Ballinhassig book quarters date with Carrigaline after seeing off dogged Kilworth
RED MISSED: Ballinhassig's Ger Collins was sent off and his absence felt late on. Picture: David Creedon
Ballinhassig pulled out all the stops in Castlelyons to reach the Cork Premier IHC quarter finals and a clash with Carrigaline but not without a real fight from Kilworth who were well up for this winner-takes-all battle but fell away in the closing stages despite having an extra man.
With the four teams in the group all on two points there was no holding back in this one. Kilworth have had the Indian sign on the south east men over the last few seasons. Despite a great start when they hit four points in the first five minutes - two from Cormac Donnellan and one apiece from Michael Sheehan and Will Condon, with in-form Patrick Collins having to make a fine save to deny Noel McNamara a goal - they were unable to keep up the momentum and Ballinhassig took full advantage.
Ballinhassig boss Peter Brennan was understandably a happy camper afterwards.Â
“Yes it was terrific, but to lose our free taker Ger [Collins] to a red card was scary. Even when the game was over it felt scary. But, fair play to the team, they lifted their game all over the field afterwards and their use of the ball was just outstanding," he said.
“We had a hard shift in the first half playing against that strong breeze. As you know, Kilworth have been a bogey side for us but the way the players stood up today I am just delighted.
“The work rate today with 14 players was massive, all 20 players contributed, this win will drive us on now and hopefully we can improve even more for our quarter final clash."
Ballinhassig were soon level playing against the still breeze, Ger Collins, later sent off for a 42nd minute for a pull on Jeremy Saich, pointing a free and then firing home a penalty after Adam O’Sullivan was upended and on a super new Castlelyons pitch both sides battled hard for victory.
It was 1-4 to 0-6 after the opening quarter and thanks to Collins’ accurate shooting, another fine save by Collins in the 22nd minute to deny Michael Sheehan and Darragh O’Sullivan’s skilful play at midfield, scoring three tasty points, Ballinhassig had their noses in front at the break 1-10 to 0-12.
Ballinhassig were much improved in the second half, Brian Lynch firing over four nice points but they could not pull away from a tenacious Kilworth side and it looked even gloomier for the winners in the 42nd minute when free taker Ger Collins was given a straight red by referee Willie Wallace.
Leading 1-16 to 0-17 entering the final quarter, after Patrick Collins had made another fine save from Noel McNamara, it was looking gloomy for Ballinhassig but they produced a golden final 10 minutes to stun Kilworth with sub Fintan O’Leary firing in a 57th minute goal followed by a point to atone for many defeats by the same opposition over the years.
G. Collins 1-7 (0-4 frees), F. O’Leary 1-1, B. Lynch 0-5, D. O’Sullivan (0-1 free) 0-4, P. Collins 0-2 (0-1 free), E. Cullinane, E. Lombard, A. O’Sullivan, C. Grainger, C. Desmond and S. O’Neill 0-1 each.
N. McNamara 0-7 (0-5 frees), M. Sheehan 0-5 (0-3 frees), C. Donnellan and E. Carey (0-1 free) 0-3 each, W. Condon, J. Saich and L. Whelan 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. Kirby, A. O’Sullivan, C. Grainger; B. Lynch, S. Lombard, E. Cullinane.
D. O’Donovan for O’Callaghan (ht), F. O’Leary for Lombard (46m), S. O’Neill for Cullinane (52m), J. Grainger for A. O’Sullivan (54m), J. Lyme for Desmond (57m).
K. Heggevit; M. Bowen, K. Lane, A. O’Hara; L. Carey, N. Byrne, D. Twomey; B. Sheehan, J. Saich; L. Coffey, L. Whelan, W. Condon; N. McNamara, C. Donellan, M. Sheehan.
E. Carey for Saich (42m).
Willie Wallis (Aghada).
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