Senior Team sponsored by Sam’s Bar
Beamish Stout MSL Senior Premier Division
Avondale Park, Tuesday 27th April, 7.00 p.m.
Avondale United 0 – 1 Ballincollig
For the second time in two seasons Ballincollig triumphed against Avondale United in Avondale Park. The FAI Intermediate Cup Finalists went down to the already relegated Ballincollig in a game that was full of action and chances.
It’s no secret that this has been a season to forget for Ballincollig but the faithful few turned out for their last game of the season deteremined to show the pride they had in their jersery. This was an opportunity for Avondale players to stake a place for the Cup Final and they were in no mood to give Ballincollig an easy ride.
Avondale sought to impose their rhythm on the game but they were finding the ‘Collig to be no pushovers. Christy O’Brien swept up anything at the back with ease and Ballincollig sought to attack down the flanks. Indeed Ballincollig were more effective in their attacks forcing corners and saves whereas Avondale couldn’t find their passes either overhitting them or getting caught in possession. Gavin O’Callaghan and Jason Murphy both went close for the visitors before the half-time whistle.
Avondale’s manager obviously gave his side his version of the hairdryer treatment because from the resumption they attacked in waves. Ballincollig held firm though and all of a sudden the home team were undone. A long ball was flicked on by Tom Ross. Gavin O’Callaghan was onto it in a flash and made no mistake in burying it past the keeper. Ballincollig in the lead and in control.
At the back Paul O’Donovan was his usual outstanding self and John Kelleher in goal was calmness personified. Only once did Avondale come close to scoring. It was from a corner that broke to the edge of the six yard box. The winger shaped up with visions of celebrations in his eyes only for Kelleher to close the distance and make a point blank save with his head. The power of the volley knocked him backwards and probably left a few bells ringing but the defence remained unbreached
The home team weren’t to know it but the game was following the usual script for the season. In several games this season Ballincollig would take the lead and hold the lead for most of the game only for bad luck or tiredness to take its toll. A lack of strength in depth costing the squad over the course of the season.
Avondale pushed more men forward in desperation and Ballincollig played on the counter-attack. Once Jason Murphy was clean through and should have added his name to the score-sheet. The team’s Australian import should also have gotten off the mark only for the Avondale keeper to make an outstanding save.
The referee blew the final whistle with Ballincollig breaking from midfield in a two on one situation leaving James Murphy very frustrated that he couldn’t have sealed the victory – although some might say he probably wouldn’t have scored anyway.
The management would like to thank all the players for their commitment in what was an incredibly difficult season. Whatever type of victory one might classify this as, it was still a victory. The rebuilding process for next season is already underway with hopefully a lot of good news to be announced in the summer. It might be a long road for redemption but for some redemption started here.
Senior Team sponsored by Sam’s Bar
Umbro FAI Intermediate Cup 3rd Round
The Farm, Sunday 20th December 12.00 p.m.
Ballincollig 2 – 4 Fanad United
Ballincollig’s run in the Intermediate Cup came to an end on a chilly Sunday afternoon where failure to turn possession into goals and mistakes at the back saw the Northerners progress.
Ballincollig dominated the opening 15 minutes and had two clear chances both from corners. The first fell to Alan O’Donovan who volleyed his shot over the bar and Ian Hayes will felt he should have done better with his header. Fanad’s first real opportunity resulted in a goal. A through ball split the Ballincollig defence and the tackle got all of the man and none of the ball. The penalty was coolly slotted away and very much against the run of the play the visitors had the lead.
The next quarter of an hour saw little in the way of clear cut chances as both sides enjoyed possession and time in the opponent’s half but on 32 minutes Fanad showed the ‘Collig how to take advantage of slack marking. A corner from the right was met with a powerful header on the edge of the box. It was to get worse for the home team five minutes later when a rocket of a free-kick went through the wall to put the Donegal side three goals to the good and that was the way it stayed until the half-time whistle.
The feeling on the sideline during the break was that the next goal would prove crucial and to the disappointment of the watching crowd it was the visitors who got it. A free kick near the half way line with two minutes gone was quickly taken catching the Ballincollig defence off guard. A run down the left and a ball across the box finished into the corner led to fears that there could be a rout but Ballincollig weren’t about to lie down.
Changing their formation Ballincollig pushed to get back into the game. This they managed on 53 minutes when James Murphy found the net with a volley following a scramble from a corner. The bench was emptied and resulted in some real opportunities. Jason Murphy will rue the chance he had. Having dispossessed the defender and taking it past the keeper he was off-balance as he hit the shot at a tight angle and the centre-half was grateful for the lack of power it contained as he cleared it off the line. Ballincollig put some respectability on the score-line when a ball switched to the left wing found sub Gavin O’Callaghan and he made no mistake with a low drive smashed into the corner giving the keeper no chance.
Fanad now have Douglas Hall at home in the 4th round while Ballincollig must look to the league and the very tough challenge that lies ahead for them in the battle to stay in the Munster Senior League Premier Division.
Senior Team sponsored by Ballincollig Shopping Centre
Beamish Stout Senior Premier Division
The Farm, Saturday 29th November 2009, 2.00 p.m.
Ballincollig 0 – 2 Ringmahon Rangers
A depleted Ballincollig did everything but score in a frustrating encounter that puts a serious dent in the survival prospects for the season ahead. The result leaves Ballincollig in the relegation zone asking how they didn’t do to Ringmahon what Tottenham did to Wigan. We’re not really sure what game the Evening Echo were watching to be honest. We’d ask them to look at the video replays of the game again but FIFA don’t like that sort of thing. Ringmahon had chances that they took. Ballincollig had chances that they missed. That was the difference.
Ballincollig started brightly. Richard O’Brien hit the post in the opening 15 minutes. Some nice play down the left hand side resulted in a low cross into the six yard box only for Jason Murphy to slip at the final moment. The Ringmahon keeper was very grateful to gather the ball up. In truth this wasn’t a great game to watch as both teams were very scrappy but the match was played in a good spirit.
Ballincollig should have learned from the free header that went over the bar from a Ringmahon corner but they didn’t and they were punished. A run down the right resulted in a cross to the edge of the box that was vollied into the top corner. If you asked him to do it again it’s likely he’d have scuffed it but unfortunately for the home team the connection was perfect.
Ballincollig sought to get back into the game and put some nice passes together but the enforced weather break of the past few weeks meant that the slick passing game was a bit rusty. It was a needless foul that gave Ringmahon their second. A free-kick on the edge of the box that was expertly put away into the top corner and the away team went in at the break two goals to the good.
The second half was more of the same. The chances Ballincollig had were too many to list but here’s a sample: Richie O’Brien beating four players only to pull his final shot wide; a Bryan McNulty goal disallowed for off-side; Christy O’Brien taking the ball too far past the keeper to slip it in and numerous other close off-side calls among other chances. Ringmahon didn’t really pose any other problems until the closing minutes when Ballincollig pushed forward and and Brian O’Donovan made two very good saves.
A very frustrating result for Ballincollig evidenced by the needless red card picked up in the dying minutes. Best for Ballincollig was James Murphy who completely nullified the threat of the Ringmahon left winger when he moved to right back while his fellow full-back Mark Buckley put in a very composed performance.
Senior Team sponsored by Ballincollig Shopping Centre
FAI Umbro Intermediate Cup 1st Round
Glasheen Park, Saturday 31st October 2009, 2.30 p.m.
Glasheen 0 – 2 Ballincollig
A good win for the Senior team on a heavy underfoot pitch that sees them into the next round of the Intermediate Cup to face Mallow United at home. The previous fixture was abandoned because of an injury sustained to Rob Quinn but the managers and players were delighted to see him at the match supporting his team-mates. Once again everyone at the club would like to wish Rob a speedy and complete recovery.
The away team started well and went at Glasheen from the start. After 15 minutes a great cross from Richard O’Brien found Jason Murphy but his header was saved by the Glasheen keeper. The next chance fell to Christy O’Brien who went through one on one with the keeper but was denied by another great save. A smart move between Ian Roche and Daniel Murphy resulted in a shot for Murphy that hit the crossbar, bounced on the line and came back out. It’s a pity there wasn’t a certain linesman from a 1966 World Cup final there to tell the referee what to do. Ballincollig’s defence were playing very well and Michael O’Sullivan in goal had very little to do. The half-time whistle blew with the game scoreless but Glasheen started the second half determined to change that.
They enjoyed several chances but Mickey Sullivan was more than equal to their efforts. With Ballincollig going for the game Glasheen were dangerous on the break but the Ballincollig back line were in no mood to concede anything. The midfield four were dominant and the front two caused the Glasheen defence all sorts of problems. The inevitable came with 15 minutes to go when Anthony Ryan crossed for Richard O’Brien to turn and shoot with his left leg low into the corner. The second followed soon after when down the same wing Christy O’Brien crossed for brother Richard to turn and shoot with his right leg high into the net.
Glasheen threw everything they had including the kitchen sink, plug and soap in an effort to find an equaliser in the last ten minutes but it was to no avail. A complete team performance will have the management satisfied but some results like this are needed in the league. The league has to wait though as Mallow look to block Ballincollig’s progress into the next round.
Senior Team sponsored by Ballincollig Shopping Centre
MSL Beamish Stout Senior Premier Division
The Farm, Saturday 3rd October 2009, 3.00 p.m.
Ballincollig 1 – 3 Everton
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.
Anyone involved in a team sport knows that the referee has a hard job. Some people might even say that the ref can make it harder for himself. It’s a bad thing though when the referee seems to start playing for the opposition.
Pre-Season Friendly
Donoughmore Community Centre, Saturday 15th August 2009, 2.30 p.m.
Donoughmore Athletic 0 – 2 Ballincollig
Ballincollig completely dominated this game and deserved more than two goals from this fixture. As such it was a useful exercise for the team to gel and become more familiar with each other. Ballincollig were waiting for the Donoughmore team to finish their warm-up before the game started. It was a case of perhaps their warm-up being too vigorous because they couldn’t live with the pace and passing that ‘Collig brought to the table.
There was a magnificent chance when Ian Roche crossed for Tim Brennan in the opening minutes but the ball rolled across the face of the goal rather than into the net. A goal bound shot from Ian Hayes was deflected wide a minute later. Donoughmore resorted to lumping the ball forward to little effect causing the Ballincollig defence no problems. The next real chance came from a Mark Buckley free-kick that came back off the cross bar but the first half ended with the teams level on the scoreline if nothing else.
The second half was all Ballincollig again. James Murphy went close on two occasions and probably feels he should have put one of them away but it was Ian Roche who gets to take the credit for two goals. The first came from a shot outside the box when two previous Ballincolllig efforts had been blocked down. The second was a well taken half volley inside the box after a cross from the left was headed down by Steven Day.
Nothing much else to take from this game apart from satisfaction at a clean sheet and a good performance. Best for Ballincollig were Ian Roche, James Murphy and Ian Hayes who put in a Roy Keane-eqsue performance.
