THIS YEAR’S CORK senior football final will be a repeat of the 2014 clash between Ballincollig and Carbery Rangers after both were successful in today’s semi-final ties at Páirc Uí Rinn.
Ballincollig 1-10
Nemo Rangers 2-6
Ballincollig, the champions two years ago, overcame a very poor start to get the better of Nemo Rangers in the second match.
With the first ten minutes scoreless, the game came to life as Paul Kerrigan goaled for Nemo from Brian Twomey’s pass, with points following from Barry O’Driscoll and Luke Connolly (two).
Though John Miskella eventually got Ballincollig off the mark in the 19th minute, Alan O’Donovan’s point for Nemo meant that it was 1-5 to 0-2 with minutes left until half-time, but from there the mid-Cork side upped their game considerably.
Seán Kiely scored a fine goal from Ciarán O’Sullivan’s pass before Cian Dorgan added a 45 and while George Durrant was denied an injury-time goal from Micheál Martin’s save, a two-point interval deficit was manageable.
It had dissipated before the second half was very old, Rob Noonan with a long-range point before Dorgan’s free levelled. Michael Dorgan put Nemo in front again, but O’Donovan wasted a good goal change soon after.
Ballincollig seized the lead for the first time as Ian Coughlan tied with a free and sub Kevin Browne announced his arrival following a nice Patrick Kelly pass. Ciarán O’Sullivan doubled the lead though it might have been a goal, and that seemed costly when Luke Connolly fired a wonderful shot to the top corner of the net on 54.
Browne equalised again though and in the final minute of normal time, Kelly was fouled and Dorgan sent over his fourth point for what proved to be the winner.
Scorers for Ballincollig: Cian Dorgan 0-4 (0-3 frees), Seán Kiely 1-0, Kevin Browne 0-2, Ciarán O’Sullivan, Ian Coughlan (free), John Miskella 0-1 each.
Scorers for Nemo Rangers: Luke Connolly 1-2 (0-1 45), Paul Kerrigan 1-1, Michael Dorgan, Barry O’Driscoll, Alan O’Donovan 0-1 each.
Carbery Rangers 1-17
Avondhu 0-8
In the earlier game at Páirc Uí Rinn, Carbery Rangers had been far too strong for North Cork divisional side Avondhu, winning by 12 points to reach their second final in three years.
After goalkeeper Paul Shanahan had saved well from James Loughrey and Mikie Sheehan, the Rosscarbery side kicked on with John Hayes prominent as a 0-7 to 0-2 lead was established.
Though Avondhu, with Colm O’Neill their main scorer, reduced the gap to two points, Hayes’s penalty after Brian Hodnett was fouled – with goalkeeper Ciarán Cotter black-carded – restored the breathing space for Ronan McCarthy’s side.
By half-time, they were 1-11 to 0-5 to the good, Chris O’Donovan a lively presence in the half-forward line while James Fitzpatrick and Kevin MacMahon dovetailed well.
Michael Mennis and Alan Jennings also got on the scoresheet for the winners during the second period, giving them nine in all, with Avondhu never looking like finding the goals necessary to get them back into contention.
Scorers for Carbery Rangers: John Hayes 1-8 (1-0 penalty, 0-2 frees), Chris O’Donovan 0-2, Michael Mennis, James Fitzpatrick, Alan Jennings, Jerry O’Riordan, John O’Rourke, Séamus Hayes, Kevin MacMahon 0-1 each.
Scorers for Avondhu: Colm O’Neill 0-4 (0-3 frees), Ruairí O’Hagan 0-2 (frees), Mikie Sheehan, Jeffrey Daly 0-1 each.
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