Byrne bags a late goal to earn points for Ballincor
at Annacurra
Danny Kavanagh opened his side’s account getting on the end of a defence splitting pass from Matthew Gilbert. It was another move involving Gilbert that nearly created the opening goal of the night on six minutes when a ball in from the centre forward managed to evade Danny Byrne but Declan Roper stabbed wide under immense pressure from Ciaran O’Neill in the Ballinacor goal.
However we would not have long to wait for the first major of the game which succeeded a Davy Carter point. A long run into the danger area by Luke Evans found Robbie Whelan in space who was dragged down in the square for a penalty which was expertly dispatched by Danny Kavanagh into the top left corner.
Ballinacor’s reply was immediate. Brian Hanlon set off on a mazy run into the wood end before passing into the path of the quick thinking Paddy Byrne who flicked the ball into the path of Ger Byrne who fired home to complete a lovely sweeping move.
Danny Kavanagh added two fantastically struck frees before another sublime assist from Gilbert supplied Roper with the ammunition to add another point and tie up the scores again.
Lee Dutton added a forth point in a row for the Kilcoole men which was swiftly added to by a fine individual effort from Roper again.
Ballinacor will have been concerned in the fifteen minute lull in their performance allowing Kilcoole five unanswered points but when they need someone to step up, Paddy Byrne replies.
Byrne scored a fourth of the day before playing his hand in another move allowing Ger Byrne the chance to level matters from a free just as 30 minutes elapsed.
Before the whistle blew to conclude the half, a relatively subdued Conor Parsons fired over a rasper from distance from the outside of his left boot to give the Cors the lead by the minimum at the interval.
The second half opened again with great pace as Gilbert and Kavanagh restored a Kilcoole lead and their cause was aided by a save from Glenn Tighe at the feet of Ger Byrne after more good link play between himself and Paddy.
Brian Hanlon stepped up to the plate for the Ballinacor cause in the important minutes and set up a number of early Ballinacor scores.
Davy Carter finished one such move and moments later, Hanlon fed Ger Byrne for a goal chance but his shot was tipped over by Tighe. Matthew Gilbert added another free before Paddy Byrne combined with Hanlon again to feed Ger Byrne who saw a third attempt in the opening minutes thwarted by the legs of Tighe.
Not one to drop his head, the Ballinacor full forward responded with a free for the ‘home side’ before returning the favour to Hanlon who scored a deserved point for all his hard work.
Kilcoole however, would not be knocked with all the Ballinacor threats. Luke Evans kicked a fine score from range and he along with his partner Jack Bellamy had a great battle with Parsons and Daniel Dowling over the course of the sixty minutes in midfield.
Matthew Gilbert kicked a 45 shortly after which only for the net would have been found on Rednagh hill.
However, their good work was soon to be undone by the sharp reflexes of Ger Byrne at the other end of the field. A short kick out was spotted by Byrne at the last second and he slid to stop the ball.
The bounce of the ball fell perfectly into the hands of brother Paddy who was left with a one on one with Tighe and stroked home a cool finish to the joy of the Ballinacor fans in attendance. BALLINACOR: Ciaran O’Neill, Danny Byrne, Chris Kennedy, Denis Heffernan, John Devitt, James Byrne, Philly Byrne, Daniel Dowling, Conor Parsons (0-1), Peter Kennedy, Paddy Byrne (1-4), Brian Hanlon (0-1), Jamie Nolan, Ger Byrne (1-4), Davy Carter (0-2). Subs; Ronan Phelan for Nolan, Martin Byrne for Parson (black card) KILCOOLE: Glenn Tighe, Conor Murphy-O’Toole, Luke O’Reilly, David Kelly, Dara Keddy, Vinny Quigley, Eoin O’Brien, Jack Bellamy, Luke Evans (0-1), Lee Dutton (0-1), Matthew Gilbert (0-4), Keith Reynold, Robbie Whelan, Danny Kavanagh (1-4), Declan Roper (0-2). Subs; Charlie Maguire for Keddy.