Watch and read: Ballincollig reach consecutive Cork PIHC finals with spirited comeback win over Carrigaline

Trailing by seven points and the final nine minutes left to play Theo Morgan’s second point reduced the deficit and began a fantastic comeback for the Village.

Cork PIHC semi-final: Ballincollig 1-25 Carrigaline 2-19 

A big momentum shifter in this Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier IHC semi-final in Ovens on Saturday was the introduction of Ballincollig’s Brian Keating. Injury had hampered the star forward’s involvement in the group matches.

Trailing by seven points and the final nine minutes left to play Theo Morgan’s second point reduced the deficit.

When Adam Wills set up Keating, he turned for goal and had only one thing on his mind. His finish was low to the net and really lifted the Ballincollig contingent.

A rampant Ballincollig then completely took over, outscoring Carrigaline seven points to one.

The release of captain James Dwyer to defence also worked in their favour, while they also had goalkeeper James Linehan to thank for some great saves.

The Village, who won one of the two automatic semi-final spots, are back in the final against Dungourney.

For now though, they’ll take their time to enjoy this amazing accomplishment, probably one of their finest and one that didn’t look likely for long stages, especially when they trailed by seven points at half time.

Éamonn Keating is manager, assisted by coach Ronan Curran, and no wonder the boss was a bit emotional. It was his son who found the net.

“Even at half-time there was calm, nobody getting too down or too excited or too angry. We just said we’d keep playing the way we can play and we would get one or two breaks.

“Obviously the goal was massive. It was a huge gamble putting Brian in because he probably shouldn’t be back for another couple of weeks.

Griffin rises with James Dwyer of Ballincollig for the high ball. Pic: Jim Coughlan.

“But to be fair, anytime we’ve asked these lads for anything they’ve given it.

“Last year was a huge disappointment, we didn’t do ourselves justice and that is not taking away from Ballinhassig. Maybe there was a reason as well, there was a death leading up to it and they are a very close unit.

“You saw that there today, great heart, camaraderie and backbone. The big thing for us this year is resilience.” A action-paced and unrelenting contest was level six times in the first half, the points coming thick and fast. In the opening minute alone Eanna Desmond and Finn O’Connell traded points with Stephen Wills.

Backed by the wind, Carrigaline stole a march, 0-6 to 0-4 after 10 minutes. Ballincollig responded to take over on the quarter hour mark after Stephen Wills arrowed over a brace and one each from Darragh O’Mahony and Danny Miskella.

With the lead continuing to change hands, Brian Kelleher (finished with 1-7) converted a free following a foul on Desmond, 0-9 each with six minutes of the first half remaining.

Carrigaline remained on the front foot and took over with conversions from O’Connell (2), Kelleher, Desmond, and Rhys McCarthy to lead by five.

A mistake by ‘keeper Linehan saw him lose possession and he fouled Kevin O’Reilly.

Kelleher found space for the resultant penalty in the 33rd minute.

Rob Foster then saved in the Carrigaline goal from O’Mahony and when Stephen Wills pointed the ’65 they would trail 1-15 to 0-11 at the interval.

Ballincollig turned to play with the wind but for almost a quarter of an hour they didn’t do anything spectacular. If anything, they were wasteful and they just managed to stay in touch.

They were five in arrears before Carrigaline pounced for their second goal on the 45 minute mark. McCarthy found David Drake but his shot was stopped by Linehan, only for O’Connell to meet the rebound.

At this point, it certainly looked like it was going to be Carrigaline’s day, 2-17 to 0-15.

Keating started the fightback with a point. Miskella followed suit.

Kelleher struck their two points from frees in the 49th and 58th minute, while Ballincollig could do no wrong.

The teams were level 1-22 to 2-19 with a couple of minutes remaining.

Pete Kelly, Keating and Wills grabbed the final three points.

Twice Carrigaline had to go for goal from frees, but to no avail.

All footage courtesy of Clubber TV.

Scorers for Ballincollig: S Wills (0-9, 0-5 frees, 0-1 65), B Keating (1-2), D Miskella (0-4), T Morgan and D O’Mahony (0-3 each), C O’Driscoll, A Wills, K O’Leary and P Kelly (0-1 each).

Scorers for Carrigaline: B Kelleher (1-7, 1-0 pen, 0-2 65s, 0-3 frees), F O’Connell (1-3), K O’Reilly and E Desmond (0-3 each), D Drake (0-2), R McCarthy (0-1).

BALLINCOLLIG: J Linehan; R O’Donovan, F Denny, K O’Leary; B Coleman, D O’Sullivan, D O’Leary; B Dore, T Morgan; C O’Driscoll, S Wills, D O’Mahony; A Wills, J Dwyer (Capt), D Miskella.

Subs: T O’Connell for C O’Driscoll (27 inj), B Keating for B Dore (40), P Kelly for D O’Mahony (44 inj), J Murray for F Denny (49-50 bs), C Dalton for B Coleman (53).

CARRIGALINE: R Foster; D Stack, D Griffin, S Williamson; K Kavanagh, N Coleman, D Green; R Kelleher (Capt), E Desmond; O O’Connell, B Kelleher, D Drake; K O’Reilly, R McCarthy, F O’Connell.

Subs: P Mellett for E Desmond (27-29 bs), C Kearney for D Drake (50), R O’Shea for O O’Connell (56).

Referee: Cathal McAllister (Aghada).