Danny Miskella inspires Ballincollig to first Premier 1 MFC title in 13 years

Miskella scored four points in a low scoring game. 

Ballincollig players celebrate after defeating Mallow in the Rebel Óg Premier 1 MFC final at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Rebel Óg Premier 1 MFC final: Ballincollig 0-10 Mallow 0-7 

Cork minor Danny Miskella inspired Ballincollig to their second Rebel Óg Premier 1 minor football championship title in Páirc Uí Rinn on Monday night, their first since 2011. Registering four points from open play in a low-scoring contest was always going to be decisive and the Village number 11 was the best on view.

The winners also cleared their lines in the dying moments when a dangerous high ball was lobbed in around the goalmouth, the clearance proved to be the final act in a game they led from the 19th minute.

Mallow, who were seeking a first title, only scored twice from open play.

Noted too was the fact that Ballincollig had 50 players listed on the match programme, among them in the subs list was their joint-captain Ben O’Connell after he missed out due to injury.

It was Mallow’s Ben O’Shea who tapped over a free to get proceedings underway in the third minute but it would be almost half an hour before they would raise a flag again.

Meanwhile, Miskella drew Ballincollig level six minutes later when his blistering shot skimmed over Devin Frey’s crossbar.

There was a wait of 10 minutes for the next flag, it came from the Village’s wing-back Cillian Power.

MAIN MAN: Ballincollig's Danny Miskella solo's between Mallow's Paddy Murphy and John Murphy during the Rebel Óg Premier 1 MFC final at Páirc Uí Rinn. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Ballincollig drove on as Miskella landed one from play when he took a returning pass from his quick free, 0-3 to 0-1, in the 20th minute.

A placed ball by Cian Ahern after Miskella was fouled, for which Mallow centre-back Gearóid Daly picked up a yellow card three minutes from half time - stretched the lead further.

An injury time Mallow point from Andy Hourigan, put through by O’Shea, left the interval score four points to two in favour of Ballincollig.

Two early scores in the second half from Charlie Murphy and Miskella were negated by a pair of Cathal Mullins frees from the right flank, 0-6 to 0-4, after 45 minutes.

Ballincollig found an extra gear midway through the half and significantly fired over three unanswered points. An Ahern free started the run of white flags and a nice move involving Miskella and Cian O’Connor ended with a score from sub Jack Murray.

Six minutes from time, Miskella landed his fourth of the night to move them five to the good, 0-9 to 0-4.

Defensively they were well on top too. Mallow weren’t finished just yet though.

Points from O’Shea (free), Hourigan and Mullins (free) left it a two-point match in stoppage.

Ballincollig, who had qualified for the final following a dramatic penalty shoot-out with St Finbarr’s, sealed the win with a 62nd minute point from midfielder George Howard.

Scorers for Ballincollig: D Miskella (0-4), C Ahern (0-2 frees), C Power, C Murphy, J Murray and G Howard (0-1 each).

Scorers for Mallow: C Mullins (0-3 frees), B O’Shea (frees) and A Hourigan (0-2 each).

BALLINCOLLIG: M Murray; D Lee, P Rose, E Donovan; C Power, T Morgan, C O’Connor; K O’Leary, G Howard; D O’Leary (J-Capt), C Ahern, C Summers; D Miskella, C Murphy, S Rue O’Sullivan.

Subs: J Murray for C Summers (37), P McCarthy for C Murphy (61).

MALLOW: D Frey; D Kingston, E Sheehan, P Murphy; E Walsh, G Daly, P Britton (Capt); T Kiely, J Murphy; L Buckley, J Roche, A Murphy; B O’Shea, A Hourigan, C Mullins.

Subs: B Noonan for J Roche, R McAuliffe for A Hourigan (both 36), E Murphy for P Murphy (46 inj), A Hourigan for B Noonan (53).

Referee: Cormac Dineen (Douglas).