Ballinora land Premier Intermediate Camogie League after tough battle with Ballinhassig

Ballinora 3-12 Ballinhassig 3-7 

A strong opening-half performance against the strong wind, helped Ballinora set the foundations for this victory as they took the Premier Intermediate League title at Castle Road.

Rachel Murphy was superb as she contributed 2-9 of the Ballinora tally, while a solid defensive second-half display saw Ballinora confine Ballinhassig to just one point.

With the strong swirling wind in Castle Road playing a huge part in spoiling the game as a contest, Ballinhassig led by a goal at the interval, 3-6 to 2-6, but it wasn’t to be enough as Ballinora pushed on for victory in the second half.

Rose Murphy struck for a Ballinora goal with the first attack inside the opening two minutes. 

Eimear O’Sullivan replied pointing a Ballinhassig free. 

Murphy had two Ballinora points and in between Alison Dennehy finished to the net for a Ballinhassig goal. 

With Deirdre Coomey, Millie Lombard and Grace Healy pointing Ballinhassig were controlling proceedings. Driving forward with the wind they extended their lead when the in-running Aishling Lombard finished to the net when it looked as if Ballinora keeper Tara O’Donoghue had the ball under control.

Ballinora began to press and were coming more into the game.

Julie Mehigan and Rachel Murphy were on target with points as Grace Healy pulled one back for Ballinhassig. 

With two minutes to the break, we had a goal at either end, as Murphy and Healy found the net and with Lombard pointing, Ballinhassig held a goal-interval lead.

Ballinora were on level inside four minutes of the restart with Rachel Muprhy firing over three frees in a row. 

Deirdre Coomey pointed for Ballinhassig, but it was to be their only score of the half thanks to a strong Ballinora defence with Aoife Murphy and Sarah O’Keeffe impressing.

With Ballinora piling on the pressure Rachel Muprhy pointed two frees and she grabbed her second goal with eight minutes remaining with her long-range effort going all the way to the net. She rounded off a superb display pointing a late free with Kate Dooley having the final say with a Ballinora point.

Scorers for Ballinora: Rachel Murphy 2-9 (0-6 f), Rose Murphy 1-0, J Mehigan 0-2, K Dooley 0-1.

Ballinhassig: G Healy 1-2 (0-2 f), A Dennehy, A Lombard 1-0 each, M Lombard, D Coomey 0-2 each, E O'Sullivan 0-1 f.

BALLINORA: T O'Donoghue; A Conway, N Kingston, B Holmes; E Woulfe, S O'Keeffe (c), A Quirke; S O'Regan, A Murphy; Rachel Murphy, Rose Murphy, G Keohane; K Dooley, J Meighan, J Murphy.

Subs: E O’Driscoll for E Woulfe (h-t), K Lane for S O’Regan (50), C O’Flynn for B Holmes (51).

BALLINHASSIG: S Leahy; S Whyte, M Healy, A Casey; T Healy, A Cussen, E O'Sullivan; M Lombard, E Daly; G E Healy, G Healy, D Coomey; G Collins, A Lombard, A Dennehy.

Subs: E Deasy for S Whyte (27), E Downey for E Healy (48).

Referee: Niall O'Neill (Midleton).