Ballyhea progress to County Junior B semi-final
Ballyhea 5-15 Aghada 4-12
FOLLOWING a high scoring County Junior B HC (Divisional) quarter-final at Killavullen on Saturday last Ballyhea had six points to spare over a gallant Aghada outfit.
The opening stages saw both teams adjust well to the wintry conditions. They were level for the third time at 0-3 apiece by the eight minute the points by Ryan Hanley (2) Jamie O’Hanlon (2) Darragh Ryan and Neil Ronan for their respectively sides.
The remainder of the half saw Ballyhea gain a foothold on proceedings with Stephen Dennehy, James O’Leary, Niall Crowley, Jack Barrett, Dean Copps, Ryan Hanley, Neil Ronan and Diarmuid O’Shaughnessy upping their efforts greatly.
The Avondhu side reeled off the next two points before they struck for the games opening goal in the 10th minute when a mix up in the Aghada defence saw Diarmuid O’Shaughnessy first to react to finish to the net from close range. Further pressure saw Neil Ronan add a point from a free that made it 1-6 to 0-3.
Aghada battled back very well and three minutes later good work by Ger Melvin resulted in Jamie O’Hanlon cutting through to finish to the net.
Over the next couple of minutes both teams traded points before Ballyhea scored their second goal in the 23rd minute when a huge free by keeper Gearoid O’Shea deceived everyone with the sliothar going all the way to the Aghada net that surged them 2-9 to 1-5 in front.
At the other end the East Cork side came close to cancelling out the Ballyhea goal when Darragh Ryan’s effort at goal was saved by the Ballyhea keeper Gearoid O’Shea. In the closing moments Neil Ronan added another point for the winners but a late rally by Aghada saw Marcus Leahy and Ger Melvin with points in quick succession help reduce the margin at the short whistle to 2-10 to 1-7.
On the changeover both teams were quick into action with Ger Melvin and Mark Crowley exchanging an early point. In the 35th minute the winners increased their lead when Neil Ronan drilled a 21 yard free to the net that moved them 3-12 to 1-8 clear.
As the game headed into the last quarter Ballyhea looked in a great position as they increased their advantage to 11 points when leading by 3-14 to 1-9 and there seemed only one outcome.
Aghada with a good blend of youth and experience staged a great revival in the last quarter with Tom O’Neill, Darragh Ryan, Brian Morrissey and Ger Melvin very much to the fore. In the 48th minute Ger Melvin had a goal from a free that closed the gap to eight points.
Further pressure saw Aghada forced the Ballyhea defence to concede a number of unnecessary frees that were punished by Ger Melvin as they came within 3-14 to 2-12 by the 56th minute.
In a gripping finish Aghada went in search of another goal to set up a grandstand finale but it was a solid Ballyhea backline that held firm despite being under severe pressure. In the 59th minute Gearoid O’Shea pointed a free for the North Cork side before they sealed the issue when the hardworking Sean O’Kelly cut in from the end line in injury time to score a cracking goal from a very difficult angle 4- 15 to 2- 12.
The remainder of stoppage time was somewhat of a goal feast with Ger Melvin, Jack Barrett and Craig Hogan having goals as Ballyhea held on for a deserved win and a place in the semi final against Douglas.
BALLYHEA: G O’Shea 1-1f, M Crowley 0-1, S Dennehy, L O’Shea, J O’Leary, N Crowley, E Rea, J Barrett 1-0, D Copps, C Hanley, N Ronan 1-10 (1-4f), M Mortell, R Hanley 0-2, D O’Shaughnessy 1-1, S O’Kelly 1-0. Subs: E O’Sullivan for C Hanley (inj), O O’Byrne for M Mortell, W Shanahan for R Hanley.
AGHADA: K Hegarty, R Condon, W Guiry, L Foley, J Norris, T O’Neill, D Ryan 0-1, B Morrissey, R McConville, J O’Hanlon 1-2, M Leahy, G Melvin 2-7 (2-5f), M O’Connor, J Connolly, M Leahy 0-2. Subs: G Lynch for M O’Connor, D Malone for M Leahy, A Butler for L Foley, L O’Connell for R McConville, C Hogan 1-0 for M Leahy.
REFEREE Eoin Walsh (Dromina)