Premier 1 MFC semi-final: Ballincollig keep three-in-a-row dream alive with win over Clonakilty

Trailing by 2-4 to 0-7 at half-time, the holders stepped it up in the second half to secure a final showdown with Carrigaline.

Ballincollig’s Joe Miskella sails past Clonakilty’s Michael Francis Collins. Pic: Noel Sweeney

Ballincollig 1-17 (1-1-15) Clonakilty 3-5 (3-0-5)

Ballincollig remain on course for a third Cork ETB Rebel Óg U18 Premier 1 FC title after a strong second half saw them past Clonakilty at the SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G on Wednesday night.

Trailing by 2-4 to 0-7 at half-time, the holders regained the lead with four points on the trot after half-time and, though they conceded a third goal to the west Cork side, they again responded well.

A fourth point of the night from Joe Miskella was followed by a two-point free from captain Luke O'Mahony to bring him to four and leave them 0-14 to 3-4 in front. Though Clon's Mattie Lyons levelled in the 48th minute, it proved to be their final score.

Another super Miskella effort put Ballincollig back into a lead that would not be lost, buttressed by one from the impressive Shay O'Brien. Disciplined defending ensuring that Clonakilty were put under pressure in dangerous positions but few scoreable frees were given away, allowing Bobby Power to point at the other end for a three-point advantage before impressive midfielder Brian Cronin rubber-stamped the win with a brilliant finish to the net after good work by O'Mahony.

Clonakilty kept pushing and Fionn O'Donovan did have a late effort by Dylan McCarthy pushed it on to the post and Power's bravery meant he shipped an injury in blocking the follow-up. There will be time for that to heal before they face Carrigaline in the final.

In the first half, the winners had gained an early foothold, with corner-forward Power dropping deep to help them achieve supremacy around the middle.

While there were a couple of wides, they moved ahead as Luke O’Mahony (45), Joe Miskella (free) and Shay O’Brien pointed. Having greater numbers in the central sector meant that there was the option of one of their midfielders spending time close to goal too and that paid off as Conor Cogan kept alive a dangerously dropping Miskella ball, leading to another O’Mahony point.

In the 12th minute, a four-point lead almost became seven as O’Brien’s point attempt fell short but O’Mahony claimed the break and his effort flashed just wide of the post. The let-off served to revitalise Clonakilty – and soon the deficit was just one.

Midfielder Éanna Déiseach and rampaging wing-back Illan Smith were instrumental in the move and, though Jack Byerley had his shot bravely blocked by Darragh Crowley, Tom Whooley was on hand to net the rebound.

A couple of nice points from O’Brien ensured that Ballincollig continued to lead and the same player almost goaled for them from a nice Evan Stack pass but Clon goalkeeper Daniel Donovan was quick off his line to save.

The importance of that was magnified as they got a second goal - Ben Coffey's turnaround allowed Fionn O'Donovan to carry the ball up the field - he passed to Byerley, whose shot was saved, but O'Donovan was following up and they retired with that three-point lead.

While Ballincollig started the second half as they did the first, with four straight points, Clon's James Costello did go close to a goal in the midst of that and they were back in front when Lyons raised his second green flag with a lovely soccer-style finish.

Ballincollig retained their composure though and pushed on impressively from there to the end.

Scorers for Ballincollig: J Miskella 0-5 (0-2f), L O’Mahony (1 2ptf, 0-1 45), S O’Brien 0-4 each, B Cronin 1-1, B Power 0-2, J Costello 0-1.

Clonakilty: M Lyons 2-1, F O’Donovan 1-0, J Byerley, T Whooley 0-2 each.

BALLINCOLLIG: D McCarthy; D Crowley, J Ryan, C O’Regan; E Stack, É Lynch, J Costello; B Cronin, C Cogan; S O’Brien, J Miskella, A Jozefowski; F Lordan, L O’Mahony, B Power.

Subs: J Harrington for O’Regan (54), L O’Brien for S O’Brien (60+1), S Twomey for Power (60+2, injured).

CLONAKILTY: D Donovan; F O’Donovan, J Costello, E Minihan; MF Collins, B Coffey, I Smith; E Knowles; É Déiseach; F O’Mahony, J Byerley, C O’Gorman; E Nolan, T Whooley, M Lyons.

Subs: N O’Sullivan for Knowles (35), B Bennett for Smith (54), S O’Donovan for Nolan (55).

Referee: J Regan (Lough Rovers).