Ballincollig hold the edge over Éire Óg all the way through

for the full hour as he played a huge role in giving a welcome boost to Ballincollig hurling fortunes. Ballincollig were quickly into their stride in this replayed encounter with their touch much superior to their opponents.

They found it hard to press home their advantage however as their full line of attact found it hard to make an impact as Éire Óg’s full-back John Mullins was a tower of strength for his side.

The winners, did open the scoring when Cian Dorgan’s first effort from a placed ball was on target and they were looking confident when Ben Keohane followed with a minor from play.

Exceptional defensive play by Éire Óg foiled Ballincollig in their efforts at moving further ahead and Brian Kirwan’s two points from frees for Éire Óg put them flatteringly on level terms at the end of 12 minutes of action.

A superb Cian Dorgan point regained the lead for Ballincollig in the 16th minute, but Éire Óg dangerman Eoin O’Shea immediately replied so the sides were again on level terms.

Play during the remainder of the opening moiety was scrappy with both sides scoring two points from frees before Ballincollig endeavoured to put daylight between themselves and their opponents.

Minors from Mark Prendergast and Sean Walsh enhanced their prospects of victory, but a determined effort by Ronan O’Toole resulted in him getting a point back seconds before the break.

The score was 0-8 to 0-7 at the break as a consequence but Ballincollig were shaping up as the side with the more potential so they were slightly fancied to garner the spoils. The winners had increased their lead to two points by the 35th minute and one minute later they secured a rather fortuitous goal that set them on the road to victory.

The Éire Óg Cúl Baire Dylan Desmond was penalised for taking a puck out from outside the small parallelogram so a throw in ball in the danger zone resulted as a consequence.

In the ensuing play corner-forward Rob Bourke got in a vital touch to ensure that the sliotar found the Éire Óg net. The latter did their utmost to turn their situation around but their attack lacked penetration as current Ballincollig minor Karl Spillane was delegated the task of curbing sharpshooter Eoin O’Shea and he performed his task well.

The likelihood of Éire Óg securing a major was getting more and more remote as the minutes ticked away and Ballincollig were really looking good when they enjoyed an eight point advantage following 51 minutes of action.

Éire Óg true to form did not go down without a fight and they were foiled of morale boosting major by the Ballincollig number (1) when he made a diving save they subsequently scored four points without reply but their effort was too late so Ballincollig have captured this championship for the first time since 2007.

Fortunately for this season’s competition there were two competitive games at its conclusion as it generated very little excitement overall. The surprise decision by Blarney and Inniscarra to participate in the new premier Under 21 County Championship naturally reduced the standard in Muskerry and it was clear from an early stage that Ballincollig and Éire Óg would be the front runners and they inevitably contested the final.

The first encounter finished on an exciting note but the presence of Cian Dorgan ensured that Ballincollig had the upper hand in the replay. Others who impressed for the winners in same were seventeen years old Jordan Murray who performed well at centre half back in his duel with the experienced Ronan O’Toole and Karl Spillane who restricted the danger posed by Eoin O’Shea.

Éire Óg had an outstanding figure at full back in John Mullins while Ross McCarthy was also a good figure in an overworked defence.