Path to the County Final - Carbery Division ( Round 4 )

Path to the County Final - Carbery Division ( Round 4 )

October 09, 2014

Kelly’s double sends Ballincollig into the quarter-finals

Ballincollig 3-15 Carbery 1-11

BALLINCOLLIG produced one of their best displays in years with a stunning 10-point victory over last season’s semi-finalists, Carbery, in a high-quality SFC fourth-round tie in Cloughduv.

Despite being 3-1 outsiders in the betting they blitzed the favourites early on, and were eight points ahead at the break. Perhaps more impressively, when Carbery struck for 1-4 in a 10-minute burst without response, Ballincollig revealed impressive levels of composure and self-belief to regain control and run out convincing winners.

It was a reflection of the great work done by selectors Seán McCarthy, Gerry Ring, Eric Philpott and Paul O'Donoghue as Ballincollig’s fine blend of youth and experience proved too much for Carbery in the end.

The Kiely brothers, Sean and Cian, Cian Dorgan and Ciarán O’Sullivan carried significant threats when taking on their opponents while Pa Kelly, scorer of 2-2, and John Miskella were other major influences in an impressive team effort.

Kelly’s season with Cork had ended disappointingly a week earlier in the All-Ireland quarter-final loss to Mayo, and playing closer to goal he was in irrepressible form from the off, goaling from an O’Sullivan pass after 12 minutes and then after a superb move involved JP Murphy and John Kelly in the 27th minute. Remarkably, Pa hadn’t raised a green flag in championship since his goal against Nemo back in 2006!

When the gap was cut to 2-8 to 1-10 after 41 minutes, Ballincollig were forced to grit their teeth and points from Miskella, O’Sullivan and Cian Kiely restored order, before a stylish third goal with Sean Kiely linking with George Durrant.

Scorers for Ballincollig: P Kelly 2-2, C O’Sullivan 0-4, S Kiely 1-0, C Dorgan 0-3 (0-1 f), J Miskella, C Kiely 0-2 each, G Durrant, I Coughlan (f) 0-1 each.

Carbery: M Sugrue 0-5 (0-2 f), P Daly 1-0, D Barron 0-3, S Coughlan, C O’Driscoll, S O’Neill 0-1 each.

BALLINCOLLIG: D Lordan (c); C Moore, L Jennings, N Galvin; JP Murphy, S O’Donoghue, C Kiely; S Kiely, C O’Sullivan; N Allen, P Kelly, G Durrant; J Kelly, C Dorgan, J Miskella.

Subs: L Prendergast for Murphy (inj 35), I Coughlan for Allen (45), D Tobin for J Kelly (52).

CARBERY: P Prendergast (Bandon); B O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaighs), E Sexton (Kilbrittain), K Harrington (Bantry Blues); P Murphy (Bandon), J O’Donovan (Bandon), P Daly (St Mary’s); A O’Connor (St Colum’s), G Canty (Bantry Blues); C O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaighs), R O’Sullivan (Argideen Rangers), M Sugrue (Bandon); D Barron (Bantry Blues), S Coughlan (Bantry Blues), K O’Driscoll (Tadhg MacCarthaighs).

Subs: S O’Neill (Bantry Blues) for Murphy and R O’Sullivan (Kilmacabea) for Coughlan (h-t), J Downey (Bantry Blues) for R O’Sullivan (Argideen Rangers) (52), C Sugrue (Bandon) for Barron (56), C O’Mahony (Bandon) for B O’Driscoll (black card 58) W O’Mahony for M Sugrue (60).

[ Read more in this series in Path to the County Round 1  ]
Note: - Round 2 and 3 were Round 1 loser rounds ...

Part 2 of 4 of the "Éamonn Murphy ( Deputy Editor Cork Examiner & Ballincollig PRO ) looks back at Ballincollig's path to their first senior football decider" series. Photo By Eddie O'Hare ( Cork Examiner )