Kilmurry 4-11 to Ballinhassig 4-02
(JJ Hurley)
Ballinhassig tested a star-studded Kilmurry team in the semi-final of the McCarthy Insurance Group U21B Football final at Bishopstown’s 4G pitch on Saturday.
Despite the Muskerry side pulling away in the second half with a brace of goals, Ballinhassig were left to rue five first half wides.
Taking the fight to the Kilmurry-side, five of whom featured in the club’s recent victory in the Munster Junior Football Championship, Ballinhassig got themselves in front with a goal from Adam O’ Sullivan after four minutes.
Kilmurry dragged themselves back into contention with three points, but O’Sullivan, Sean Connolly and Sean Lombard linked up for a well taken goal.
Jim O’Rourke, who was proving to be almost unbeatable, conceded an unstoppable shot on twenty minutes and with Ballinhassig guilty of some wayward shooting the score was level at 2-0 to 1-3 on twenty minutes.
However, the parity was short-lived as Ballinhassig upped their game and a Sean Connolly point was followed by another O’Sullivan goal.
Just before the break, Kilmurry hit their second goal as the teams went in at the interval with the score at 3-1 to 2-3.
An early flurry of scores in the second half, included an early Kilmurry goal that had Ballinhassig on the back foot, but Rourke stepped up for his side as he saved a penalty on 42 minutes.
With O’Sullivan landing a free moments later, the Carrigdhoun side had a glimmer of hope but it was extinguished over the next ten minutes as Kilmurry hit six unanswered points.
A well taken goal from Patrick O’Regan brought Ballinhassig back into the contest briefly but another goal and a point from the opposition put the game out of their reach.
In fairness this was a fine performance against a club who are expected to lift an All - Ireland Junior football title, five of whom lined out for the U21 game.
Scores:
Kilmurry: Rory Duggan 2-1, J McGinn 1-3(1F), S Dineen 1-0, D O’ Mullane, O McDonald, 0-2 each, M Fitton, J O’ Mullane, L Aisling 0-1 each.
Ballinhassig: A O’Sullivan 2-1(1f), P O’Regan 1-0, S Lombard 1-0, Sean Connolly 0-1.
Teams
Kilmurry: C Desmond; O Keane, J Devine, , F Kelleher; S O’Leary’ A Aishling’ M O’ Leary; L Aisling C Kelleher; R Duggan R Leahy, O McDonald, J McGinn, D O’ Mullane, J Mullane.
Subs: M Fitton for A Leahy (39) A Desmond for O McDonald (57), S Dineen for J McGinn (60).
Ballinhassig: J O’ Rourke; C Dulea, C Kirby, C Deasy; S Butler, D O’ Sullivan, L Kirby; R Casey L Farley; J Griffin, S Connolly, S Lombard; P ‘Regan, A O’ Sullivan, G Harrington.
Subs A Cussen for R Casey( 18inj), C Barry Murphy and B Lynch for G Harrington and L Kirby (39), D O’ Regan for S Butler (44), S Cussen for L Farley (49)
Referee: Brian Coniry, Crosshaven.
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