Cashman switch swings it Kilbrittain’s way

They battled deep into the Brinny darkness in miserable conditions on Saturday night, but, in the end, Kilbrittain proved extra special in this compelling Cork Premier IHC opening round contest, leaving Ballincollig to face a backdoor battle with Watergrasshill.

It was probably cruel luck on Ballincollig, who owned the opening half and could have had two goals in the second-half, Ian Coughlan and Ciarán O’Sullivan missing sitters. But they had to rely on some generous injury time from referee Colm Lyons for O’Sullivan’s last gasp 65th minute equalising free after Alan Donovan missed an earlier chance to tie up the scores.

The master stroke for Kilbrittain was the switching of Ross Cashman to midfield to partner David McSweeney and Vincent O’Brien to centre-back on the resumption, for despite being outplayed in that opening half, 0-7 to 0-3, Cashman turned on the power with some probing long runs and skilful play in the testing conditions. Indeed Ballincollig were held to just three second-half points, all frees, and just barely survived.