Ballinora secure Intermediate A final spot defeating Kilmurry in thrilling encounter

FINAL BOOKED: Ballinora's Neil Lordan bursts away from Kilmurrys' Denis O'Mullane. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Cork Intermediate A Football Championship semi-final: Ballinora 2-17 (1-1-15) Kilmurry 1-16 (1-3-10) 

In Ovens on Sunday, Ballinora tore up the script. Four points to the good at the close, they outgunned neighbours and last year’s Premier Junior champions Kilmurry to reach the Intermediate A football final – and there was nothing fluky about it.

When the whistle went, disbelief spilled into joy. Ivan Quirke sank to his knees. Around him, teammates and mentors embraced one another.

But for all the talk of underdogs, they were the more convincing football team – sharper in thought, cleaner in touch. Kilmurry were not bad; this was Ballinora at their very best.

The first half was football at full tilt. Both teams shot the lights out, Kilmurry taking a 1-10 to 1-9 lead to the break and marginally worse off on the wide count, three to one. Only two of the opening half’s scores came from placed balls – it was as open and expressive as the game allows.

When Denis O’Mullane clipped over under pressure in the 41st minute, it was the first score since the interval. But that two-point cushion didn’t last. A Kevin Werner free and a Neil Lordan two-pointer swung momentum Ballinora’s way by the 44th minute – their first lead since the sixth.

Ruadhán Ó Currain’s free and a neatly-worked Liam Wall effort restored Kilmurry’s edge, but six minutes later Ballinora hit the front again. They would not be led after that.

A quick break – Mark O’Brien to James Byrne to Shane Kingston – opened the space, and Kingston’s laser of a pass sent Michael Quirke racing clear. Quirke’s shot looked to be sailing over until it began to dip and drop, sneaking under the bar and over Jason McDonnell’s head, 2-12 to 1-13.

Kilmurry clawed it back to a single point as normal time expired, but Ballinora’s finish was fearless. Ivan Quirke clipped one over and wheeled away with a finger in the air; O’Brien fisted over seconds later.

Laurence Asling teed up Max O’Leary for a Kilmurry reply, but O’Brien answered again. Then, in the 64th minute, Darragh Holmes won the next kick-out, sent Michael Quirke charging through, and the latter sealed it with a white flag.

It was a conclusion that seemed to shock Ballinora more than anyone, but they earned every inch of it. Their aerial strength on kick-outs was relentless, their work-rate collective, their spread remarkable – ten different scorers in all.

The teams had been tightly matched until the start of the second quarter.

James O’Mullane tried to pick out Liam Wall, Neil Lordan surged in to intercept, but lost control. Wall recovered the ball and though his shot was saved, Ó Currain was there to knock home the rebound. The second of Denis O’Mullane’s three two-pointers in the first half left Kilmurry 1-6 to 0-3 ahead after 16 minutes.

But you cannot fault the Cork senior. Lordan was immense at the back. His response to conceding the goal was to kick 0-3 himself and make a string of vital interceptions, including a brilliant block on Ó Currain to deny a second goal in the 57th minute.

Six behind, Ballinora closed out the half in style, kicking five of the next six points, Lordan and Kingston with the pick of those scores. Kilmurry had got the margin back to five before Ballinora broke through for their first goal.

Neil Lordan with the initial ball, Quirke’s clever pass, and O’Brien’s crisp finish. When Werner converted Ballinora’s first free in the 29th minute to take their tally to 1-9, he became their first repeat scorer. They were flying, and they wouldn’t go away.

They proved it again and again – and when the final whistle came, the roar was one of release, of belief confirmed.

Ballinora are into the county final against Ilen Rovers. Nobody can say they don’t belong there.

Scorers for Ballinora: M Quirke 1-2, M O’Brien 1-2, K Werner 0-3 (2 f), N Lordan 0-3 (1 tpf), I Quirke 0-2, R Quirke 0-1 (f), S Kingston 0-1, L Lyons 0-1, D Holmes 0-1, J Byrne 0-1.

Scorers for Kilmurry: D O’Mullane 0-7 (3 tp), R Ó Currain 1-5 (0-3 f), L Wall 0-1, John O’Mullane 0-1, L Asling 0-1, M O’Leary 0-1.

BALLINORA: A McAllen; A Laverty, N Lordan, C O’Flynn; J Byrne, S Kingston, D Dineen; J Lordan (c), D Holmes; M Quirke, I Quirke, M O’Brien; L Lyons, R Quirke, K Werner.

Subs: T Burns for Lyons (39), J Keohane for Werner (55), I Wycherley for J Lordan (59 inj), A O’Sullivan for R Quirke (60+2).

KILMURRY: J McDonnell; B Hinchion, W Ronan (c), E Keane; A Asling, K Kelleher, T Collins; John O’Mullane, James O’Mullane; R Duggan, L Asling, L Wall; S O’Leary, R Ó Currain, D O’Mullane.

Subs: M O’Leary for John O’Mullane (HT inj), J McGinn for Wall (49), Wall for Duggan (58).

Referee: J Bermingham (Bride Rovers)