Duhallow rally to stun Ballincollig

Duhallow 2-8Ballincollig 0-13

Duhallow came from nowhere to fashion an unexpected and exhilarating victory.

It was heartbreak for a Ballincollig side that performed magnificently after a hesitant start and who looked destined to triumph when opening up a seven-point lead in the 37th minute. Struggling alarmingly, Duhallow looked down and out. But, drawing on all their reserves they conclusively proved that a game is never won until the final whistle.

This was a traumatic setback for Ballincollig, but a tremendous shot in the arm for Duhallow who emerged triumphant without ever performing to their normal standards. The seeds of victory were sown by the introduction of inspirational substitutes Denis O’Brien and Mathew Dilworth.

Unable to line out at the start because of a hand injury, O’Brien was thrown in at the deep-end when things were going wrong and he gradually changed the course of the game with a splendid display at centre-back, while Dilworth scored the all-important goal a minute from the end of normal time.

Duhallow got off to a promising start with two points from Donncha O’Connor, one from a free, as Ballincollig, playing two up front, went through a period of unease. Suddenly, however, with wing back Eddie Burke and John Miskella coming to the fore, all the pieces began to fit for Ballincollig.

Miskella, in particular, was an outstanding figure. Operating as a third midfielder, he ran through the heart of the Duhallow defence at every given opportunity and, suddenly, the cracks were evident in the division sides defensive cover.

Podsie O’Mahoney was an influential figure in front of goal. He kicked three spectacular points and Miskella added two as Ballincollig wiped out their opponents early lead and scorched into a 0-8 to 0-2 lead following 13 minutes of superb attacking football.

And, during this vintage period, Ballincollig were desperately unlucky not to have added a goal to their tally when Alan O’Donovan’s shot was cleared off the line by corner-back Dave O’Riordan.

As Duhallow plumbed the depths, Ballincollig shone. In what was a bleak time for Duhallow, O’Connor’s free taking expertise deserted him while stand-in centre-back, Seamus O’Sullivan, billowed wide from a great goal scoring position.

Nothing was going right for Duhallow, but two late points in the first-half from Niall O’Sullivan and Johnny Buckley gave them some hope as they trailed 0-9 to 0-4 at the break.

But, when substitutes Fergal Keohane and Colin Weste, with their first touches, stretched Ballincollig’s lead to seven points after the resumption, the dye looked well and truly cast for Duhallow and Ballincollig, despite losing the services of the injured O’Mahoney, looked odds on to reach the semi-final.

But, with Denis O’Brien and Niall O’Sullivan working their socks off, Duhallow gradually began to regroup as Ballincollig inexplicably went off the boil.

O’Sullivan set up full-forward Billy Dennehy for a life saving goal. Then O’Sullivan and O’Connor kicked over two magnificent points as Duhallow rallied and Ballincollig, now under pressure, fell from grace.

Miskella attempted to steady the ship with a fine score to leave three points between them with 10 minutes remaining. Now, however, Duhallow had seized the initiative.

There was two points between them a minute from the end but, following a great build up featuring O’Brien, O’Connor and midfielder Tomas Dennehy, substitute Dilworth hit a cracking winner.

Niall Cronin added the insurance point and the only reply from a shell-shocked Ballincollig side was a point from Fergal Keohane which proved to be the last kick of what was an unbelievable quarter-final.

Scorers: Duhallow: B. Dennehy 1-0, M. Dilworth 1-0, N. O’Sullivan 0-3, D. O’Connor 0-3 (0-1f), J. Buckley, N. Cronin (0-1 each).

Ballincollig: P. O’Mahoney 0-3, J. Miskella 0-3, F. Keohane 0-2, P. Kelly, B. Cotter, J. Kelly, J. O’Brien, C. West (45) 0-1 each.

DUHALLOW: K. Murphy (Boherbue); P. Gayer (Castlemagner), C. Murphy (Dromtarriff), D. O’Riordan (Kanturk); J. Healy (Ballydesmond), S. O’Sullivan (Dromtarriff), P. O’Leary (Kiskeam); E. O’Mahoney (do), T. Dennehy (do); D. Flynn (Newmarket), N. O’Sullivan (Dromtarriff), N. Cronin (Kiskeam); J. Buckley (Knocknagree), B. Desmond (Kiskeam), D. O’Connor (Ballydesmond),

Subs: D. O’Brien (Newmarket) for O’Mahoney), M. Dilworth (Knocknagree) for Buckley, B. Daly (Newmarket) for Flynn.

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

Subs: F. Keohane for O’Mahoney, C. Weste for O’Donovan.

Referee: G. McSweeney (Glenville).