Nicely balanced Ballinhassig turn on the power

A SHOW of strength from Ballinhassig at Ballygarvan yesterday, their second string proving too strong for Ballymartle’s second side in the teeming rain as they regained the South East J‘A’HC in fine style.

No question these are good times for Ballinhassig hurling. With their senior team now mingling with the big boys and their junior ‘B’ team also in the Carrigdhoun final, this was a huge victory and one achieved with style and know-how.

Ballinhassig had class all over the field yesterday on a splendid Liam McCarthy Park sod that had earlier hosted a junior football clash between Shamrocks and Belgooly. Their meeting with Dungourney next Sunday in the county championship quarter-final should be a tasty affair.

Despite the incessant rain, Ballinhassig stormed into the contest. They were sharp and focused from the off and once Kevin O’Sullivan pointed a free in the third minute they were in control. Live-wire corner-forward Michael Desmond quickly doubled that lead and then added a third point in the seventh minute as Ballymartle struggled big time.

The Ballinhassig half-back line of John O’Sullivan, Jerry Holland and particularly centre-back Michael Higgins, with a man-of-the-match display, were outstanding and with James Finn mopping up everything that did pass, Ballinhassig were always in control.

Then it was the turn of Paul Coomey to show his class. Two terrific points from the wing-forward had his side 0-6 to 0-0 clear after the opening quarter and when he added his third in the 18th minute, Ballymartle were in big trouble.

It took Ballymartle 22 minutes to get on target, a point from Eoin Corry — though Brian Coleman did miss a glorious goal chance early on. The score definitely lifted their spirits, however, for they began to compete now around mid-field where Kevin O’Sullivan and Colin Horgan had been lauding it.

But it was O’Sullivan who had the final say of the half with a splendid point as Ballinhassig led 0-8 to 0-1 at the break.

Any hope of a Ballymartle revival was quickly dashed on the re-start when David Casey and Michael Keohane fired over fine points and despite the rain cascading down it was very evident Ballinhassig were well tuned and enjoying their hurling.

And then the killer goal in the 35th minute. A great ball from Casey was broken down by Donal Lombard and Desmond was in quickly to put the ball in the net.

Not even the move of Brian McCarthy to mid-field at the break could help Ballymartle’s cause and by the end of the third quarter Ballinhassig were coasting when leading 1-13 to 0-4. And Ballymartle were thankful that goalkeeper James Lordan was in form. He made two outstanding point-blank saves from substitute Tim Finn in the final quarter and though both sides did score three points apiece in this period it was always a certainty that Ballinhassig would ultimately be singing in the rain.

Scorers: Ballinhassig: M. Desmond 1-3, P. Coomey 0-4, K. O’Sullivan (0-1 free, 0-1 65), D. Casey 0-3 each, M. Keohane 0-2, B. Duggan 0-1. Ballymartle: B. O’Dwyer (frees) 0-2, E. Corry, F. Murphy, J. Kennedy (65), B. Coleman, J. O’Mahony 0-1 each.

BALLINHASSIG: M. Collins; J. Finn, D. O’Leary, M. Coomey; J. Holland, M. Higgins, J. O’Sullivan; K. O’Sullivan, C. Horgan; P. Coomey, B. Duggan, D. Casey; M. Desmond, D. Lombard, M. Keohane.

Subs: T. Finn for Duggan, B. Cussen for J. Finn, A. Holland for K. O’Sullivan, P. Coleman for Lombard.

BALLYMARTLE: J. Lordan; F. Cummins, D. Lordan, B. McCarthy; M. Tupper, J. Kennedy, D. Edmonds; C. O’Connell, S. Mooney; B. O’Dwyer, J. O’Mahony, E. Corry; M. Tobin, B. Coleman, E. Burke.

Subs: J. Coleman for Burke, F. Murphy for Tobin, N. Deasy for Mooney, A. Looney for O’Connell, R. O’Brien for Corry.

Referee: G. Harrington (Carrigaline).