Eugene O’Leary’s late goal gives Ballyhea narrow win over Saints

Ballyhea 1-18 St Catherine’s 0-17

A goal ten minutes from the end of normal time by Eugene O’Leary proved decisive when Ballyhea emerged victors over St Catherine’s in the Red FM Division 4 HL at Ballynoe on Sunday.

The opening half saw both teams enjoy their moments. The East Cork outfit started in a very determined manner with Eoin O’Riordan, Oisín Fitzgerald, Kyle Wallace, Rory Galvin and Seán O’Donoghue to the fore as they moved 0-4 to 0-1 clear by the 10th minute.

Ballyhea battled back with some well taken points by John Morrissey (two) and Joseph Hickey that forced parity at 0-4 apiece. However, another good spell by St Catherine’s saw them open up a sizeable advantage.

Eoin Condon and Kyle Wallace linked up well along the flank to set up substitute Nathan Sheehan for a great point, Kyle Wallace opened up a two point game with a long range effort before two quick fire points from Rory Galvin moved them double scores in front by the 26th minute.

Ballyhea rallied well before the break with John Morrissey and Eugene O’Leary having a point each before St Catherine’s Eoin O’Riordan got across to make a vital interception from Calum Cox after he received a great pass from the hardworking John Morrissey.

In stoppage time key players John Morrissey and Joseph Hickey with points ensured they were deadlocked at the short whistle at 0-8 apiece.

On the changeover despite Brian Mulcahy having two early points for the home side it was a much improved Ballyhea side that shaded matters. They were level at 0-10 and 0-11 apiece before the Avondhu side hit the front for the first time in the 41st minute when Luke Crowley set up Gavin Morrissey for a fine point.

Further pressure yielded a series of points by Dean Copps, Eugene O’Leary and John Morrissey as they moved 0-15 to 0-11 clear.

Seán O’Donoghue replied with a point for the ‘Saints’, but it was Ballyhea that stretched their lead when Eugene O’Leary netted in the 52nd minute 1-15 to 0-12.

St Catherine’s battled back well in the closing stages with Seán O’Donoghue (two), Rory Galvin, Eoin Davis and Kevin Barry having points as they headed into injury time when just a goal separated the teams.

In injury-time Ballyhea completed the scoring through the impressive Joseph Hickey as they emerged victors by a four point margin.

BALLYHEA: G O’Shea, A Barrett, L Hanley, J Copps, Tiernan Hanley, M O’Sullivan, C Crowley, D Copps 0-1, C Cox, L Crowley, G Morrissey 0-1, J Morrissey 0-10 (5f), J Hickey 0-4, D Curtin, E O’Leary 1-2. Subs: K Copps for T Hanley (inj), S O’Kelly for D Curtin (inj), N Crowley for C Crowley, M Mortell for G Morrissey

ST CATHERINE’S: E Davis 0-1f, J Neville, E O’Riordan, K Neville, E Condon, O Fitzgerald 0-1, G O’Brien, K Wallace 0-1, K O’Donoghue, K Barry 0-1, R Galvin 0-5 (2f), M Mulcahy, B Mulcahy 0-2, A Neville, S O’Donoghue 0-5 (4f). Subs: N Sheehan 0-1 for K O’Donoghue (inj), P Keane for G O’Brien, W Leahy for E Condon (inj), T O’Donnell for A Neville, H Draper for K Barry

REFEREE: James Bermingham (Bride Rovers)