Junior Footballers decisive in Semi Final Clash

Junior Footballers decisive in Semi Final Clash

October 02, 2015

Ballincollig 8-18 Naomh Abán 2-6.
Junior C Football Championship Semi-Final v Naomh Abán in Kilmichael, Saturday 26/9/15.

On a sunny Saturday evening, Ballincollig travelled to pay Naomh Abán in the JCFC semi-final. While Dan Barry opened the scoring after 15 seconds and Darren Murphy pointed 1 minute later, we found ourselves behind 2-1 to 0-2 after 6 mins.
An Eoin Byrne pass picked out Gavin O’Callaghan on 7 mins and Gavin finished to the net. With our defence and midfield beginning to get on top, opportunities were being created for our forwards. An Eoin O’Neill interception released Diarmuid Nolan who found Darren for a point. Oliver Ryan initiated an attack which resulted in another Darren point after a good passing move. Our wides tally was mounting, nine in first half, but we kept on the front foot.
A driving run from Colm Bohane earned him a free which Gavin converted. On 15 mins Brian O’Connor caught a high ball into him and neatly finished to the corner of the goal. Four mins later, Eoin O’Neill won the ball in defence and set up an attack that resulted in Darren playing in Gavin who scored a goal from a tight angle to put us ahead 3-5 2-1.
With Eoghan O’Callaghan mopping up at the back, we had a solid foundation to push forward and points followed from Diarmuid, Dan and Darren. Shane O Neill won possession and followed up the attack he started by getting on the end of a pass and taking his point. When Colm burst forward and hand passed a point, we found ourselves ahead 3-10 to 2-3 at half time.
Eoin Byrne picked out Dan for an early second half point before James O’Leary got a reward for his high work rate at midfield with a fisted point. Gavin passed to Dan who chipped the keeper with a delicate lob on 43 mins to put us up 4-14 2-5.
An assured display from Shane Hogan in goal and our defence keeping a tight rein on the opposition meant chances were at a premium for Naomh Abán.
Paddy Lucey had already begun to use his full complement of subs and they made a contribution. Padraig O’Donovan scored a point before Colin O’Donovan picked out Matthew Whelan in front of goal with a peach of a pass before a cool finish from Matthew billowed the net.
Gavin got on the end of another long passing move to cut in from the left and from a tight angle he finished with a right footed shot to the top corner of the net.
After the Naomh Abán keeper saved a penalty, Gavin’s determination won a free from the rebound and he blasted the free to the roof of the net. There was time for Michael O’Donovan to get on the score sheet with a neat shot before Gavin rounded off a spectacular display with a punched goal from a high ball into the square.
Final Score Ballincollig 8-18 Naomh Abán 2-6.
We have now qualified for the final where we will play Clondrohid on Sunday 11th October at 2.30pm in Kilmurry.

Line Up: Shane Hogan; Eoghan O’Callaghan, Shane O’Neill (0-1); Colm Bohane (0-1), Oliver Ryan, Eoin O’Neill; Diarmuid Nolan (0-1), James O’Leary (0-1); Darren Murphy (0-5), Dan Barry (1-3), Eoin Byrne; Gavin O’Callaghan (5-3, 1-1f), Brian O’Connor (1-1). Subs used Matthew Whelan (1-0), Padraig O’Donovan (0-1), Colin O’Donovan, David Courtney, Michael O’Donovan (0-1), Brian O’Riordan. Fergal Considine.