’Hassig edge past Courceys in thriller

Ballinhassig 0-16 Courcey Rovers 1-12

Underdogs Ballinhassig overcame the loss of four regulars and some wayward first-half shooting to book their place in the last four.

The Blues and Courceys were level seven times, and the winners had to make a last stand in the closing 10 minutes to win. Ballinhassig can thank the Dineens, Stephen and Darren, who scored 0-13 for their side.

Glenville 0-11 Macroom 0-5

GLENVILLE had too much class for Macroom in this Evening Echo IFC tie in Donoughmore last Saturday. Macroom can point to a three-month delay since their last championship outing, and it must have had an effect, but credit to Glenville for their display. Though the sides were reasonably well matched in the first half, Glenville went up a gear after the break and Macroom could find no answer.

Bishopstown 3-20 Aghabullogue 0-7

Bishopstown made no mistake in this Evening Echo Premier IHC replay at Cloughdubh yesterday. If the city side were unhappy with the prospect of a second outing against Aghabullogue they took full vengeance, leading 2-14 to 0-2 at the break. Graduates of the Town’s underage successes dominated, with Ronan Conway’s display eye-catching eight point haul.

Ballymartle 1-14 Milford 0-16

This Evening Echo IHC quarter-final at Ballyclough yesterday was a rip-roaring contest from start to finish, with a young Milford side taking the battle to Ballymartle from the off.

Ballymartle had to rely on all their nous to edge out the north Cork outfit, with Ger Cummins and Brian Corry the top-scoring heroes. Milford had stars in Mike Morrissey and

Ronan Geary, but Ballymartle helped themselves to decisive scores in first- half injury time which provided them with a platform for victory.

Nemo Rangers 2-16 Éire Óg 2-11

Nemo Rangers overcame a slow start to beat Éire Óg in this Evening Echo IHC quarter-final at Ballygarvan yesterday. Cork senior footballers Alan and Martin Cronin, with new star James Masters, backboned the Capwell club’s victory, but they had to overcome the hammer-blow of a first- minute goal from Vincent Fahy.

Nemo were 1-3 to 0-0 down before they got on the scoresheet, but then Masters began to exert a considerable influence on proceedings; he ended up with 0-10 and was largely responsible for Nemo being only a goal behind at the break.

When the two Cronins struck for a goal apiece midway through the second half Éire Óg found the deficit too much to overcome.

Kilbrittain 1-18 Ballygarvan 1-14

Experience was vital at this Evening Echo IHC tie at Ballinspittle yesterday, with Kilbrittain keeping Ballygarvan at arm’s length in a tough encounter.

Kilbrittain had to play the last 20 minutes with 14 players, but they were impregnable in defence, no matter how hard Ballygarvan tried to break through. With Ross Cashman dominating midfield, their forwards had the ideal platform, and a second-half goal from the evergreen Dan O’Connell was the crucial score, giving them a seven-point lead which Ballygarvan were unable to overcome.

Aghada 0-17 Tracton 0-12

Aghada hit the ground running in this Evening Echo Premier IHC tie at Church Road last Saturday, tearing into a seven-point lead. At half-time the Imokilly outfit were 10 points ahead, 0-13 to 0-3, and Tracton had just one point from play.

However, the south-east side rallied thanks to the likes of Ronan Walsh and Joe Kingston, and there were only four points between them with nine minutes left. Tracton’s spree ended with two missed frees and Aghada got the insurance point from Trevor O’Keeffe, his tenth of the game.

Carrigaline 2-11 Glanmire 3-11

This Evening Echo IFC replay between Carrigaline and Glanmire at Church Road last Saturday was a thriller, with the east Cork club coming out on top.

Carrigaline started very positively and they were six points up early in the second half, but Glanmire rallied strongly after half-time, easily notching 3-7 to edge Carrigaline out of contention.

Their crucial scores were two goals in three minutes from impressive corner-forwards James Murphy and Daniel Molden, which gave them the impetus to hold out for a thoroughly deserved victory.