Clon dig deep to foil Ballincollig

NEVER-SAY-DIE Clonakilty were forced to dig deep to prevent Ballincollig fashioning a sweet Evening Echo Cork Co SFC first round victory in Bandon on Saturday.

Four points down with 10 minutes remaining, following a goal by the alert John Miskella, Clon looked in big trouble. But their response was dynamic, years of hard championship graft manifesting itself as they whittled back Ballincollig’s lead to earn a replay they richly deserved.

Both sides used the width of the park well, but, though there was commitment aplenty, it didn’t reflect on the scoreboard. Colm Callanan, always a menace, gave Clon a quick lead with a free but, before the tasty Alan Donovan equalised in the 11th minute, Ballincollig were guilty of some poor finishing.

Brian Cotter missed a good chance; Patrick Kelly was denied a goal by corner-back Donal Lyons; and then John Kelly was thwarted by Clon keeper Eamonn Harte.

Miskella was outstanding in the middle of the park for Ballincollig, but they were made to pay for their missed chances when Denis Murphy and Callanan put Clon ahead 0-3 to 0-1 after the opening quarter.

Big Conor McManus then succeeded in breaking Ballincollig’s midfield grip and Clon should have had goal in the 20th minute when Padraig Griffin’s effort came back off the crossbar. However, the pacy Callanan did stretch Clon’s lead with a free in the 25th minute. Ballincollig switched Podsie O’Mahony and Donovan for the closing minutes of the half and the move worked a treat, for Liam O’Toole and Donovan himself had points to whittle Clon’s lead down to the minimum at the break, 0-4 to 0-3. Liam O’Toole tied up the scores just after the restart and, thanks to converted frees from O’Mahony and John Kelly, Ballincollig jumped into a 0-6 to 0-5 lead by the 42nd minute.

But Clon, such great battlers, responded quickly. The advent of Conrad Murphy and Timmy Anglin certainly helped their cause for, with the latter making his big presence felt, points followed from Callanan and Brendan Walsh to power the West Corkmen back in front entering the final quarter, 0-7 to 0-6.

Then Ballincollig put the boot in. Two frees from O’Mahony fired them in front and when Miskella pounced for a 50th minute goal it looked as if Clon would be facing a battle against the losers of the Barr’s and Aghada clash to stay in the championship.

But Clon are eternal battlers and, to their credit, showed why they are among the elite in Cork football. Martin O’Brien popped over a free, Brendan Walsh made it a two point deficit, and, in turn, hurler cum footballer Denis Murphy and Griffin added one apiece and it was honours even.

John Kearney sensibly blew time and, rightfully so, for both sides deserved another day out.

Scorers for Ballincollig; J. Miskella 1-0, P. P. O’Mahony 0-3 (frees), A. Donovan and L. O’Toole 0-2 each, J. Kelly 0-1 (free).

Clonakilty: C. Callanan 0-5 (0-3 frees), D. Murphy, P. Griffin 0-2 each, M. O’Brien (free), B. Walsh 0-1 each.

BALLINCOLLIG: D. Lordan; N. Barry, E. Hegarty, C. Barrett; C. Cronin, S. O’Donoghue, E. Burke; P. Kelly, J. Miskella; B. Cotter, J. O’Brien, P. O’Mahony; J. Kelly, A. Donovan, L. O’Toole.

Subs: F. Keohane for Cotter (29 min), J. P. O’Leary for O’Toole (56 min).

CLONAKILTY: E. Harte; D. Lyons, D. O’Brien, L. Lyons; D. Murphy, F. Coughlan, N. Hayes; C. McManus, N. Griffin; C. O’Donovan, S. Quirke, P. Griffin; C. Callanan, B. Walsh, M. O’Brien.

Subs: C. Murphy for Quirke (ht), T Anglin for Lyons (37 mins), E. O’Brien for M.O’Brien (55).

Referee: J. Kearney (Na Piarsaigh).