O’Connor’s forward thinking sees Erin’s Own shade Ballinhassig in replay
In a game that never really sprang to life, it was Erin’s Own’s greater craft that saw them make the correct decisions at the right time on the field. In the drawn game Fintan O’ Leary had caused consternation in the Erin’s Own defence with two late goals but he could not rework the oracle on this occasion.
Playing against the freshening breeze in the opening half Ballinhassig looked marginally the livelier side and led 0-6 to 0-5 ahead at the short whistle.
The improvement that Erin’s Own badly needed came almost immediately on the resumption.
Five minutes after the break Sean Kelly gave Erin’s Own the lead and they would never be pegged back again. Though Declan O’Sullivan posted a marvellous point, again from the right touchline, it was noticeable that the tide had turned. Ronan O’Carroll grabbed a point from play, then grabbed a ball in the centre and placed it through for Cian O’Connor to smash to the net.
Four points ahead in a low scoring game the advantage clearly lay with the former champions. It would probably take a goal to rescue it for Ballinhassig and then late on Fintan O’Leary made his appearance on the edge of the square but could not find a goal chance on this day.
Scorers for Erin’s Own: E. Murphy 0-5 (0-2 frees, 0-3 ‘65’s), C. O’ Connor 1-1, M. O’Connor 0-3, S. Kelly, R. O’Carroll, and K. Murphy (free) 0- 1each
Ballinhassig: D. O’Sullivan 0-9 (0-6 frees), F. O’ Leary and P. O’ Sullivan 0-2 each.
EIRE ÓG powered their way past Bandon – 2-10 to 0-10 – in Cloughduv last evening to secure their passage to round three of the Evening Echo Cork County IHC while last season’s beaten finalists Bandon will now come up against Delanys in round two.
Scorers for Eire Óg: J Dineen 0-6, K Hallissey 1-2, D O’Herlihy 1-0, T O’Leary and J Crowley 0-1 each.
Scorers for Bandon: D Crowley 0-5 (0-3 frees, 0-2 65m), D Lucey, R Crowley R Payne (free), D O’Donoghue and E O’Donovan 0-1 each.
DRIPSEY fashioned a remarkable 1-10 to 0-11 victory over Kanturk last night in the opening round of the Cork County IHC at Ballyclough.
Having led from the opening minute, last year’s county, Munster, and All-Ireland champions were hugely determined to keep up a winning streak that now stretches back more than 12 months.
There was never more than two points between the teams at any stage, and when Kanturk drew level in the first minute of injury time, it looked as if both sides would have to come back again.
However, deep in stoppage time with the sides still dead-locked, Diarmuid O’Riordan landed two excellent frees to propel them into the third round while Kanturk, twice semi-finalists, must now go through the back door.
Scorers for Dripsey: D O’Riordan 0-6 (0-5f), M O’Sullivan 1-0, D O’Sullivan 0-2, D Foley, D Buckley (0-1) each.
Kanturk: L McLoughlin 0-6 (0-6f), D Duane 0-2 (0-1f), J Healy, A Walsh (0-1 sideline), W Murphy (0-1) each.
