Grange denied county title by Ballincurra’s late points

Ballincurra 0-13 Grange 0-11

TWO late points by Ballincurra’s Kelvin Krushal and Stephen O’Brien saw them edge out a resolute Grange outfit in an entertaining County JBFL final at the 4G Pitch at Pairc Ui Chaoimh last Friday.

These two sides clashed in the 2018 County JBFC final where the East Cork side emerged victors after a replay. In a close contest little separated the sides. They were level at 0-1 each after seven minutes when Jake Hegarty and Mark Timlin had points.

During the opening stages Ballincurra got a better return from the chances they were presented with. Jake Hegarty pointed a free before a well taken point by Killian Harty moved them 0-3 to 0-1 in front. Grange’s response was instant, two pointed frees by Kurt Wheeler had them level for the second time at 0-3 apiece.

The Imokilly side hit a good spell with Killian Lynch, Shane Wiggins, James Nagle, Jake Hegarty, Kelvin Kruschal, Stephen O’Brien and Killian Harty impressing. Some well worked movements yielded some fine points by Glen Harty, Killian Harty and Cillian Lynch with Glen Harty also coming close to scoring when his effort from close range went narrowly over the bar for a point as they opened up a 0-7 to 0-3 lead by the 23rd minute.

Grange who kicked a number of bad wides up to this stage finally found their scoring range. In the run to the break they had three points by Kurt Wheeler (2) and Alan McNamara that helped close the deficit at the break to 0-8 to 0-6.

On the restart both teams were quick into the action with Kelvin Kruschal and Dave Keating swapping points by the 33rd minute.

As the half went on Grange shaded matters for a while with Devon Roche, Kurt Wheeler, John Roche, Alan McNamara, John Carmody, Mark Timlin and Michael Hennessy making inroads and by the 40th minute it was all to play for when level 0-9 each when Kurt Wheeler and John Carmody had points for the Avondhu side.

In a keenly contested half they were tied on two more occasions at 0-10 and 0-11 each when Jake Hegarty, Devon Roche, Stephen O’Brien and Alan McNamara had points for their respective teams by the 50th minute. Both teams battled hard for supremacy to the finish and in the end it was Ballincurra that got two crucial scores that set them on their way to victory.

In the 57th minute a great clearance by Cillian Lynch eventually saw Kelvin Kruschal kick over a point. Grange went all out for the equalising score but it was not to be with Stephen O’Brien moving Ballincurra two clear with a free in the 59th minute and it was enough to see them hold on for victory. BALLINCURRA: J Wyer, E Hegarty, T Costigan, I Cahill, M Beecher, S Finnegan, K Lynch 0-1, S Wiggins, J Nagle, G Harty 0-2, J Hegarty 0-4 (1f, 1 ‘45’), K Kruschal 0-2, K Harty 0-2, S O’Brien 0-2 (1f), P Nagle. Subs: G Carty for M Beecher, K Kennedy for E Hegarty, T O’Leary for S Wiggins (black card) R Swayne for I Cahill.

GRANGE: G Dawson, J Magnier, K Murphy, B Cashman, D Scott, M Hennessy, J Roche, M Timlin 0-1, Devon Roche 0-1, J Carmody 0-1, N Barry, K Wheeler 0-5 (4f), N McCarthy, A McNamara 0-2, D Keating 0-1. Subs: A Deegan for N McCarthy, R Fraher for K Murphy, P Stapleton for N Barry, J Kelleher for D Scott (inj)

REFEREE: Robert White (Bishopstown)