Cork Premier IHC: Ballincollig reach final thanks to crucial second half goals

Adam Wills, Cian Dorgan and Darragh O'Mahony scored second half goals for Ballincollig to hold off Dungourney's wind-assisted fightback. 

Ballincollig defender Brian Dore is chased by Jack Leahy, Dungourney, in the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier IHC semi-final in Caherlag. Pic: Larry Cummins

Cork Premier IHC semi-final: Ballincollig 3-13 Dungourney 0-17

Ballincollig are through to the Co-op Superstores PIHC final following their win over Dungourney at Caherlag on Saturday thanks to three crucial second half goals.

The wind was a major factor and Dungourney opted to play against it in the first half, despite winning the toss.

They had it in the second half and dominated on the point scoring front, but Ballincollig’s ability to get goals at crucial times was enough to see them deservingly through to the final.

Defensively in the second half, David O’Sullivan and James Dwyer led by example, with Tadhg O’Connell also dropping deep to pick up crucial ball.

It took Ballincollig just 40 seconds to take the lead, when Brian Keating scored from a free, with Jack Leahy equalising, from another free.

Bryan Forbes put Dungourney in front, before O’Sullivan had the sides level, from another free.

Another Leahy free made it 0-3 to 0-2 to Dungourney with five minutes gone.

John Ahern increased their lead before Ballincollig started to make the wind count.

Cian O’Driscoll pointed, followed by a Keating free to see the sides level, 0-4 apiece.

Another Keating free put the Village in front, with O’Sullivan scoring from distance to increase their lead.

Two Keating frees made it 0-7 to 0-4 in Ballincollig’s favour after 22 minutes, before Leahy reduced the gap from another free.

Sean O’Neill and Theo Morgan pointed for the Village, with Leahy replying, again from a free, to make it 0-9 to 0-6.

Two late points for Ballincollig, from Darragh O’Mahony and Keating saw them lead by 0-11 to 0-6 at half time and it was a question of would it be enough with the wind now favouring Dungourney.

They got their answer just 15 seconds into the second half when O’Connell played the ball to Adam Wills who burst through the Dungourney defence to find the back of the net.

Dungourney responded and they started to make the wind tell, as they hit eight points without reply.

Two Leahy frees and scores from Niall Motherway reduced the deficit – 1-11 to 0-10.

Leahy was about to take another free when the referee told him he had to leave the pitch for blood reasons. But up stepped Ahern to hit the free instead and he added another to put only two between them.

Points from Shane Hegarty and Mike Leahy had the sides level after 51 minutes, before Wills got Ballincollig’s first point of the second half.

Cillian O’Callaghan replied to level it before Cian Dorgan, just on as a sub, got the crucial goal for Ballincollig, a blow Dungourney never recovered from.

With a minute of normal time left, Darragh O’Mahony got their third to put the result beyond doubt as the Village marched on to the decider.

Scorers for Ballincollig: D O’Mahony, A Wills 1-1 each, C Dorgan 1-0, B Keating 0-5 (5f), S O’Neill, D O’Sullivan (1f) 0-2 each, C O’Driscoll, T Morgan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Dungourney: J Leahy 0-7 (6f), J Ahern (2f) 0-3, N Motherway 0-2, B Forbes, M Leahy, S Hegarty, C O’Callaghan, R Denny 0-1 each.

BALLINCOLLIG: J Linehan; F Denny, J Murray, B Dore; B Coleman, D O’Sullivan, D O’Leary; M Oldham, T Morgan; S O’Neill, T O’Connell, D O’Mahony; A Wills, C O’Driscoll, B Keating.

Subs: J Dwyer for J Murray (ht), C Dorgan for M Oldham (46), P Kelly for D O’Mahony (60), P Morris for A Wills (61).

DUNGOURNEY: P Flynn; J McCarthy, M Leahy, D Healy; R Harney, J Griffin, M McGrath; S Hegarty, C Murphy; N McGrath, J Leahy, B Forbes; N Motherway, J Ahern, C O’Callaghan.

Subs: K Cody for C Murphy (ht), R Denny for N McGrath (46).

Referee: Kevin O’Sullivan, Valley Rovers.