Ballyhea finish strong to secure Division 2 HL semi final spot

Ballyhea 2-16 Liscarroll/Churchtown 1-11

A WELL-BALANCED Ballyhea side finished strong to overcome Liscarroll/ Gaels in the Cavanagh’s Fermoy Division 2 HL quarter-final at Churchtown on Friday evening.

The game was played in wet conditions and exchanges were closely contested. Neil Ronan opened the scoring with an early pointed free. The Gaels replied with a free by Colin O’Brien. Jonathan O’Sullivan and Shane Coleman swapped a point.

Gaels hit four scores on the spot a point by Paul McMahon followed by a Daniel Curtin goal and points by Colin O’Brien as they moved 1-5 to 0-2 clear after 19 minutes. Colin O’Brien added another with Neil Ronan and Michael Mortell adding points for Ballyhea who closed the gap at the break 1-6 to 0-6.

On the resumption Ballyhea were quick to get on terms when Neil Ronan goaled and levelled for the 3rd time. By the 43rd minute they were also deadlocked at 1-9 apiece. Ballyhea edged ahead again and dominated the last quarter. They had points by Luke Crowley and Neil Ronan. Daniel Curtin and Colin O’Brien replied for the Gaels.

Ballyhea finished very well. They had some good points by Neil Ronan (3) Luke Hanley and a Diarmuid O’Shaughnessy goal with 3 minutes remaining. Ballyhea with an injury time point by Eamonn O’Sullivan ran out winners by an 8 point margin. BALLYHEA: D O’Riordan, L O’Shea, J O’Leary W Carroll, E O’Sullivan 0-1, N Crowley, T Shanahan, T Foley, K Copps, S Og Kelly, D O’Shaughnessy 1-0, N Ronan 1-9 (03f), M Mortell 0-3, J O’Sullivan 0-1, R Hanley. Subs: K Hanley for R Hanley, L Crowley 0-2 for M Mortell, M Crowley for W Carroll.

LISCARROLL/CHURCHTOWN GAELS:

P Morrissey, D O’Brien, T Fehin, P Egan, P McMahon 0-1, T Egan, P O’Shea, S Coleman 0-1, E Coleman, D Curtin 1-1, S Hedigan, C O’Brien 0-8 (3f), P Crowley, J Breen, A Murphy. Subs: E Evans for P Crowley, E Barrett for S Hedigan, T Jones for P McMahon.

Justin Murphy (Castletownroche)