Watch and Read: Ballincollig return to senior ranks with Cork Premier IHC triumph

Ballincollig 1-19 Dungourney 0-16

After being left heartbroken last year, Ballincollig made a successful return to SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday to claim the Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier IHC title. 

In doing so, they turned a six-point loss to Ballinhassig 12 months ago into a six-point victory over Dungourney, while also marking their return to the senior ranks.

There was a big momentum shifter in the second half and it came in the form of a 43rd minute goal from Adam Wills.

They had already started to pick up speed, and by the time Niall Fahy blew for full time, the Eamonn Keating managed team - coached by Ronan Curran - had outscored Dungourney 1-10 to 0-6, having trailed by the minimum at half-time.

Wearing their alternative strip, the introduction of star forward Brian Keating, who picked up another injury during the week and was unable to start, was telling.

He set up Adam Wills for the match-changing goal.

Dungourney will regroup, safe in the knowledge that their graph is showing an upward trend after winning the Intermediate A title four years ago.

It was the east Cork side that started confidently with an excellent point from towering full-forward Cillian O’Callaghan in the second minute.

O’Callaghan was tightly marked thereafter by Ballincollig captain James Dwyer.

Stephen Wills replied from distance 60 seconds later.

Extra defenders were deployed at both ends, while Dungourney widened the gap.

A brace from Jack Leahy (one free) and a Kelvin Coady Byrne point put them 0-4 to 0-1 up.

Ballincollig would achieve parity in the 13th minute through Cian O’Driscoll, Theo Morgan, Fenton Denny and chief scorer Stephen Wills - all four white flags were from play, with wing-back David O’Leary heavily involved.

Tied 0-5 apiece, a brilliant point from Leahy despite losing his footing, and a free following a foul on O’Callaghan, edged Dungourney two ahead.

Even though Ballincollig were wasteful, they still went toe-to-toe with their opponents, and a monster Ross O’Donovan point left them trailing by the minimum five minutes from the interval.

Great defending by Dungourney’s Dylan Healy led to the ball being worked down the field and winning a ’65, which Leahy converted.

In the second minute of stoppage time, Theo Morgan trimmed the deficit, 0-10 to 0-9, Barry Coleman the provider.

Coleman was introduced midway through the half in replace of the injured David O’Sullivan.

Brian Keating of Ballincollig scores a goal. Pic: David Ribeiro/Inpho

Ballincollig levelled after the break and took the lead for the first time when Harry Ahearne linked with Darragh O’Mahony.

A brief Ballincollig mistake led to Coady Byrne making it 0-11 each.

Tied again at 12 each.

It was at this juncture things got much better for the Village.

It was also at this time Brian Keating came into the fray. And similar to his arrival in the semi-final, he made an instant impact. It was his pass to Adam Wills for a 43rd minute goal that shifted the balance in their favour, 1-14 to 0-12.

Prior to this they had outscored Dungourney five points to two.

On another day, inaccuracy might have cost them.

But instead they romped home with 10 different scorers.

The only chance Dungourney got near goal was brilliantly snuffed out by Ross O’Donovan.

Ballincollig led by eight, but late points from John Ahern and Cormac Griffin brought it back to six.

Let the celebrations begin.

Scorers for Ballincollig: S Wills (0-6, 0-1 free), A Wills (1-1), T Morgan and C O’Driscoll (0-3 each), R O’Donovan, F Denny B Keating, D O’Mahony, P Kelly and H Ahearne (0-1 each).

Scorers for Dungourney: J Leahy (0-7, 0-3 frees), K Coady Byrne (0-3), S Hegarty and John Ahern (0-2 each) C Griffin and C O’Callaghan (0-1 each).

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

Subs: B Coleman for D O’Sullivan (18 inj), B Keating for T O’Connell (40), P Kelly for D O’Mahony (58), C Dalton for H Ahearne (60), C Sexton for T Morgan (63).

DUNGOURNEY: P Flynn; C Morgan, R Harney, D Healy; M Leahy, J Griffin, M McGrath (Capt); S Hegarty, J McCarthy; K Coady Byrne; John Ahern, N McGrath; N Motherway, C O’Callaghan, J Leahy.

Subs: F Daly for N McGrath (50), C Ryan for R Harney (53 inj), C Griffin for K Coady Byrne (58), James Ahern for M McGrath (63).

Referee: Niall Fahy (Brian Dillons).

Footage courtesy of Clubber