U21 Macroom    0-11  Ballincollig0-9

Macroom are through to the mid-Cork U21 Football Championship Final after a gutsy victory over Ballincollig at Clondrohid on Saturday afternoon. David Horgan put in a man-of-the-match performance at midfield and landed some magnificent points from frees. Ballincollig trailed by five points midway through the second half but reduced the gap to the minimum with five minutes remaining. However, Macroom finished strongly with Don Creedon landing their final point from an acute angle to claim a deserved victory.  

Wind assisted, Macroom raced into an early lead courtesy of points from David Horgan and Brendan O’Sullivan. Ballincollig registerd their opening point courtesy of Stephan Coughlan following an excellent move with Robert Noonan. The victors increased their lead through the hard working John Murphy. Minutes later, Ballincollig’s goalkeeper Ciaran Noonan denied Murphy a certain goal with a magnificent save. Crucially, Macroom finished the opening half strongly and points from Creedon, Murphy and Horgan to leave four between the sides, 0-6 to 0-2 at the break.

Ballincollig converted a couple of placed efforts early in the second period from Cian Dorgan. Macroom completely dominated the midfield battle and three points in a four minute period from David Horgan (2 frees) and John Murphy proved decisive.  Ballincollig’s Cian Kiely made a number of probing runs which resulted in three tap over frees  leaving   two between the sides, 0-9 to 0-7 after 52 minutes. 

Macroom defender Kevin O’Dwyer is player of real quality and he was denied a certain goal by another high class save from Ciaran Noonan. Ballincollig were pressing hard and a quality score from Cian Kiely left a single point between the sides in an exciting finish. However, Macroom lifted the siege and points from Horgan and Creedon restored their advantage. Ballincollig launched one final attack which resulted in a 20m free in front of the posts. Cian Dorgan’s powerful shot was deflected over the bar by the Macroom defence.  Macroom will now face Inniscarra in the final. 

Scorers for Macroom: D Horgan 0-5 (5f), J Murphy 0-3(1f), D Creedon 0-2, B O’Sullivan 0-1,    

Macroom: D Kiely; K  O’Dwyer, B Healy, A Ryan; O O’Mahony, E Quinlan, B McMahon; D Horgan, R Downey; B O’Gorman, J Murphy, B O’Sullivan; D Creedon, A Quinn, C Foskett. Subs: D McKenna for C Foskett (ht), C Foskett for D McKenna (b/c), P O’Farrell for A Quinn (b/c).

Report: Kevin Murphy Evening Echo.

Macroom V Naomh Aban

On Saturday last our U21 footballers made the short trip to Clondrohid to take on local rivals Naomh Aban in the Macroom Motor Services U21 A Championship. In a very tight and tense match which took extra time to separate the sides. It was Macroom who came out on top on scoreline of Macroom 3-11 Naomh Aban 4-7. The Lineout was as follows: Declan Kiely, Kevin O’Dwyer, Cillan O’Mahony, Olan O’Mahony, Alex Ryan, Emmet Quinlann, Barry Healy, Robert Downey, David Horgan, Brendan O’Sullivan, John Murphy, Alan Quinn, Don Creedon, Michael Cronin, Chris Foskett, Blake O’ Gorman and Brain McMahon.

Report:John Ryan