both during the first half in the half-forward line quartet, and again in the second when his running from deep was influential and he slotted over twice from play.
Score by score, Fermoy worked their way back into this one. They got themselves within reach of survival, threatening to claw back and draw level. But, O’Leary’s goal would deliver the killer blow and send Fermoy packing.
P Daly 0-7 (0-5 f, 0-1 65), T Hanley 0-4 (0-1 sdl), E O’Leary 1-0, M O’Sullivan, J Morrissey 0-2 each, C Cox, K Morrissey 0-1 each.
F Lardner 0-9 f, K Morrisson 0-3, S Aherne, D Lardner, P De Róiste 0-1 each.
M Browne; A Barrett, D Crowley; L Hanley; C Cox, J Hennessy, C Crowley, Tiernan Hanley; P Daly, W Carroll; J Morrissey, M O’Sullivan, G Morrissey; Tom Hanley, E O’Leary.
K Morrissey for L Hanley (47-50 temp), K Morrissey for G Morrissey (50), D Copps for Carroll (52).
H Bates; J O’Brien, L Aherne; B O’Sullivan; C Roche, P Murphy, J Molloy; C Fitzpatrick, P De Róiste; D Daly, F Lardner, K Morrisson, M Brennan; S Aherne, D Lardner.
J O’Keeffe for D Lardner (5-6 temp), J O’Keeffe for Fitzpatrick (HT), D O’Callaghan for Brennan (46), B Twomey for Aherne (50).
I McCarthy (Bandon)
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