Powerful Ballincollig finally take route one

They may have grown accustomed to journeying the backdoor route in the Cork SFC in recent seasons but Ballincollig passed their opening assignment of this year’s championship in powerful fashion at Dunmanway on Saturday night.

For the first time since 2007, Ballincollig triumphed at the opening round stage and did so in style against an Ilen Rovers side that could not halt the onslaught of pressure from their opponents in the closing stages.

Ballincollig were full value for their 0-8 to 0-5 lead in the 40th minute but there was a hint that Ilen could mount a revival and the game remained interesting as a consequence. Yet Ballincollig upped the intensity in the last quarter, pouring forward in numbers and cutting apart the Ilen Rovers rearguard to register 1-7 without reply.