Subscriber

Cork Premier IHC: Ballincollig book semi-final spot after battling win over Aghabullogue

It was wet and wild as both teams went for it at Ballyanly.

Theo Morgan, Ballincollig puts pressure on Sean Furey, Aghabullogue. Picture: Larry Cummins

Sun, 06 Sep, 2026 - 16:38

Kevin Murphy

Ballincollig 2-17 Aghbullogue 1-16

Ballincollig made it three wins from three to secure a direct passage to the semi final of the Co-Op Superstores Premier IHC after a titanic battle with mid Cork rivals Aghabullogue at Ballyanly.

Both sides had already qualified from the group but securing a last four spot was a prize that both sides went flat out to secure in greasy conditions which made free flowing hurling impossible.

But this was a right battle and Ballincollig’s goalkeeper James Linehan made a couple of magnificent saves and three times Dano Dineen was denied goal chances a in a helter skelter third quarter. In the end, James Dwyer got the crucial second goal for the winners as he kicked the sliotar to the net in a goalmouth scramble after a defensive mix-up from Aghabullogue.

As it happened: Midleton reach Cork Premier SHC semi-final, quarter-finalists decided

Aghabullogue started brightly and opened the scoring from the throw-in with a neat point from Dano Dineen. Ballincollig replied with a ’65 from Stephen Wills who has been in superb form all season. The opening exchanges were physical and two placed efforts from Shane Tarrant edged Aghabullogue in front. Ballincollig hit the front after Adam Wills slipped inside the cover and found debutant Danny Miskella who hit a low shot to the net. Stephen Wills added beauty from play as the game settled down. Aghabullogue got back on level terms after James Lane landed a brace from play. Ballincollig’s Cian O’Driscoll replied with a lovely pair from play to edge his side in front 1-4 to 0-5 after 15 minutes.

But then Aghabullogue grabbed control of this game and landed three points without reply from Odhran O’Connell, Sean Furey and an absolute beauty from Shane Tarrant. As the weather conditions deteriorated Shane Tarrant held his feet and converted a placed effort. Dano Dineen added a brace and all of a sudden it was one-way traffic. A well-worked team move from Aghabullogue resulted in Tarrant finding the net after an excellent crossfield pass from Odhran O’Connell. Crucially for Ballincollig and against the run of play, Stephen Wills snatched a couple of late frees, 1-11 to 1-7 at the break.

On the resumption Ballincollig jumped straight from the blocks and points from Danny Miskella and Adam Wills got them within touching distance. Ballincollig had the momentum now and Stephen Wills landed a beauty from play before converting a placed effort. Aghabullogue’s dangermen Shane Tarrant and Dano Dineen combined superbly but James Linehan made a top-drawer save to stop a certain goal. Moments later Dineen was denied again as a combination of Linehan and David O’Leary managed to smoother out the Aghabullogue forward when a goal looked certain. Ballincollig got back on level terms when James Dwyer landed a superb point, 1-12 apiece after 45 minutes.

The game was really in the melting pot now and the sides exchanges scores down the home straight with Wills and Tarrant coming up with converted frees. Aghabullogue edged in front with a fine point from Dano Dineen with three minutes remaining. But Ballincollig were pressing hard now and James Dwyer went route one when the ball broke around the square and the sliothar skidded to the net. Stephen Wills converted two late frees to cap off a fine individual performance and bring his total for the day to 0-10 points.

Scorers for Ballincollig: S Wills 0-10 (7f, 0-1 ’65), Danny Miskella , J Dwyer 1-1 each, C O’Driscoll, A Wills 0-2 each, M Oldham 0-1.

Scorers for Aghbullogue: S Tarrant 1-6 (6f), D Dineen 0-4, J Lane 0-3, S Furey, J Buckley O ‘O Connell 0-1 each.

Ballincollig: J Linehan; R O’Donovan, F Denny, J Murray; B Dore; D O’Sullivan, , D O’Leary; H Ahearne T Morgan; C O’Driscoll, S Wills, T O’Connell, A Wills, J Dwyer, D Miskella. Subs: C Dalton for H Ahern (45), P Kelly for T O’Connell (55), M Oldham for D Miskella (55), B Coleman for J Murray (55).

Aghbullogue: I Barry Murphy; T Long, C Timmons, TJ Buckley; C Gillespie, P Ring, P O’Sullivan; C Furey, S Furey; S Tarrant, J Foley, D Dineen; J Lane, J Corkery, O O’Connell. Subs: O O’Connell for J Corkery (15, inj), J Buckley for TJ Buckley (38, inj) Referee: W Wallis (Aghada).