Ballinora retain senior status as Glen Rovers condemned to camogie relegation

Rachel Murphy starred for the winners as she hit 1-7 over the hour

Ballinora's Rachel Murphy. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

Cork camogie relegation playoff: Ballinora 2-14 Glen Rovers 1-13

Delight for Ballinora as they defeated Glen Rovers in the SE Systems Cork senior camogie relegation playoff at Ballinora on Saturday.

Two early second-half goals were the key scores for the winners, with Louise O’Neill and Rachel Murphy on target.

Ballinora won the toss for home advantage, but to be fair to both sides, games like this should be played at a neutral venue.

As you would expect in any relegation tie, this was a battle from start to finish, with their Cork player Rachel Murphy, her cousin Rose Murphy, and Sarah O’Keeffe leading the way for the winners.

Meabh Murphy was out for Ballinora, a loss to any side, which makes their win all the better.

The Glen can’t be faulted for their efforts with their Cork star Emma Murphy, Sophie O’Sullivan, Sarah Murphy and Leanne O’Sullivan leading by example.

Emma Murphy put her side in front after 30 seconds, and Sophie O’Sullivan added a second as they were making full use of the wind in their favour.

Rose Murphy got the home side off the mark, with O’Neill levelling it after five minutes.

A free from Emma Murphy put the Glen back in front, before Cliona Dooley set up O’Neill to point, making it 0-3 each after six minutes.

Rachel Murphy put Ballinora in front for the first time, with Emma Akinkuolie on target for the Glen to level it again.

Emma Murphy pointed for the Glen, before they thought she had a goal. She was through on goal and found the back of the net, but the referee ruled it out for steps.

Rachel Murphy pointed for Ballinora, with Emma Murphy equalising to see the sides level for the fifth time.

O’Neill pointed for Ballinora, with Leanne O’Sullivan scoring just before half-time to see the sides level at the break, 0-8 each.

Two minutes into the second half Ballinora got the first of their goals when O’Neill found the back of the net.

Credit to the Glen, they didn’t panic, and points from Sophie O’Sullivan, Emma Murphy, and Akinkuolie had them level after 35 minutes, 1-8 to 0-11.

Two minutes later, a superb catch from Rachel Murphy saw her turn and bear down on goal. She beat several defenders to find the corner of the net to put three between them again.

Rose Murphy extended their lead, before two from Rachel Murphy to make it 2-11 to 0-11 after 48 minutes.

Sophie O’Sullivan pulled a point back for the Glen, before two more from Rachel Murphy kept her side well in front.

Again, credit to the Glen, they kept battling away, and Emma Murphy found the back of the net, to make it 2-13 to 1-12.

Rachel Murphy pointed for Ballinora, with Sophie O’Sullivan rounding off the scoring as the Glen go down and Ballinora retain their senior status.

Scorers for Ballinora: Rachel Murphy 1-7 (0-2 f), L O’Neill 1-3, Rose Murphy 0-3, J Mehigan 0-1.

Glen Rovers: E Murphy 1-5 (0-2 f), S O‘Sullivan 0-4, E Akinkuolie 0-2, K Walsh, L O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

BALLINORA: T O’Donoghue; E Wolfe, S O’Keeffe, B Holmes; A Quirke, C Dooley, E McAuliffe; J Murphy, A O’Riordan; Rose Murphy, Rachel Murphy, A Murphy; G Keohane, J Mehigan, L O’Neill.

Subs: K Crean for G Keohane (43), G Keohane for L O’Neill (57), M O’Driscoll for A Quirke (58).

GLEN ROVERS: D Lubby; C Martin, K Falvey, E Akinkeolie; B Coughlan, S Murphy, A Lynch-O’Shea; E O’Meara, T McCarthy; S O’Sullivan, E Murphy, L O’Sullivan; I O’Meara, K Walsh, J Hosford.

Subs: K O’Regan for A Lynch-O’Shea (11 inj), M Hyde for J Hosford (43).

Referee: Colm Maher, Buttevant.