Ballinhassig far too strong for brave Newcestown

Ballinhassig 1-7 Newcestown 0-4

(JJ Hurley)

Ballinhassig proved far too strong for a brave Newcestown in the Premier Intermediate Camogie Championship clash at Ballincollig on Sunday.

Making a better fist of the slippery conditions and playing with the aid of the wind, Ballinhassig’s six-point lead at the interval proved unassailable in the second half for the Carbery girls

Newcestown’s early dominance in the second period, including a free from Grace Ryan, never created a momentum capable of unhinging the Blue’s defence - not helped by their failure to take scores in front of goal.

Ballinhassig had no such difficultly, and Aisling Lombard’s goal on 55 minutes snuffed out any chance of their opponents getting themselves back into the game.

Ballinhassig started the game brightly, as Eimear O’Sullivan had a hat trick of scores, including two frees to give her side the 0-3 to 0-0, after eight minutes.

Lombard could have doubled the score moments later, but she couldn’t convert the goal chance, as O’Sullivan continued to dominate the game on the 45.

With scores hard to come by because of the conditions, as well as the dominance of both sets of defenders, Emma Jordan stretched her side’s lead to four after 10 minutes.

Newcestown had Siobhan Kelleher to thank for keeping them in the game on 14 minutes. as she prevented Lombard from rattling the back of the net.

O’Sullivan and Deidre Cooney had a point a piece as the Carbery girls just couldn’t zero their sights on the Ballinhassig goal.

Ciara O’Sullivan was unlucky with a goal chance as their scoring woes continued up to the interval, with Ballinhassig leading by 0-6 to 0-0 at the break.

The second half had Grace Ryan grasping the early initiative, but the girls from the west couldn’t breach the Ballinhassig rear guard, despite Ryan dropping a few testing frees ‘in around the house’.

Without the services of Cork camogie star, Ciara O’Sullivan, out through injury, Newcestown found it difficult to deal with Millie Lombard and Eimer Casey, as O’Sullivan stretched her side’s advantage to 0-7 to 0-1 on 47 minutes.

Despite the disparity in the scoreline, Newcestown kept looking for away to get back into the game as Claire Kingston sent over on 53 minutes, but the game was put to bed two minutes later as Aisling Lombard fired home from a brilliant individual run.

The remaining five minutes had the Newcestown ladies looking for an opportunity to get back into the contest, but they had to be content with two more points from Ryan.

Ballinhassig will now go on to face Watergrasshill and Newcestown must play Charleville in the remaining group games.

Scorers for Ballinhassig: E O’Sullivan 0-5(4F), A Lombard 0-1, E Jordan, D Cooney (0-1 each)

Newcestown: G Ryan 0-3(2f), C Kingston 0-1

Ballinhassig: S Leahy; E Casey, A Casey, M Healy; T Healy, A Cottrell, A Cussen; E Daly, M Lombard; E Healy, G Healy, E O’Sullivan, E Jordan, A Lombard, D Coomey.

Subs: E Deasy for E Healy (HT), E Madden for G Healy (48), M O’Sullivan for E Jordan (51).

Newcestown: M Lynch; E Dineen, A O’Sullivan, S Kelleher; R Wilson, E Tarrant, R Hallahan; L Whelan, C Kingston; G Ryan, M Kenneally, B Wilson; R O’Mahony, A Sheehan, K O’ Sullivan. Subs: O O’Mahony for R O’Mahony (HT), C Wilson for A Sheehan (42), E Crowley for M Keneally (50), A Buckley for A O’ Sullivan (52).

Referee Eddie O’Sullivan, Inniscarra.

Captains Siobhan Kelleher, Ballinhassig and Aisling Cussen, Newcestown, seen here with Eddie O'Sullivan, Inniscarra, at the recent meeting of the two teams in Ballincollig in the Premier Intermediate Camogie Championship.

 [JH1]