Carrigaline crank up the second-half style to breeze past Ballinhassig

Carrig set up an intriguing semi-final clash with Ballincollig in the Cork Premier IHC

Evan Cullinane, Ballinhassig, gets his shot a goal away under pressure from Simon O'Brien, Carrigaline. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

Cork Premier IHC quarter-final: Carrigaline 1-26 Ballinhassig 1-19 

RAZOR sharp Carrigaline took a big step towards Cork Premier IHC glory in Riverstick on Saturday, turning on the style in a free-flowing second half to brush Ballinhassig aside and set up an intriguing semi-final clash with Ballincollig.

For Ballinhassig 12 wides was too much of an obstacle to overcome and they certainly missed the scoring power of suspended shooter Ger Collins. But Carrigaline were immense in that cracking second half, scoring 15 points, with Brian Kelleher hitting 10 points overall and David Drake, David Griffin, Eanna Desmond and Kevin Kavanagh all in top-class form.

Carrig boss Eddie Murphy was well pleased. “We were really up for this game bearing in mind we had lost two games. We have beaten the Barr’s and Erin’s Own in winning the league, all good teams, and we trained so hard for this game.

“We were disappointed to lose to Castlemartyr, but they are a very good side. We were determined to win today, we had our homework done on Ballinhassig and we negated their best players. We were conscious of Patrick Collins’ puckouts but we were really for it in the second half. We hooked and blocked with determination and we were the better side.

Ballinhassig's Evan Cullinane with Steven Williamson, Carrigaline. Picture: Jim Coughlan.

“The work we put in this week has been phenomenal, the will to win so evident. This is a very talented team. We are up against it against Ballincollig for the semi-final, we know that. We were short four players today and hopefully they will be back for the semi. This win was huge for the promotion of hurling in the club. Carrigaline don’t have a lot of hurling trophies in the cabinet. It’s football now next week against Bishopstown and hopefully our dual players will come through without injuries.” 

Yet Ballinhassig got the first two points, brothers Adam and Darragh O’Sullivan always in the thick of the action, on target. 

Carrigaline went in front in the fourth minute when David Drake set up Ciaran Kearney for a rather sloppy but important goal and they were never headed subsequently. It was nip and tuck in the opening quarter, the sides level 1-3 to 0-6 with Carrigaline keeper Robert Foster making a fine 13th-minute save from Evan Cullinane and Ballinhassig shooting five wides.

Two Kelleher points soon got Carrigaline’s noses in front and there was never much between the sides in the opening half - Drake having a Carrigaline goal disallowed in the 23rd minute for picking - and that early Kearney goal was the difference between the sides in a lively opening half as the winners led 1-11 to 0-11 at the break.

Rhys McCarthy and Evan Cullinane exchanged points just after the restart but there was far more punch in Carrigaline’s play now as Rob O’Shea, the excellent Griffin and Desmond pushed Carrig on. With Ballinhassig missing far too many chances it was no surprise when the winners led 1-18 to 0-16 after the third quarter.

Kelleher’s accuracy from play and placed balls was always a thorn for Ballinhassig and although Fintan O’Leary kept them afloat with some nice points they found themselves 1-24 to 0-18 behind with five minutes remaining.

In fairness they never gave up, keeper Patrick Collins had a free chance taken off the line by a solid Carrigaline defence and his rebound shot was also saved.

Darragh O’Sullivan did have the ball in the net from a free in the 59th minute but Carrigaline were always comfortable and will be in good stead for Ballincollig with some injured players ready for semi-final action.

Scorers for Carrigaline: B. Kelleher 0-10 (0-5 frees), D. Drake 0-4, C. Kearney 1-1, R. McCarthy and D. Griffin 0-3 each, E. Desmond and R. O’Shea 0-2 each, K. Kavanagh 0-1.

Ballinhassig scorers: D. O’Sullivan 1-6 (0-3 frees, 1-0 pen, 0-1 65), F. O’Leary 0-5, A. O’Sullivan 0-4 each, E. Cullinane 0-2, B. Lynch, J. Grainger 0-1 each.

CARRIGALINE: R. Foster; D. King, S. Williamson, D. Stack; K. Kavanagh, D. Griffin, C. Vaughan; R. Kelleher, C. Barry; R. McCarthy, E. Desmond, R. O’Shea; C. Kearney, D. Drake, B. Kelleher.

Sub: F. O’Connell for Vaughan (42m).

BALLINHASSIG: P. Collins; M. Desmond, K. Maguire, P. O’Leary; J. O’Callaghan, M. Collins, C. Desmond; D. O’Sullivan, E. Lombard; C. Grainger, A. O’Sullivan, B. Lynch; F. O’Leary, J. Grainger, E. Cullinane.

Subs: D. O’Donovan for J. Grainger (41m), S. Lombard for Lynch (48m), S. O’Neill for C. Grainger (63 m).

Referee: Mark Maher (St Finbarr’s).