Ballinora have aces in Brosnan and Hodge
Twelve months ago in Donoughmore, Killavullen ended Ballinora’s interest in the championship in a one- sided replay.
But there was going to be no repeat on this occasion, as the mid Cork team held sway from start to finish in a disappointing tie.
While the victory will be welcomed by Ballinora, there will be concern in the club about the leg injury to their centre-back Niall Collins, who had to be stretchered off and taken by ambulance to hospital following a 50/50 challenge.
A hard pitch and persistent heavy showers made it difficult for both teams to hold their feet and the game suffered as a consequence. Ballinora played into the wind and struck early with a Michael Murphy point after only a minute.
Murphy led the Ballinora attack well and with Conor Brosnan another key forward, they took a decisive lead midway through the half when Cathal Sheehan set Brosnan up for a splendid goal.
It gave the mid Cork side a 1-2 to 0-2 lead playing into the wind and while Killavullen, who were beaten in last year’s final by neighbours Mallow, recovered well to kick five points without reply, to lead 0-7 to 1-2 at the break, it was never going to be enough.
Early into the second-half play was held up for that injury to Niall Collins and when it resumed seven minutes later Ballinora, with Mick Hodge, Michael Murphy and Gary O’Halloran giving everything to the cause, cut the deficit to the minimum with a Conor Brosnan point.
Killavullen began to struggle all over the field and their play became very rugged.
The dominance of Peter Martin and Ger O’Leary at midfield meant the Ballinora forwards saw a lot of the ball and in one sweeping move, full-back Mick Hodge was on the end of it to first time a splendid goal.
It was all Ballinora from there on with wing-back coming forward to kick a great point; Mick Murphy added two more and Brosnan his second to stretch their lead to two goals after 55 minutes and there was only going to be one winner.
The north Cork side were a huge disappointment and eventually registered their first score of the second half after 28 minutes when John Crowley pointed.
But Ballinora remained firmly in control to reach round three while Killavullen must await the losers of the Clyda/Nemo tie in round two.
Scorers for Ballinora: C. Brosnan 1-2; M. Murphy 0-3; M. Hodge 1-0; G. O’Halloran, E. Lougheed, C. O’Shea 0-1 each.
Killavullen: D. Dorgan 0-4 (frees); J. O’Neill, A. O’Driscoll 0-2 each; J. Coakley, D. Hartnett 0-1 each.
BALLINORA: E. Walsh; Dave O’Neill, M. Hodge, Denis O’Neill; B. Crowley, N. Collins, E. Lougheed; P. Martin, G. O’Leary; C. O’Shea, M. Murphy, A. O’Neill; G. O’Hallioran, C. Brosnan, C. Sheehan.
Subs: L. Hodge for Collins; S. O’Sullivan for B. Crowley; D. O’Hare for A. O’Neill.
KILLAVULLEN: M. Carroll; P. Sheehan, A. Brennan, B. Norris; B. Hayes, J. O’Regan, L. Dorgan; B. O’Driscoll, D. Relihan; I. O’Gorman, J. O’Neill, A. O’Driscoll; D. Dorgan, J. Coakley, E. Linehan.
Subs: D. Hartnett for Brennan; E. O’Connor for Dorgan; T. Foley for O’Gorman.
Referee:J. Dorgan (Nemo Rangers).
