Ballinhassig held off a late surge from Inniscarra to secure a 1-19 to 1-16 victory in the Co-Op SuperStores SAHC clash at Ovens. The Blues finished three points clear at the final whistle, though the contest nearly slipped away after a late red card and a flurry of unanswered scores from the opposition.
How Ballinhassig Built and Nearly Lost a Seven-Point Lead
Entering the final ten minutes of regulation, Ballinhassig held a commanding seven-point cushion and looked poised for a comfortable win. However, wayward shooting and sloppy play allowed Inniscarra back into the contest. Ballinhassig were reduced to 14 men during the five minutes of stoppage time after Darragh O’Sullivan picked up a second yellow card. Despite the numerical disadvantage, late points from Ger Collins and substitute Shane McCarthy got the Carrigdhoun men over the line to move top of Group 3 with three points.
Inniscarra’s Brave Fightback Falls Just Short
Inniscarra entered the fixture without Cork defender Seán O’Donoghue due to injury, relying heavily on the scoring of Joseph Enright, who finished with 0-9 (0-8 frees). It took Inniscarra 21 minutes to register their first point from play through David O’Keeffe. Despite a sluggish start and trailing by four points at halftime, 0-11 to 0-7, Inniscarra roared back with six consecutive points late in the game, driven largely by substitute Ardal O’Connell, who contributed three points. A dramatic late chance saw Andrew McCarthy shoot narrowly wide into the side netting when a equalizing goal looked likely.
Did you know? Last year’s PIHC winners Ballinhassig now lead Group 3 with three points, while Inniscarra and Carrigtwohill sit on two points each, followed by Courcey Rovers on one point heading into the final round of fixtures.
Match Scorers and Personnel
Ger Collins led the scoring for Ballinhassig with 0-9, including seven frees, while Conor Desmond added 0-3 and Michael Collins netted a crucial goal following an assist from Desmond. Additional points for the Blues came from Simon O’Neill and Evan Cullinane (0-2 each), alongside P. Collins, Darragh O’Sullivan, and Shane McCarthy.
For Inniscarra, Joseph Enright’s 0-9 anchored the scoreboard, supplemented by David O’Keeffe’s 1-1 and three points from Ardal O’Connell. Murphy, and C. Geoghegan. Niall Fahy of Brian Dillons refereed the encounter.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Co-Op SuperStores SAHC clash between Ballinhassig and Inniscarra?
Ballinhassig won the match with a final score of 1-19 to 1-16.
Who were the top scorers for Ballinhassig?
Ger Collins led Ballinhassig with 0-9 (0-7 frees), while Conor Desmond contributed 0-3 and Michael Collins scored a goal.
How did Inniscarra nearly force a draw?
Inniscarra mounted a late comeback with six unanswered points and had a goal chance deep in added time, but Andrew McCarthy’s shot went narrowly wide of the post.
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