Junior Team sponsored by Four Star Pizza Murphy’s Irish Stout AUL Premier A Leeds Park, Sunday 18th October 2009, 10.45 a.m.
Leeds 4 – 1 Ballincollig
This was a depleted Ballincollig outfit even with several players from the Youths called up to fill the ranks on a chilly Sunday morning on the North side. The score line is a bit unfair to Ballincollig given the overall performance but life and football isn’t about getting what you deserve.
Both teams competed very well but it was the home side who took the lead around the twenty minute mark. However, Ballincollig struck back immediately through Tom Ross who got his second goal in as many games. The previous goal may have simply been a case of being in the right place at the right time but this one was emphatic. A rocket from outside the box straight after the restart to typify the spirit that Ballincollig teams regularly display.
Ballincollig almost took the lead on 35 minutes through Cyril Quinn who was doing his best to copy Ross only to see his effort fly over the bar. Leeds were in no mood to let anyone away with a win on their home patch and had a few chances of their own. Both sides went into the break with one goal apiece.
John Kelly and Niall Murphy (Leeds) race for the ball
It was a tough competitive game but it was played fairly. It was Leeds who got the decisive goal though on 70 minutes. They followed it up with two more to seal the victory. Best for Ballincollig were Brian O’Donovan, Chris Kelly making his return from injury and Trevor Murphy.
Youths Team FAI Umbro Youths Cup 2nd Round Lakewood Park, Saturday 17th October 2009, 3.00 p.m.
Lakewood Athletic 0 – 1 Ballincollig
Ballincollig had played the same opposition the previous week in the league and been on the wrong end of a three – one score line. With a full squad to choose from the ‘Collig secured a deserved victory in a hotly contested Cup tie.
The home team took the game to their local rivals from the start and dominated the opening ten minutes; their right midfielder having the best of the chances with a volley that went the wrong side of the post. After the initial flurry Ballincollig began to settle into the game with Damien McEvoy causing the Lakewood back four all sorts of problems. His link-up play was excellent and more than once he picked out a telling pass. Another stand out player for Ballincollig was Mark Walsh whose work rate and fitness made a massive difference. A tackle at the halfway line when the ball was already going out of play to win Ballincollig a throw typified his performance. Lakewood had two great chances before half time but Gavin Hennigan was equal to their efforts and fully deserved his clean sheet over the course of the game. Their shots were constantly blocked by the keeper who is a leaper – doubtless, he can also make things rhyme better than this writer can.
Arron Cooney shepherding the ball
While it would be fair to say that Ballincollig overall had come off second best in the first half it was a completely different story after the restart. The green and white constantly threatened and broke through the home defence but couldn’t seem to find the net. Arron Cooney and Mark Walsh both had great chances before the goal came on the hour mark. Damien McEvoy collected the ball on the half-way line. He found the space to turn and release a pass for Mark Walsh to run onto. The chasing defenders couldn’t catch him and he drilled it low past the keeper to give his side the lead. Conor Leonard had two chances in the space of two minutes but neither could find the net. Damien McEvoy and Arron Cooney also feeling they should have gotten on the score sheet.
There was a fear that Ballincollig would rue all the missed chances as Lakewood pushed hard to find the equalizer and take the game to extra time. The best they could manage were long range shots that went over the bar. Ballincollig kept possession well in the closing minutes and could have had another goal but in the end it was the solitary score that separated the two teams.
U17s Team FAI Umbro U17 Cup 2nd Round Regional Park, Sunday 18th October 2009, 3.00 p.m.
Ballincollig 1 – 3 Glounthane United
The Under 17s made their exit from the National Cup despite taking the lead and dominating the game for long periods. The goal came from Kevin Hyland. He chested the ball down and with a beauty of a long range effort he made the net bulge. He was Ballincollig’s best player on the day and it was his loss on 55 minutes due to injury that enabled Glounthane to come back into the game. They got the equalizer with twenty minutes remaining and bagged their place in the third round with two more goals after that. Phillip Quinn and Paul Donovan also played well for Ballincollig.
Seniors away to Blarney United in the league, O’Shea Park, Tuesday 20th October, 7.30 p.m. Seniors at home to Avondale United in the league, The Farm, Saturday 24th October, 3.00 p.m. Juniors away to Pearse Celtic in the league, Clashduv Road, Saturday 24th October, 3.00 p.m. Youths away to Midleton in the league, Knockgriffin, Saturday 24th October, 3.00 p.m. U17s at home to Mallow United in the league, Regional Park, Sunday 25th October, 3.00 p.m. U16 Schoolgirls away to Carrigaline United in the league, Ballea Park, Sunday 25th October, 2.00 p.m. O35s against Wembley in the league, The Mardyke, Friday 23rd October, 7.00 p.m.
Senior Team away to Glasheen in the FAI Intermediate Cup, Glasheen Park, Sunday 11th October, 10.45 a.m. Junior Team at home to Blackstone Rovers in the league, Regional Park, Saturday 10th October, 3.00 p.m. Youths at home to Lakewood Athletic in the league, Regional Park, Saturday 10th October, 3.00 p.m.
Premier Team sponsored by Four Star Pizza Lucozade Sport Munster Junior Cup 1st Round Regional Park, Saturday 3rd October 2009, 3.00 p.m.
Ballincollig 0 – 3 Bohemians
The score line does a disservice to Ballincollig as they were well in contention for most of this game but tiredness crept in and mistakes were punished in the last fifteen minutes. There was no sign of nerves among the home team as they took the game to the visitors showing composure at the back and opened them up with some neat passing. The final product was often lacking though as shots on goal didn’t manage to find the target. The best chance falling to Pa’ Flanagan who hit the post with a curling free-kick:
The centre half pairing of Michael Gallahue and Emmet Campion were well on top with full-backs Trevor Murphy and Tom Ross always providing the outlet for a counter attack as the home team dominated the opening exchanges. At half time it was nil all and Ballincollig were confident of pushing on to win the game however it wasn’t to be.
A Ballincollig free-kick resulted in a counter attack where the pace of the Bohemians striker took him past the chasing defender and he finished well into the bottom corner. Ballincollig sought to find the equaliser but were once again undone with a counter attack when a cross to the back post gave the Bohemians midfielder all the time in the world to head it into the net. There was some great skill and trickery shown by Ballincollig’s right flank which resulted in a Noel Hogan chance that just went the wrong side of the post following some nice interplay between him and Tom Ross. The third goal was the result of a mix-up in communication and a tap-in to an empty net.
There can be some pride in this performance despite the result. Pa’ Flanagan showed some wonderful touches. John Kelly also played very well both up front and later on the right side of midfield. With a bit more effort at training the luck will change and the goals and wins will start to come.
Ballincollig will definitely feel that they should have taken more from this game but having an Irish junior international in your team will always be a telling difference.
The game took a while to get flowing and the first real chance fell to the home team when Anthony Ryan played Jason Murphy through. In the race between Murphy and the Everton keeper it was the latter who got to the ball first. The rebound fell to Ian Roche and his spectacular overhead effort fell just the wrong side of the post.
Ballincollig were made to rue that missed chance but it was a large slice of good luck that led to Everton taking the lead. The ‘Collig defence were trying to clear thier lines when the ball fell to the Everton winger. His shot took a wicked deflection that left Brian O’Donovan with no chance. Cruelly, the away team got a second when a bounce in the box fell nicely for two Everton players. Both swung at it and while they may fight over who got the goal it meant the half time whistle blew with their team two goals to the good.
The second half started with Ballincollig determined to take the game to their opponents. Jason Muprhy led the charge and was through on goal only to be taken out of it by the Everton centre-half. The ref had no choice but to issue a red card and award a penalty. Unfortunately the Everton keeper decided to put in an early shout for save of the season and got down to keep ‘Collig scoreless.
A sucker punch came on the hour mark when a ball over the top found the Everton winger again in space and he made no mistake in taking his goal. Ballincollig couldn’t make the extra man count despite some chances but they did get a deserved goal when another penalty was given with ten minutes left. Christopher O’Brien took the responsibility and made no mistake as he put the keeper the wrong way.
Some would say that Everton deserved the win but Ballincollig will feel they should have taken at least a point from the game. The luck will change soon. The performances, with one exception, have been very good and it is only a matter of time before the points start to appear on the board.
