Macroom bow out of championship at Ballingeary’s hands

most of a lapse in concentration from Macroom’s defenders early in the second half to score a goal from a free when a point looked the obvious outcome. That momentary switching if is ultimately what did for a Macroom side that will feel they should be challenging much farther into this competition.

Led on the pitch as always by the equally talented Fintan and David Goold, as well as by defender Rory Buckley, Macroom would have fancied their chances here however Ballingeary’s Andy Concannon, Liam Shorten and full-back Leonard Ó’Conchuir had other ideas in less than ideal conditions for football.

Ballingeary got off to the much better start with three pints on the board before the men in green and white managed to adapt to both the weather and to their opponents.

Playing with the wind seemed to be playing off for the victors, however, Macroom got back into things with a Tony Dineen point and a pointed free from Cork star Fintan Goold.

Ballingeary again pointed soon after but this game never likely to be a high scoring affair and they led at the turn by just two, 0-4 to 0-2.

The second half saw Macroom register the first score thanks to David Goold to bring the gap back to the minimum and at that stage it looked ominous for the Gaeltacht men who had to face all of 25 minutes with the wind in their faces.

However, up stepped Concannon with his close in free and rather than pointing he chose the top corner as the ball’s final destination. A decision that would ultimately see his side into round four.

Macroom battled on against the wind and credit to them they kept in touch with Ballingeary but really they just didn’t play the elements well and never looked like pulling this one out of the fire.

This is a tough loss for a side that really should be there or there abouts when the prizes are being dished out however not for the first time luck just didn’t seem to be on their side.

For Ballingeary, this was a well-deserved win and they will fancy their chances of going on a fair bit in the knockout stages.