Ballymartle edge out Éire Óg in hard-fought PIHC thriller

Ballymartle 1-17 Éire Óg 2-12

Ballymartle edged out Éire Óg in a terrific PIHC battle at Ballinshassig on Saturday night.

Ryan Deasy landed some magnificent frees throughout, while their goalkeeper Darren McCarthy made a number of very important saves. Éire Óg trailed by four points at half time but dominated the closing minutes with Cork football star Colm O’Callaghan narrowly flicking a long delivery inches wide of the post. It was that close.

Éire Óg Eoin O'Shea being challenged by Luke O'Callaghan for Ballymartle. Picture: Denis Boyle

Ballymartle opened the scoring with a superb score from Brian Corry, but Éire Óg’s talisman Eoin O’Shea, who had a superb game, replied instantly with a mighty long-range effort from play. Ballymartle hit the front when Brian Corry caught superbly before flicking to Eoghan Healy who smashed to the net.

The Ovens outfit replied through the experienced Kevin Hallissey with a fine point from distance. Ballymartle enjoyed plenty of possession and added scores from a Ryan Deasy free and a Simon Dorney point.

Éire Óg battled hard and a well-taken goal from Mark Kelleher after an excellent pass from Cork U20 Johnny Galvin had them trailing by a point, 1-4 to 1-3 after 17 minutes. But Ballymartle responded well with points from Cillian Lordan and a fine free from the excellent Deasy.

The Ovens outfit responded with a neat point from the hard-working Johnny Galvin. Deasy showed his class and landed two excellent frees which gave Ballymartle a four-point lead at the break, 1-10 to 1-6 at the break.

On resumption, the sides exchanged scores before Luke O’Callaghan landed a magnificent score for Ballymartle. The second period was low scoring, but the intensity never waned as Ballymartle comfortably held the four-point cushion all through the third quarter.

But crucially for Éire Óg Eoin Ó Shea blasted a 20m free to the net which reduced the gap to three points with 10 minutes remaining. Moments later, Colm O’Callaghan made a marauding run but his shot on goal was saved by Ballymartle’s excellent goalkeeper Darren McCarthy.

Ballymartle were under siege now, but Ryan Deasy landed an excellent free when the need was greatest, while centre-back Rickard Cahalane landed an inspirational score from distance. Éire Óg kept coming with Daniel Healy and Eoin O’Shea (free) converting chances that left two points between the sides.

There was time for one final play and the gasps from the crowd were audible when Colm O’Callaghan flicked on a delivery from Johnny Galvin which went just outside the post.

Scorers for Ballymartle: R Deasy 0-7 (0-6 f), L O’Callaghan 0-4, E Healy 1-0, C Lordan, J Dwyer, D Casey, S Dorney, S Cummins, R Cahalane 0-1 each.

Éire Óg: E O’Shea 1-7 (1-6 f, 0-1 ’65), M Kelleher 1-0, J Galvin 0-3, K Hallissey, D Healy 0-1 each.

BALLYMARTLE: D McCarthy; C Coleman, TJ Murphy, E O’Leary; J Dwyer, R Cahalane, S Corry; F Desmond, S Dorney; S Cummins, E Healy, R Deasy; C Lordan, B Corry, L O’Callaghan.

Subs: P Geary for E Healy (45), D Desmond for S Cummins (50).

ÉIRE ÓG: C Sheehan; C McGoldrick, M Brady, J Mullins; D Dineen, D McCarthy, D Herlihy; E O’Shea, L Considine; J Kelleher, J Galvin, D Casey; D Foley, M Kelleher, K Hallissey.

Subs: C O’Callaghan for K Hallissey (h-t), D Healy for D Foley (h-t), D Clifford for L Considine (35).

Referee: W Wallis (Aghada).

Click here to read article