Cork match reports

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Glen Rovers 2-5 Ballincollig 1-7

Glen Rovers were crowned county Senior B League champions with a victory over county champions Ballincollig in a superb game played under lights in Ballincollig. Over head conditions were hard as both teams had to contend with torrential rain that fell for three quarters of the game but they made light of the conditions as they battled for the title on an excellent pitch which lent to allowing some excellent hurling from both sides.

The Glen having lost out comprehensively to the same opposition at county semi -final stage were fired up from the throw in and they took an early lead thanks to a Denise Luby point, as the sides battled to gain a hold on the game both shot wide’s from score able angles before Leeann O’ Sullivan had the Glen girls four points clear when she send a ground stroke to the net inside the opening quarter.

 Ballincollig battle to find their feet but found the going hard again a strong Glen defence where Michelle Hegarty was dominant ably assisted by Aideen Guiton Stephanie Callanan and Lydia Cunningham. Both defences had to absorber a lot of pressure and scores were hard to come but as the game entered the last quarter Ballincollig began to eat into the Glen lead, Denise Cronin pointed two frees and one from play before Patricia Buttimer had the sides on level. Buttimer edged Ballincollig ahead on the half time whistle to give them a 0-5 to 1-1 interval lead.

On the resumption as the rain continued to pour down the Glen girls were back on level inside three minutes as Sinead O’ Halloran struck a long range point and now with both sides battling to get ahead the game was played at a furious pace. Ballincollig putting the Glen defence under early pressure hit the front as Holly Coomey broke away to find the net and they stretched their lead to four points with Denise Cronin pointing a free. The Glen girls never panicked and showing fierce determination with captain Eileen O’ Riordan driving them on from mid field ably assisted by Alice Keating to came at Ballincollig, Denise Luby pointed before Sinead O’ Halloran hit a superb long range effort to the net to levelled matters and again it was all to play for as the battled to gain the upper hand continued. Both sides dug deep Denise Luby pointed twice to put Glen Rovers two points clear but Ballincollig battled hard Sarah Buckley pointed a free in reply as the game entered injury time. With the clock ticking Ballincollig searched for an equaliser but the Glen defence stood solid clearing their lines and with the title in their sights they were not going to be denied as they stood firm to take the senior B league title for the first time in the clubs history.     

 Scorers for Glen Rovers:  D Luby 0-4 (0-1f 0-145″”), S O Halloran 1-1, L O’ Sullivan 1-0.

Ballincollig: D Cronin 0-4 (0-2f), H Coomey 1-0, P Buttimer 0-2, S Buckley 0-1(f).

Glen Rovers: K Newman; Z Buckley, A Guiton, B Walsh; S Callanan, L Cunningham, M Hegarty; E O’ Riordon (c), A Keating;  S Fahy, S O’ Halloran, L O’ Sullivan, K O Connell, D Luby L Kelly.

Subs A O’ Keeffe for B Walsh, E O Connell for L Kelly.

Ballincollig : A Sheehan;  E O’Sullivan, A Kiely, A Coughlan; B O’Callaghan, K O’Donoghue, A Cotter; S Buckley, S Coomey; O Ni Cathasaigh Weste, D Cronin

P Buttimer, M O’Donoghue, H Coomey.

Subs: J Ryle for S Buckley (inj), C Ryan for B O ‘Callaghan.

 Ref: Collette O’ Mahony (St. Finbarr’s).

Milford 1-8 St Catherines 0-5

From the throw in Milford made all the running in this county Senior League final played in Whitechurch, weather conditions were not kind as the gale force biting wind and heavy showers of rain made it hard on both teams.  St. Catherines having taken their first senior county championship title earlier in the year were chasing a historic league /championship double but they had on this occasion to give way to a very determined and focused Milford side. 

It was difficult for both sides as they battled to contend with the weather conditions but they worked hard to make light of it and in the process they served up a good contest.  Milford playing with the aid of the gale force wind put the county champions under pressure form the throw in and enjoying the lion’s share of possession they set the foundations for victory in the opening thirty minutes hitting all but two of their tally of scores.

 Anna Geary worked hard as Milford put the champions under early pressure and she   gave her side the lead with a point, Emer Watson followed pointing a free as they stretched their lead. With the wind in their favour they put the St Catherines defence under huge pressure Anna Geary hit her second point before Emer Watson converted two free. Working hard to get something from the opening half St Catherines enjoyed possession but they could find no way through a solid Milford defence that had captain Elaine O Riordan, Orlaith O’ Mahony and Niamh O’ Brien in excellent form.  Continuing to dictate matters Milford‘s Sinead O’ Flynn struck a point to her side a 0-7 to no score interval lead but turning to play against the elements they needed every score as it was going to be tough

St Catherines showed plenty of determination as they came in search of early second half scores and two Orla Cotter pointed frees cut the deficit but Milford dug deep and they got a huge  boost with   Marie Watson finishing to the net for the games only goal  which helped  maintain their lead as they battled against the wind.   Orla Cotter kept St Catherines in touch pointing two frees to which Emer Watson replied with one.  Orla Cotter pointed but still Milford remained in front as St Catherines threw everything they had at them.    Milford however maintaining their  level of  performance  never  gave St Catherine’s an inch and sensing victory  they were not going to be denied  this time out as  they dealt with  everything  St Catherines threw at them as they held firm to the full time to be crowned champions.     

Scorers for Milford: E Watson 0-4 (0-2f), M Watson 1-0, A Geary 0-2 M Geary, S O’ Flynn 0-1 each.

St Catherine’s: O Cotter 0-5(f’s)

Milford: R Finn; C Galvin, N O’ Brien, L Healy; O O’Mahony, E O’ Riordan (c), S Sexton,; D O’Reilly, A Watson; M Watson, A Geary, M Geary; L O’ Flynn, E  Watson, S O’ Flynn.

St Catherine’s: D Leahy; F Noonan (c), O Neville, Y O’ Neill; A M Hayes, L Power, C Motherway; M O’ Keeffe, O Cotter: R O æ Callaghan, F Neville, F Cotter; D Twomey, E Roynane, L Higgins.

Ref: Anthony Cummins (Sliabh Rua).        

Eire OG 2-6 Ballygarvan 1-7

A superb second half display where they had to withstand tremendous Ballygarvan pressure ensures Eire Og were crowned Evening Echo Minor B county champions yesterday in Castle Road.

Eire Og played with the aid of the gale force wind in the opening half and it was here they set the foundations for victory as they totted up a 1-5 to 0-2 interval lead but they own huge credit for their victory to their goalkeeper Marie Gleeson who brought off some excellent saves over the hour denying Ballygarvan goals at vital stages of the contest.

Despite playing against the strong wind it was Ballygarvan who made the better start and they opened up a two point lead thanks to points from Rachel Keohane and Lorraine Browne before Eire OG struck for their opening score when Elaine Scally reacted quickest to flick the ball to the net from Claire Meaney’s long range free. Claire Meeney pointed to extend their lead before Ballygarvan had a let as Elaine Scally’s shot for goal struck the upright and came back into play. From here on Eire Og dictated the half Claire Meaney was superb as they pushed forward and she had plenty of help from Roisin Murray, Aoife Mc Carthy and Elaine Scally, and it with Meaney striking three points and Elaine Scally one Eire Og extended their lead. Ballygarvan worked hard to close them down but they were under a lot of pressure as Eire Og made good use of the elements in the opening thirty minutes.  

On the turn over it was Eire Og who grabbed the first score Siobhan Gleeson who had moved to the corner forward spot from defence hand passing the ball to the net inside three minutes to extend their lead to nine point. With the wind behind them Ballygarvan did as was expected and upped their game, Marie Gleeson brought off a superb save to deny Aisling Byrne a goal before Ballygarvan hit three points without reply Maebh Moynihan and Lorraine Browne on target as they began to eat into Eire Og’s lead.  With their backs to the wall the Eire Og defence had to be at their best as Ballygarvan threw everything they had at them with their captain Ciara O’ Keeffe, Katie Mc Carthy and Orla Boyle doing trojan work as they battled to hold off the challenge.

With nine mnutes remaining Ballygarvan had the lead down to a goal Rebecca Murphy evading the defence to finish to the net and now it was very much game on.  To their credit Eire Og responded sweeping down field Aoife Mc Carthy pointed but again Ballygarvan hit back two points from Rebecca Murphy putting just two between them with four minutes on the stop watch. From here to the finish it was non stop defending Marie Gleeson had to clear quickly to safety as Ballygarvan looked for a goal but their was no way through as Eire Og held solid to record victory.

Scorers for Eire OG: E Scally 1-2, (0-1f), C Meeney 0-4 (0-1f), S Hutchinson 1-0.

Ballygarvan: R Murphy 1-2, L Browne 0-3(0-3f), R Keohane, A Byrne 0-1 each.                            

Eire Og: M Gleeson; M Corkery, A Hennessy, S Hutchinson; C O’ Keeffe (c), K Mc Carthy, O Meaney; O Boyle, R Murray; M E Desmond, C Meaney, A Murphy; E Crowley, A Mc Carthy, E Scally.

 Ballygarvan: M E O’ Donovan; Aine Walsh, L O’ Callaghan, K O’ Donovan; A Keohane, L Browne, L Kennefick; C Murphy, K O’ Sullivan; M Moynihan, R Murphy, A Byrne; S      Quilligan, R  Keohane, Amy Walsh.

Ref: John O’ Leary (Mallow).        

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