Cork PIFC: Fermoy snatch draw with Ballinora but potential scoreline error to be reviewed by County Board

The final scoreline will suggest that this McCarthy Insurance Premier Intermediate football championship clash finished level but this may not be the end of the story. Pic: Chani Anderson.

Fermoy 0-21 0-3-15) Ballinora 2-15 (2-0-15)

The final scoreline will suggest that this McCarthy Insurance Premier Intermediate football championship clash finished level but this may not be the end of the story.

Referee Wayne King when shown the sequence of scoring and admitted after the game that he may have made an error and will be putting the issue into his report.

The problem arose when Fermoy’s Ben Twomey kicked a point in the 30th minute that was followed with a glorious two pointer by the same player that should have given his team a 0-10 half time tally.

Ballinora had scored 2-7 in the opening half but for some strange reason one point was wrongfully taken from the Fermoy tally.

Credit to the match official admitting that an error was possibly made which will make it easier for the Cork County Board in deciding what will occur next with a replay the most likely scenario.

Fermoy looked the superior team in the opening exchanges and David Lardner should have done better in the second-minute but his tame shot was parried to safety.

The pressure continued on Ballinora’s defence as they struggled to gain possession and three unanswered Fermoy points gave them control.

After looking the dominant force Fermoy suddenly went into meltdown and three minutes later Michael Quirke exposed poor defending to drill a shot to the corner of the net at the second time of asking after his first shot was saved.

Credit to Ballinora they used their possession far better and when Kevin Werner kicked a magnificent point in the 25th minute they commanded a two- point lead.

There is little doubt Fermoy looked tentative in defence and they were further punished with a second Ballinora goal a minute later.

Once again, the finishing class of Michael Quirke saw him guide his shot past the helpless Fermoy keeper.

When Ballinora looked to be gaining control the brilliance of Twomey saw him execute white and orange flags as Fermoy reduced the deficit to three points at the break.

On the restart both teams continued to play fast open football and traded points for long periods.

Ballinora looked in pole position when Shane Kingston split the posts in the final minute, but Tomas Clancy showed all his experience to bring the teams level on the score board.

There was a strange scenario at the full time whistle as Ballinora thought the draw was good enough for them to qualify but the story of this game could change in the coming days after this thrilling encounter.

Scorers for Fermoy: B Twomey 0-6 (1-2pt), D Lardner 0-5 (1-2pt-f, 0-3f), G O’Callaghan 0-4, A Aherne 0-2 (1-2pt), S Aherne, P Murphy, P De Roiste, T Clancy (0-1 each).

Scorers for Ballinora: M Quirke 2-3, S Kingston 0-3 (0-1f,45), I Quirke 0-3, M O’Brien 0-2, L Werner 0-2, C O’Donoghue, S O’Neill (0-1 each).

Fermoy: D Dawson; J Molloy, L Aherne, P O’Neill; P De Roiste, T Clancy, F Lardner; P Murphy, J O’Brien; D Daly, G O’Callaghan, E Healy; B Twomey, S Aherne, D Lardner.

Subs: A Aherne for E Healy (44), B Keohane for S Aherne ( 51), M Brennan for G O’Callaghan (55).

Ballinora: A McAllen, A Laverty, C O’Flynn, T Forde; D Dineen, M Lordan, C O’Donoghue; S Kingston, J Lordan; M O’Brien, I Quirke, L Lyons; M Quirke, R Quirke, K Werner.

Subs: S O’Neill for L Lyons (35) J Wycherley for C O’Donoghue (38), J O’Regan for K Werner (56).

Referee: Wayne King (Banteer).