Ballincollig 1-13
Carbery Rangers 1-10
BALLINCOLLIG CLAIMED A first Cork SFC title at Páirc Uí Chaoimh today, and they did it the hard way.
Trailing by six and seven points at various stages in the first half, Ballincollig limited their opponents Carbery Rangers to just a point after the 32nd minute.
Playing with the strong wind in the first half, Carbery Rangers scored six points in the opening 11 minutes of the game as Ballincollig struggled to find any kind of a rhythm.
While a pair of frees from Cian Dorgan got them off the mark, it looked to only be a brief interruption to their opponents’ dominance. A close-range John Hayes free, a good point from his brother Séamus and a 45 from full-back Brian Shanahan made it 0-9 to 0-2 for Carbery Rangers and they were cruising.
In the eight minutes between then and half-time, though, they conceded six points in a row as Ballincollig effected a near-total transformation. Dorgan with a point from play kickstarted the fightback and he scored two more with Seán Kiely, Niall Allen and Luke Prendergast also on target.
By half-time they trailed by just a point and with the wind to come they were favourites but within two minutes of the restart Carbery Rangers found a goal. Wing-back Pádraig Hodnett was allowed to maraud forward and though his crashing shot came back off the crossbar, Seámus Hayes was able to fist home.
Ballincollig heads didn’t drop, though. John Paul Murphy set up Ciarán O’Sullivan for a point and then Cork star Patrick Kelly’s quick free allowed George Durrant to find Kelly’s brother John and his finish was brilliant, low across Paul Shanahan to level at 1-9 apiece.
Carbery sub Seán O’Neill put his side ahead again on 43 but they wouldn’t sore again. In contrast, Ballincollig kept their composure and points form sub Ian Coughlan (two), Cian Dorgan and Cian Kelly had them three points ahead going into injury time.
There was a late penalty shout for Carbery Rangers when John O’Rourke looked to have been the victim of a foot-block but a 45 was the decision and Ballincollig held out.
Scorers for Ballincollig: Cian Dorgan 0-6 (0-4 frees), John Kelly 1-0, Ian Coughlan (frees), Cian Kiely 0-2 each, Luke Prendergast, Seán Kiely, Niall Allen, Ciarán O’Sullivan 0-1 each.
Scorers for Carbery Rangers: Séamus Hayes 1-2, John Hayes 0-3 (0-2 frees), Brian Shanahan 0-2 (45s), John O’Rourke, Seán O’Neill, Stephen Murray 0-1 each.
Ballincollig
1 David Lordan
2 Luke Prendergast
3 L Jennings
4 N Galvin
5 JP Murphy
6 Stephen O’Donoghue
7 Cian Kiely
8 Seán Kiely
9 Ciarán O’Sullivan
12 Niall Allen
11 Patrick Kelly
10 George Durrant
13 John Kelly
14 Cian Dorgan
15 John Miskella
Subs:
22 Alan Donovan for Seán Kiely (42, injured)
21 Ian Coughlan for John Kelly (47)
8 Seán Kiely for Allen (50)
27 Rob Noonan for Dorgan (60, black card)
Carbery Rangers
1 Paul Shanahan
4 Stephen Murray
3 Brian Shanahan
2 Michael Kelly
6 Pádraig Hodnett
5 Thomas O’Rourke
7 Jerry O’Riordan
8 Kevin MacMahon
9 James Fitzpatrick
10 Alan Jennings
15 Brian Hodnett
12 John O’Rourke
14 John Hayes
11 Séamus Hayes
13 Declan Hayes
Subs:
21 Michael Mennis for Brian Hodnett (half-time)
22 Seán O’Neill for Fitzpatrick (42, injured)
17 Anthony Roche for O’Rourke (57)
25 Timmy O’Donoghue for Séamus Hayes (57)
24 Kieran Fitpatrick for Murray (60)
Referee: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers).
