Ballincollig secure historic first title

Ballincollig 1-12 Fr O’Neill’s 0-08

A powerful second-half performance saw them overturn a two point half-time deficit to eventually dethrone holders Fr O’Neill’s.

O’Neill’s, backed by the wind, had the better of the early exchanges with Joe Millerick and Paudie McMahon helping them into a 0-7 to 0-5 interval lead. However, Ballincollig resumed in determined mood and were on equal terms by the three-quarter mark. Man of the match Cian Dorgan, Stephen Bunyan and Diarmuid McDonnell pushed them 0-10 to 0-8 as the game petered out.

However, they finished off in style. Solid defending ensured a clean sheet for Adam Buckley. Then, with the momentum with the mid-Cork side, they pressed for home with Dorgan expertly converting a pair of frees.

To polish off a wonderful display, Bunyan rattled the roof of the net two minutes into stoppage time. A proud Mark Prendergast collected the silverware amid wild celebrations.

Scorers for Ballincollig: C Dorgan 0-7 (0-6 frees), S Bunyan 1-1, D McDonnell 0-2, S Coughlan and C O’Donovan (free) 0-1 each.

Scorers for Fr O’Neill’s: P McMahon 0-4 (frees), K Hegarty (frees) and J Millerick (0-1 free) 0-2 each.

BALLINCOLLIG: A Buckley; P O’Neill, K O’Sullivan, D Burns; D McDonnell, B O’Halloran, M Prendergast; C Dorgan, S Murphy; S Coughlan, M O’Leary, A O’Donovan; C O’Donovan, E O’Donoghue, S Bunyan.

Subs: W Greene for A O’Donovan (63).

FR O’NEILL’S: E O’Neill; T Millerick, A Kenneally, M Motherway; W Lane, M O’Keeffe, K Hegarty; A McAvoy, J Millerick; K O’Sullivan, D Sexton, P McMahon; D O’Driscoll, D Dalton, B Dunne.

Subs: S Lee for K O’Sullivan (46).

Referee: S Collins (Carrigaline).