(JJ Hurley)
Courcey Rovers 3-7 Ballymartle 0-14
Courcey Rovers claimed top spot on the Carrigdhoun Junior A Football League table following an entertaining encounter against Ballymartle in Riverstick on Friday night.
Despite Mathew Higgins narrowing the gap between the sides to a single point, with a long-range free in the final minutes, the Courcey men held out- as Ger Galvin kicked an insurance point up the other end.
A game that had all the elements of an intriguing encounter opened with a Martin Collins’ goal in the opening minute.
Ballymartle playing on home turf responded with six unanswered points, with Mathew Higgins landing two frees and Cathal Dineen, Jamie O’ Sullivan Evin Deasy and Leo Hennessy also featuring on the score sheet.
Ballymartle could have put some serious distance between the sides as Cian Barry had a great chance on 20 minutes for a goal, but the Courcey defence somehow managed to block the opportunity and the score remained 0-6 to 1-0.
It was Courcey’s who bossed the next five minutes as Brendan Ryan fired over to be followed by the visitor’s second goal from Brian Collins, after a James Coakley pass.
Now leading by a single point, Gary Moore extended that lead to 2-2 to 0-6 on 27 minutes.
Two points from Barry and Higgins had the sides even-steven at the break but the Courcey outfit almost had another goal as Brian Collins found Martin Collins, but his effort hit the post as the halftime whistle had approached.
The opening minutes of the second half had Courcey’s not taking a series of chances as Ballymartle opened the scoring for the half on 38 minutes from Fionn Desmond, but Courcey’s reply was almost instant as Brendan Ryan buried the ball to the Ballymartle net.
The tally was further extended by a Ryan point
Another Higgins’ white flag, should have been followed by an all-important goal for the home side but Leo Hennessy smashed the shot against the post.
A Brendan Ryan point settled Rover’s nerves as they led by 3-4 to 0-10 on 47 minutes but a point a piece from Niall Coakley and Con Kelleher closed the gap again .
Two Rory O’ Callaghan points looked to have sealed the deal for the visitors as they led by 3-6 to 0-12 on 57 minutes, but enter Higgins and a two-pointer free.
Courcey’s dug deep as Ballymartle came seeking an equaliser but the last score fell to Ger Galvin on a breakaway to complete the victory for the visitors.
Scorers for Courcey Rovers: B Ryan 1-2, M Collins, B Collin 1-0 each, R O’Callaghan 0-2, G Galvin, G Moore M O’Donovan 0-1 each,
Ballymartle: M Higgins 0-6 (2f, 2p F), F Desmond , N Crowley, C Kelleher, E Deasy, J O’Sullivan, L Hennessy, C Barry C Dineen 0-1 each.
Teams
Courcey Rovers: W Reilly; B White, K Collins, J Galvin; C Morgan, R O’Callaghan, L Collins; DJ Twomey, M O’Donovan; R Hogan, M Collins, B Ryan; J Coakley, B Collins, G Moore.
Subs: D Coakley and C Roche for R Hogan and G Moore (34), G Galvin for L Collins (40), JP McSweeney for J Coakley.
Ballymartle: E McDonald; D Murphy, E O’Leary, C Barry; L O’Callaghan, F Desmond, C Kelleher; L Hennessy, E Deasy; M Higgins, F McCarthy, J O’Sullivan; C Dineen, N Crowley, C Barry.
Subs: F O’Keeffe and E O’Leary for L O’Callaghan and C Dineen.
Referee Kevin O’ Sullivan, Valley Rovers
Ballymartle's Frank McCarthy, Referee Kevin O'Sullivan and Kevin Collins Courcey Rovers
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