Cork keeper Pa Collins has game to remember as Ballinhassig win lively derby
Colm Coleman, Ballymartle, stops the Ballinhassig shot at goal under pressure from Evan Cullinane. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
A TALE of two goalkeepers in this lively South East derby in Ballygarvan yesterday as Ballinhassig summoned on all their resolve to muster an exciting seven points victory over Ballymartle to keep their Co-OP Superstores Premier IHC hopes alive after their opening round defeat by Dungourney.
For Ballinhassig and Cork goalkeeper Patrick Collins it was a game he will remember - 1-2 from puckouts - his 35th minute puckouts fumbled over the line by Ballymartle keeper Dan O’Mahon. And it was another mistake by the unlucky O'Mahony two minutes earlier for Ballinhassig’s opening goal when he let an Adam OSullivan sideline cut bounce into the net. Two goals that gave the winners the impetus to win the game.
In truth, Ballymartle’s opening half lead of 2-11 to 0-12 looked rocky owing to the strength of the driving wind and those two disastrous goals proved to be fatal.
Ballinhassig boss Peter Brennan was a happy camper afterwards. “We were a bit too complacent the last day against Dungourney and we had to get that out of our system today, it was win or bust. The wind was a major factor in the game and I felt all the hard work in the first half paid off for us.
“The players were up for this one, no question, it was a local derby, and although we have not met in championship action for a very long time we wanted to win and wanted it badly. We retained the ball well and when we bounced back after their quick fire goal it was very pleasing. Great win for us, this is our bread and butter and where we want to be.”
Ballymartle did get off do a great start though, a goal after 20 seconds from full-forward Cillian Lordan, set up by Darren McCarthy, but Ballinhassig were mentally strong for this one and bounced back with three fine points, two from Evan Cullinane and another from Charlie Grainger and we’re good value for their 0-8 to 1-4 opening quarter lead.
Ballymartle were up for the fight though, Shane Cummins and John McCarthy firing over points, and when Ryan Deasy set up Lordan for his second goal in the 22nd minute, followed by a second McCarthy point, it wasn’t looking good for Ballinhassig who worked so hard against the driving wind.
And so it proved to be. Those two killer goals followed a second 65 conversion by Ger Collins, who scored nine points, and once they got their noses in front they hit Ballymartle with everything.
Darragh O’Sullivan and his brother Adam were full of running, Eoin Lombard always prominent as Ballinhassig were out to prove this first championship outing between the sides since 1973 was going their way though they still only led by a point, 2-15 to 2-14 entering the final quarter.
But then the killer points, another puckout score from Collins, followed by tasty Michael Collins, Fintan O’Leary, Cullinane and Adam O’Sullivan points and it was all over for Ballymartle.
To their credit, Ballymartle never died, substitute Brian Corry getting a late goal and it will all be down to the final group games in which the losers play Dungourney to see who advances.
G. Collins (0-2 65s, 0-2 frees) 0-9, A. O’Sullivan 1-3, P. Collins (puckouts) 1-2, E. Cullinane 0-4, D. O’Sullivan 0-3, C. Grainger 0-2, M. Collins, F. O’Leary and C. Desmond 0-1 each.
C. Lordan 2-0, D. McCarthy (frees) 0-6, B. Corry 1-0, L. O’Callaghan 0-3, J. McCarthy, F. Desmond 0-2 each, S. Cummins and R. Cahalane 0-1 each.
P. Collins; M. Desmond, K. Maguire, P. O’Leary; J. O’Callaghan, M. Collins, C. Desmond; D. O’Sullivan, E. Lombard; G. Collins, A. O’Sullivan, C. Grainier; E. Cullinane, S. Lombard, B. Lynch.
F. O’Leary for Lynch (37m), M. Collins for O’Callaghan (49m).
D. O’Mahony; C. Coleman, T. J. Murphy, E. O’Leary; R. Deasy, P. Dorney, L. Corry; F. Desmond, S. Dorney; R. Cahalane, S. Cummins, J. McCarthy; D. McCarthy, C. Lordan, L. O’Callaghan.
B. Corry for J. McCarthy (45m), M. Higgins for R. Deasy (49m, R. Stewart for E. O’ Leary (52m), N. Crowley for S. Cummins (54).
Eoin Coleman (Youghal).
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