Ballincollig v Dungourney: The Path to the Final

 

Co-Op Superstores Cork Premier Intermediate Hurling Championship Final Sunday 18 October · SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh · Throw-in 2pm · Tickets: www.gaacork.ie/tickets

Ballincollig are back in a second straight county final, unbeaten and straight through to the semi-finals from Group 1. Dungourney took the long way: an opening-day defeat, a quarter-final that went to extra time and a semi-final won by two. A lot of their games turned on comebacks and late scores. Here is how each side got to Sunday.

Ballincollig: three from three, then the comeback

Group 1, Round 1: Ballincollig 1-24 Bishopstown 2-13

Sunday 2 August · Ballyanly

Bishopstown led 1-8 to 0-3 after the first quarter through a Brian Murray goal and were 1-11 to 0-10 up at half-time. Cillian Murray’s goal had them two ahead after 40 minutes. Cian O’Driscoll scored Ballincollig’s goal, Stephen Wills edged them in front after 52 minutes, and eight different players scored in the last ten minutes. Wills finished with 0-12.

Group 1, Round 2: Ballincollig 2-23 Éire Óg 1-18

Sunday 23 August · Riverstick

In the Mid Cork derby, Stephen Wills goaled early from a 20-metre free and Ballincollig led 1-12 to 0-9 at the break. Cian O’Driscoll added a second goal after the restart, set up by a James Dwyer flick, and the lead reached ten. Colm O’Callaghan’s goal gave Éire Óg hope, but Ballincollig closed it out and reached the knockout stages with a game to spare. Wills scored 1-10.

Group 1, Round 3: Ballincollig 2-17 Aghabullogue 1-16

Sunday 6 September · Ballyanly

Aghabullogue led 1-11 to 1-7 at half-time and were back in front with three minutes left. Debutant Danny Miskella had scored Ballincollig’s first goal, and James Dwyer won it with a second in a goalmouth scramble. Mark Oldham’s late point sealed three wins from three and a place in the semi-finals. Goalkeeper James Linehan made several key saves, and Wills scored 0-10.

Semi-final: Ballincollig 1-25 Carrigaline 2-19

Saturday 3 October · Ovens

Carrigaline led 1-15 to 0-11 at half-time and were seven up with nine minutes left. Theo Morgan’s point started the comeback. Brian Keating, back early from injury, finished an Adam Wills pass for the goal, and Ballincollig outscored Carrigaline 7-1 in the closing stages. Pete Kelly, Keating and Stephen Wills hit the last three points. Wills scored 0-9 and Keating 1-2.

Dungourney: the hard road

Group 2, Round 1: Cloyne 2-15 Dungourney 1-17

Sunday 2 August · Clonmult Memorial Park

The East Cork derby got away late. Dungourney hit an unanswered 1-4 in the first seven minutes, Cillian O’Callaghan with the goal, and led 1-9 to 0-4 at half-time. They were still 1-16 to 0-14 up with four minutes left. Brian O’Shea’s 20-metre free cut the gap, and Michael Cahill scrambled home the winner in the 64th minute. Jack Leahy scored 0-7.

Group 2, Round 2: Dungourney 1-17 Lisgoold 0-14

Saturday 22 August

Needing a win, Dungourney led 1-8 to 0-5 at half-time through another Cillian O’Callaghan goal. Seven of the first nine points after the restart settled it, and the lead peaked at eleven. Leahy scored 0-9.

Group 2, Round 3: Dungourney 4-16 Castlemartyr 2-17

Sunday 6 September · Killeagh

Cillian O’Callaghan scored a hat-trick inside the first 15 minutes, and Dungourney led 3-3 to 0-4. Barry Lawton’s two goals (2-7) brought Castlemartyr back level at 45 minutes. Kelvin Coady Byrne’s goal three minutes later put Dungourney ahead for good. O’Callaghan finished with 3-1 and Leahy 0-10, and the win sent Dungourney into the quarter-finals.

Quarter-final: Dungourney 3-26 Aghabullogue 3-25 (after extra time)

Saturday 19 September

Dungourney were eight points up early in the second half, then conceded three goals and faced elimination. They survived to extra time, and John Ahern had the final say to win it by a point.

Semi-final: Dungourney 2-14 Valley Rovers 1-15

Saturday 3 October · Ballyanly

Dungourney led 1-7 to 0-9 at half-time, O’Callaghan scoring the goal after a Kelvin Coady Byrne run. They were three up after 57 minutes, but Eoghan Crowley’s injury-time goal put Valley Rovers 1-15 to 1-14 ahead. On the last play, Coady Byrne set up corner-back Dylan Healy for the winning goal.

Side by side

Stage	Ballincollig	Dungourney
Round 1	W 1-24 v 2-13 Bishopstown	L 1-17 v 2-15 Cloyne
Round 2	W 2-23 v 1-18 Éire Óg	W 1-17 v 0-14 Lisgoold
Round 3	W 2-17 v 1-16 Aghabullogue	W 4-16 v 2-17 Castlemartyr
Quarter-final	Bye (group winners)	W 3-26 v 3-25 Aghabullogue (aet)
Semi-final	W 1-25 v 2-19 Carrigaline	W 2-14 v 1-15 Valley Rovers
Scored	6-89	11-90
Conceded	6-66	8-86
Top scorer	Stephen Wills 1-40	Jack Leahy 0-37

Aghabullogue are the common opponent. Ballincollig beat them by four in the group, and Dungourney needed extra time to get past them by a point. The two sides also met in last year’s semi-final, which Ballincollig won 3-13 to 0-17.

Who lifts the cup on Sunday? Tickets are on sale at www.gaacork.ie/tickets.