Ballincollig seal derby joy and Barrs clash, Éire Óg into relegation tie

Local bragging rights for Ballincollig in the Cork Premier SFC 

Ballincollig's Luke Fahy tries to get past Éiré Óg's Donnacha Kelly during the McCarthy Insurance Group PSFC tie Picture: David Creedon

Cork Premier SFC Group A: Ballincollig 2-8 Éire Óg 0-7

LOCAL derby, bragging rights and, most importantly, a place in the Cork Premier SAFC quarter-finals at stake. All to play for in Kilmurry and it was Ballincollig who had all the answers, easing past Éire Òg to set up a knockout clash with St Finbarr’s, leaving Éire Òg now facing a relegation battle.

Ballincollig were full of energy from the off, Peadar O’Neill and Sean Kiely missing good chances, but Cian Dorgan finally got them up and running in the seventh minute. He was on target again three minutes later and although goalkeeper Chris Kelly got Éire Ög on the scoreboard with a free in the 12th minute it was Ballincollig who were moving with far more menace.

With Luke Fahy and Frank Down in control in the half backline Ballincollig were far more dangerous and it took a fine save from Kelly to deny Dara Dorgan a goal in the 12th minute as a third Cian Dorgan point earned his side a 0-3 to 0-1 lead alter the opening quarter.

Éire Ög came more into the picture in the second quarter with Dylan Foley getting their second point and Daniel Goulding missing a free Ballincollig continued to make all the running as points from Sean Dore and Down had the winners 0-5 to 0-3 ahead at the break.

Fahy continued to have a big impact for Ballincollig in the second half. A fine point by the Cork defender after the restart was followed by an important goal block at the other end from Colm O’Callaghan and although the Cork midfielder did get Éire Òg’s fourth point in the 38th minute it was all Ballincollig with Cian Dorgan and Fahy missing good chances to stretch Ballincollig lead even further.

Leading 0-7 to 0-4 entering the final quarter the goal Ballincollig deserved finally arrived, great play between Colin Moore and Down in the 46th minute set up corner-forward Sean Kiely and he made no mistake from close range.

Goulding did give Éire Òg a lift with two pointed frees but five minutes from time Ballincollig made it safe, Darragh McCarthy bringing down Sean O’Neill with a goal at his mercy and Dorgan blasting home the penalty to put the seal on an easy Ballincollig victory.

Ballincollig had Darragh O’Mahony sent off for a second yellow late on and Colm Clifford had a late Éire Òg point but they will have to play a lot better to avoid relegation after losing three out of three games.

Scorers for Ballincollig: C Dorgan 1-4 (0-2f, 1-0 pen), S Kiely 1-0, F Down, L Fahy, S Dore, B Keating 0-1 each.

Éire Óg: D Goulding 0-2f, C Kelly (0-1f), C Clifford, C O’Callaghan, D Kelly, D Foley 0-1 each.

BALLINCOLLIG: J Gibbons; S Murphy, L Jennings, C Moore; F Down, L Fahy, JP Murphy; C Dalton, S Dore; S O’Neill, D Dorgan, P O’Neill; S Kiely, D O’Mahony, C Dorgan.

Subs: L O’Connell for Dalton (HT), B Keating for D Dorgan (39), E Cooke for Kiely (56), T O’Connell for O’Neill, B Dore for Murphy (both 58).

ÉIRE ÔG: C Kelly; D Herlihy, M Corkery, C Clifford; M Griffin, C McGoldrick, R O’Toole; D Kelly, C O’Callaghan; J Murphy, R O’Flynn, D McCarthy; J Cooper, D Foley, D Goulding.

Subs: D Dineen for O’Toole , A McCarthy for Murphy (both 39),D Healy for Foley (48), H Murphy for Kelly (48).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).