Ballinhassig Open Account with a Win

Ballinhassig 4-13 Ballincollig 0-18

(JJ Hurley)

Ballinhassig produced a four-star goal performance to see off Ballincollig in the Co-op Superstore Premier Intermediate Hurling championship at Church Road on Friday.

This game was decided by four goals, including a hat rick of second half green flags to put this game well and truly beyond the reach of the Muskerry men.

Despite a total free count of 19 placed balls, this was a free-flowing game as both teams sought to make a winning start to the campaign.

Level after four minutes as Stephen Wills early brace was matched up the other end by Adam O’Sullivan, but the parity was short-lived as Ger Collins put his side ahead with a goal on five minutes, thanks to some slick build up play from O’Sullivan and Brian Lynch.

The game was fast becoming a straight shoot out between Wills and Collins as Ballinhassig led by 1-6 to 0-4, after 16 minutes, with two of three Collins’ points coming directly from 65’s.

Despite a brave Ballincollig effort, as a number of pre match injuries had deprived them of several  regulars , Ballinhassig continued to keep their noses in front coming up to the short whistle, which included points from O’Sullivan and Evan Cullinane, as the teams went in for the break at 1-11 to 0-9.

It was Ballincollig, who made the early running in the second half, as three Wills points had put just two points between the sides on 38 minutes, but the Blues continued to tag on scores as they led by 1-13 to 0-14 points on 44 minutes, which included a fine individual score from Brian Lynch.

However, any chance of Ballincollig had of getting back into this contest was extinguished with two brilliant Cullinane goals on 45 and 48 minutes.

 From there to the finish, it was damage limitation for Ballincollig but despite their best efforts they conceded another late goal, after Collins was up ended and he made no mistake from the penalty spot.

While Ballincollig did claim the last two scores, it was Ballinhassig, who left with the all important

points.

Scorers for Ballinhassig: G Collins 2-7 (0-5 f, 0-2 65, 1-0 pen), E Cullinane 2-1, A O’Sullivan 0-4, B Lynch 0-1.

Ballincollig: S Wills 0-16 (0-13 f), B Keating, C O’Driscoll, M Oldham 0-1 each.

BALLINHASSIG: P Collins; C Kirby, K Maguire, P O’Leary; J O’Callaghan, D O’Sullivan, C Desmond; C Grainger, J Grainger; E Lombard, A O’Sullivan, E Cullinane; S O’Neill, G Collins, B Lynch.

Subs: S McCarthy for J Grainger (38), D O’Donovan for J O’Callaghan (43), F O’Leary for C Grainger (58), C Grainger for E Cullinane (61, inj).

BALLINCOLLIG: J Linehan; B Dore, J Murray, D O’Leary; B Coleman, F Denny, C Dalton; B Keating, T Morgan; C O’Driscoll, S Wills, T O’Connell; A Wills, P Morris, S O’Neill.

Subs: P Kelly for C Dalton (h-t), S O’Donoghue for B Dore (36), D O’Mahony for T Morgan (39), C Dorgan for A Wills (45), M Oldham for P Morris (49).

Referee: Ian McCarthy (Bandon).