Ballincollig crowned Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate hurling champions

Co-Op Superstores Cork PIHC Final
Ballincollig 1-19 Dungourney 0-16
SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh

Ballincollig are the 2026 Co-Op Superstores Premier Intermediate Hurling champions after a six-point win over Dungourney at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Sunday. The title secures their place in the Senior A ranks for 2027.

It was the perfect response to last year’s final defeat. Ballincollig went through this year’s championship unbeaten. On Sunday, a second-half goal from Adam Wills and a strong final quarter finally brought the cup back to the village.

Dungourney started the better. Cillian O’Callaghan opened the scoring and Jack Leahy kicked on with a free and a point from play. Points from Stephen Wills, Cian O’Driscoll and Theo Morgan kept Ballincollig in touch, and corner-back Fenton Denny added a fine long-range score. Leahy was Dungourney’s main source of scores and they led 0-7 to 0-5 after 17 minutes.

From there the sides traded points. Adam Wills struck from a tight angle, Ross O’Donovan landed a huge effort from distance, and Morgan’s late point left just one between them at half-time, Dungourney leading 0-10 to 0-9.

Stephen Wills levelled from a free on the restart, and Harry Ahearne then put Ballincollig in front for the first time. Dungourney stayed with them through Kelvin Coady Byrne and Shane Hegarty, and it was level again when Cork panellist Brian Keating came on in the 40th minute. He changed the game. O’Driscoll and Stephen Wills pushed Ballincollig ahead before Keating cut through the middle and set up Adam Wills for the decisive goal.

Ballincollig pulled away from there with further scores from O’Driscoll, Darragh O’Mahony, Morgan and Keating himself. In defence, captain James Dwyer did an excellent job on O’Callaghan. Kevin and David O’Leary were also strong, and the backs held firm as Dungourney went looking for a goal. Leahy, John Ahern and Cormac Griffin added late points for the East Cork side, and substitute Peter Kelly had the last word for the winners.

In his speech, Dwyer dedicated the win to the late Killian Lee, whose family has deep roots in the Ballincollig club.

Scorers for Ballincollig: S Wills 0-6 (0-1 f), A Wills 1-1, C O’Driscoll 0-3, T Morgan 0-3, R O’Donovan 0-1, F Denny 0-1, D O’Mahony 0-1, B Keating 0-1, P Kelly 0-1, H Ahearne 0-1.

Scorers for Dungourney: J Leahy 0-7 (0-3 f, 0-1 65), K Coady Byrne 0-3, S Hegarty 0-2, John Ahern 0-2, C Griffin 0-1, C O’Callaghan 0-1.

BALLINCOLLIG: J Linehan; R O’Donovan, J Dwyer (c), F Denny; K O’Leary, D O’Sullivan, D O’Leary; H Ahearne, T Morgan; C O’Driscoll, S Wills, D O’Mahony; A Wills, T O’Connell, D Miskella.
Subs: B Coleman for D O’Sullivan (18, inj), B Keating for T O’Connell (40), P Kelly for D O’Mahony (58), C Dalton for H Ahearne (60), C Sexton for T Morgan (63).

DUNGOURNEY: P Flynn; C Morgan, R Harney, D Healy; M Leahy, J Griffin, M McGrath (c); S Hegarty, J McCarthy; K Coady Byrne, John Ahern, N McGrath; N Motherway, C O’Callaghan, J Leahy.
Subs: F Daly for N McGrath (50), C Ryan for R Harney (53, inj), C Griffin for K Coady Byrne (58), James Ahern for M McGrath (63).

Referee: Niall Fahy (Brian Dillon’s)