'I’m so proud of the players, what a great bunch' - 14-man Carrigaline keep double dream alive

The win over Ballincollig books a Cork Premier IHC final date against either Watergrasshill or Mallow.

Sun, 06 Oct, 2024 - 18:30

Bob Lester, Ballygarvan

CO-OP Superstores Cork Premier IHC Semi-Final: Carrigaline 1-19 Ballincollig 1-18

CARRY ON Carrigaline. Tasty hurling at times by the Carrigdhoun men in Ballygarvan but they were pushed to the limit in getting past a battling Ballincollig side before booking a Cork Premier IHC final date against either Watergrasshill or Mallow.

And with their footballers also in the semi-final the double dream is still a reality for Carrigaline though they were under the cosh in the final 12 minutes when David Drake was sent off for a second yellow offence.

In contrast, this result was real heartbreak for Ballincollig, Danny Dwyer’s side also losing to Kilworth by the same margin at the same stage last season.

And how Carrigaline coach Eddie Murphy jumped for joy at the final whistle.

“I thought the final whistle would never come, what a win, down to 14 men, I’m so proud of the team. It puts us in our first ever Premier Intermediare final. What heart we showed against a very good Ballincollig team “We were the better team, tactically we were very good. For the club this is brilliant, for me it’s my fourth final, but for the lads especially it’s a great day, a first final. It's all about the players.

“We beat Ballincollig, a club I know well as my father played with them, we’ve beaten Ballinhassig. We really had to battle hard, I’m so proud of the players, what a great bunch. We are a hardened bunch now, and we have a 50-50 chance in the final and you can’t ask for more than that.”.

Lively start to the contest, Cian O'Driscoll giving Ballincollig an early lead but a couple of points from the excellent Brian Kelleher and another from Rob O’Shea had Carrigaline motoring. Then a Ballincollig goal, Pearse Morris finishing off a Driscoll cross and it was turning into a lively contest. Brian Keating did get a second point for Ballincollig but it was Carrigaline who led 0-7 to 1-2 after the opening quarter.

Then two top quality points from David Griffin and Rhys McCarthy really had Carrigaline flying as they pushed into a 0-12 to 1-2 lead after 23 minutes and it wasn’t looking good for Ballincollig with all the Ballincollig forwards on target in the opening half. In fairness Ballincollig did cling on and mainly through the accuracy of Steve Wills, who fired over 11 points overall they trailed 0-14 to 1-7 at the break.

Ronan Kelleher and McCarthy were always in the thick of the action for Carrigaline and with Griffin sound as a rock in defence it was all going smoothly for Carrigaline, especially when McCarthy hammered home a fine 36th minute goal to really rock Ballincollig. Ballincollig keeper James Lenihan did fire over a long free but the winners were in control leading 1-16 to 1-11 entering the final quarter.

The accuracy of Steve Wills was keeping Ballincollig in touch and when Drake was dismissed in the 47 th minute it gave the losers new impetus. Fenton Dennehy, Colin Moore and Steve Wills made their presence felt and with Carrigaline firing a fist of wides Ballincollig saw their chance. Sub Cian Dorgan almost won the day for Ballincollig when his flick was pushed out for a 65 and then came the referee’s final whistle, Carrigaline edging it and deservedly so.

Scorers for Carrigaline: B. Kelleher 0-9 (0-4 frees), R. McCarthy 1-3, R. O’Shea and C. Kearney 0-2 each, D.Griffin, D. Drake and E. Desmond 0-1 each.

Ballincollig scorers: S. Wills 0-11 (0-8 frees, 0-1 ‘65), P. Morris 1-1, C. O’Driscoll, B. Keating, D. O’Sullivan, C. Dorgan, J. Lenihan (free), J. Dwyer 0-1 each.

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

Subs: F. O'Connell for King (28m).

BALLINCOLLIG: J. Lenihan; R. O’Donovan, C. O’Sullivan, C. Moore; D. O’Sullivan, F. Denny, T. O’Connell; J. Dwyer, B. Coleman; S. Wills, B. Keating, S. O’Neill; A. Wills, P. Morris, C. O’Driscoll.

Subs: C. Dorgan for O’Neill (ht), B. Dore for O’Driscoll (42m), P. Kelly for Coleman (52m), C. Sexton for A. Wills (55m).

Referee: Niall O’Neill (Midleton).