Clinical Horgan fires Dillons

Brian Dillons 1-16 Ballinhassig 2-6

Full-forward in a first half where he hit 1-7, Horgan operated in a more withdrawn role thereafter and added another 0-5.

However, he was assisted by centre-forward Brian Barrett, whose aerial dominance led to a succession of scores as the troubled Ballinhassig throughout.

Brendan Holland, Ballinhassig’s scorer-in-chief with 1-4, pointed his first inside the opening minute but the wing-forward’s following three pointed frees sandwiched a succession of Dillons scores.

Almost instantly after Holland’s initial effort Thomas Laurence levelled for Dillons. And then Horgan took over, converting three frees, drawing an excellent save from John Coleman and subsequently beating the goalkeeper with a sizzling shot following Barrett’s handpass.

Dillon’s led 1-4 to 0-2 but Horgan was relentless, slamming over four more frees and Keith McCormack’s score padded out their cushion to 1-9 to 0-2 on 23 minutes.

But Ballinhassig then registered 1-2 without reply.

Diarmuid Duggan set-up the unmarked John Mullaney to go one-on-one with Tom Triggs and he slipped the ball under the goalkeeper. Paddy Coleman and Kevin O’Sullivan reduced the deficit but at half-time Dillons led 1-9 to 1-4.

Holland brought Ballinhassig to within three, firing over two frees by the 39th minute, but a superb second point from Laurence stabilised Dillons and after Mullaney’s goal attempt was blocked, Kieran O’Mahony’s unit increased their buffer.

Two frees from Horgan, a missed goalscoring opportunity from Ballinhassig’s Michael Walsh and another score by John Noonan had Dillons 1-13 to 1-6 ahead.

Holland found the net for Ballinhassig but Horgan drilled over three brilliant points to guarantee the victory.

Scorers for Brian Dillons: J Horgan 1-12 (0-9fs), T Laurence 0-2, K McCormack, J Noonan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Ballinhassig: B Holland 1-4 (0-3fs), J Mullaney 1-0, K O’Sullivan, P Coleman 0-1 each.

BRIAN DILLONS: T Triggs; M Carey (capt), D Murphy, M Noonan; D McCormack, M White, D Brosnan; T Laurence, Cian McCarthy; K McCormack, B Barrett, P O’Brien; J Noonan, J Horgan, K Coughlan.

Subs: M Corbett for Coughlan (43).

BALLINHASSIG: J Coleman; J Reardon, B O’Sullivan, P O’Leary; J Holland, P Brennan, S Sheehan; J Crowley (capt), K O’Sullivan; B Holland, J Mullaney, D O’Sullivan; D Dullea, D Duggan, P Coleman.

Subs: S Coleman for Brennan (28), M Walsh for Duggan (44), J O’Callaghan for O’Sullivan (48).

Referee: Eamonn Sheehy (Newcestown).