Coughlan steals the show for Ballymartle

THE final scoreline in this Evening Echo Cork Co IHC final at Páirc Uí Chaoimh yesterday doesn’t do justice to Ballymartle, who won this south east decider far easier than the four points would suggest.

Consider the facts: all but one point of Ballymartle’s tally came from play; they hit 17 wides over the hour and but for some magnificent goalkeeping by Carrigaline’s Eoin O’Sullivan, would have won more convincingly.

As a result of their victory — their first adult county since the junior success in 1986 — the Riverstick club now move up to the premier grade and should acquit themselves well.

In a marvellous team performance, Ballymartle had many stars. Keith Coleman was unbeatable at full-back, as were Dan Dwyer, who scored two excellent points, Patrick Dwyer and Noel Sheehan in the half-backline.

Without ever reaching the heights of this year’s All-Ireland intermediate final, Ruairi Dwyer was the dominant midfielder; while in attack his brother Barry had one of those days when everything he did was superb and his contribution of six points was testament to his brilliance.

Long serving Ger Cummins showed his vast experience with 1-2, but it was another veteran Paul Coughlan who stole the show up front. Not named on the starting 15 in the programme for tactical reasons Coughlan’s contribution was immense.

Apart from scoring five points, he set up several other scores for team-mates and it didn’t come as any surprise when he was named “Man of the Match”. County minor Brian Corry also made a telling impression knocking over three points while long serving Anthony McCarthy played his part before running out of legs.

Carrig will be disappointed at yet another county final failure – they lost the football a couple of years ago – but they can have few complaints on this occasion. They didn’t have enough quality players to trouble their opponents particularly in attack where Elliott O’Keeffe, Wesley O’Brien, Nicholas Murphy when moved in there, and Stephen Corcoran posed any real danger.

They played second fiddle at midfield, while in defence goalkeeper Eoin O’Sullivan was magnificent, ably assisted by Geoff Dillon, Ger Harrington and Conor Hurley.

The tone of this game was set 30 seconds after the start when Carrig’s Peter Murphy was flattened going through but wasn’t awarded a free. The referee, who had a great match in his first county final, deemed it fair.

It took two minutes for Murphy to and he never made any impact after that challenge. There was little to choose between the teams in the early minutes and they were level twice before Ball’s greater stickwork began to tell.

Barry Dwyer sparkled at wing forward and he knocked over three points from play as the pressure began to mount of the Carrig defence. Goalkeeper Eoin O’Sullivan made the first of his many fine saves when he denied Paul Coughlan a goal from five metres out and he made a double save minutes later, first from Shane Coleman and Coughlan again as Ballymartle began to tighten the screw.

However, for all their territorial advantage the Riverstick side had little to show for it but after leading 0-6 to 0-4, the pressure finally told when Ger Cummins shot crept under the body of O’Sullivan for a rather fortuitous goal which helped his side into a 1-10 to 0-9 half time lead.

Carrig rung the changes for the second-half introducing three new players but it mattered little as Ballymartle stepped up a couple of gears and rattled over three points in a row, two by the brilliant Paul Coughlan to stretch their lead to seven after 34 minutes. It should have been but Ger Cummins blazed wide with the ‘keeper to beat.

Only the accuracy of Stephen Corcoran from frees prevented Carrig from being completely over-run. And they needed a goal if they were to stay in touch. Seven points down and the game slipping away, they moved Nicholas Murphy to full forward where he was far more effective and gave his side some hope with a goal which left four points between the sides.

Ballymartle began to live on their nerves somewhat as Carrig came in search of another. Murphy had a second but it was rightly ruled out for a square infringement before Ger Cummins eased the pressure with a point and from there to the finish there was only going to be one result as Cummins and Barry Dwyer (2) completed the scoring for the Riverstick side who gave full vent to their feeling at the final whistle.

Scorers: Ballymartle: B. Dwyer 0-6 (0-1 free); P. Coughlan 0-5; G. Cummins 1-2; B. Corry 0-3; D. Dwyer, R. Dwyer 0-2 each; A. McCarthy, S. Coleman, J. Kelly 0-1 each. Carrigaline: S. Corcoran 0-9 (0-8 frees); N. Murphy 1-3; W. O’Brien, E. O’Keeffe 0-2 each; J. Moran, P.Foster, A. Kelly 0-1 each.

BALLYMARTLE: D. McCarthy; S. O’Connell, K. Coleman, D. Coleman; D. Dwyer, P. Dwyer, N. Sheehan; R. Dwyer, J. Kelly; B. Dwyer, A. McCarthy, B. Corry; S. Coleman, G. Cummins, P. Coughlan.

Subs: M. O’Mahony for A. McCarthy; K. Lordan for S. Coleman; C. Sheehan for J. Kelly.

CARRIGALINE: E. O’Sullivan; A. O’Keeffe, G. Harrington, G. Dillon; J. Moran, C. Hurley, V. Cooney; N. Murphy, A. Kelly; E. O’Keeffe, P. Murphy, T. Murphy; W. O’Brien, P. Foster, S. Corcoran.

Subs: S. O’Brien for Foster; R. Keohane for Kelly; D. Cowhig for Cooney; B. O’Driscoll for T. Murphy; P. Ronayne for O’Keeffe.

Referee: C. Lyons (Nemo Rangers).