Ballincollig RFC advances into the next Round of the Munster Junior Cup!
Ballincollig progressed to Round 4 of the Munster Junior Cup after a hard fought 20-12 win over Bandon at Tanner Park on Sunday. Ballincollig opened the scoring after a brilliant break from full back Kev Ryan, who chipped the ball ahead for Andy Coughlan to chase it and touch it down just over the try line, with Kev Ryan, converting. Bandon fought back hard and a defensive lapse allowed them in a for a try under the posts to leave the scores at 7-7 at halftime. A great individual try from Dave Power mid way through the second half put Ballincollig 12-7 in front but it was a lead they could not hold with Bandon scoring 5 minutes before full time to draw the game at 12 points each.
In extra time Ballincollig lifted their performance considerably and a penalty from Denis Galvin and a late unconverted try of Rob Foolkes gave Ballinollig RFC a 20-12 win after an intense 100 minutes of Rugby.
The victory has now set up a 4th Round meeting with local rivals and Division 2 league leaders Muskerry in Tanner Park on January 27th.
Ballincollig played in difficult conditions with a lot of strong wind and some rain. We started well and with some good interchanges between the backs and forwards Dave Power went over for a try under the posts which was converted by Denis Galvin
Towards the end of the first half the forwards again dominated the play and Cal Barrett went over for an excellent try again converted by Denis Galvin.
Ballincollig were leading 14pts to nil at half time.
Ballincollig started the second half as they had finished the first – in command of all phases.They were rewarded with a try under the posts from Glen Murphy which was converted by Kevin Ryan.
Ballincollig took their eye off the ball for a short while and Douglas got in for a converted try.
The final score Douglas 7pts Ballincollig 21pts.
There were good performances from Denis Casey, Ian O’Malley, Fergal Considine and Glen Murphy in the forwards and Dave Power and Mick Goggin in the backs.
Ballincollig now concentrate on the league with an away game against Kilrush next Sunday.
The recent rain left their professionally drained pitch still a bit soggy and spongy. The persistent light rain didn’t contribute to the match either.
Straight from the start of the match Ballincollig played a very controlled and disciplined rugby. They went through their phases all the time only to be denied short of the line due to the miserable conditions.
A miscommunication lead to an interception by Abbeyfeale and the defense was only just able to deny the try scorer to score under the posts, the resulting conversion was unsuccessful about 15 minutes into play.
But Ballincollig recovered well from this set back straight from the restart. Again they kept possession and went through the phases, bringing them ever closer to the opponents try line. The hard work paid finally off when they outnumbered Abbeyfeale’s defense wide on the far side, seeing Rob Foolkes racing over the white-wash and Denis Galvin kicking a successful conversion.
Ballincollig were hungry for more and performed the same disciplined routine as before, leading to nearly the same move on the far side, but this time it was Kevin Lynch who carried the ball over the line just 7 minutes after the first try. However, this one remained unconverted.
Ballincollig dominated the home team entirely and again they camped at Abbeyfeale’s try line. This surge saw a missed attempt for a drop goal by Denis Galvin. But Abbeyfeale was literally incapable to get out of their own 22 and seeing the Ballincollig 1st XV coming ever closer again to their try line. Paul Daly made a break from 5 metres, but was held up with the ball. The resulting scrum 5 metres out gave him another attempt, but again he was held up over the line. The next attempt from the resulting scrum saw him finally shaking off the attempted tackle and he crashed over the line; the try remained unconverted.
In the final minutes of the first half Abbeyfeale got finally in reach of the Ballincollig try line. A miscommunication in the Ballincollig defense saw one of the Abbeyfeale player slipping through the defense and scoring under the posts, conversion kicked…Half-Time.
Abbeyfeale came back fighting in the second half, but it was the Ballincollig 1st XV who got the better of the opening minutes. A misjudged pass got lovely picked up by Podge Flynn, “dancing” around 3 defenders and racing over the try line, with Kevin Ryan kicking the conversion again.
Then the match turned and Abbeyfeale got the upper hand, keeping most of the possession. However, they were incapable to use their advantages out wide when they had Ballincollig outnumbered already. Ballincollig’s defense just worked superbly and all credit to each and every player constantly putting their bodies on the line and committing to every tackle that had to be made.
Denis Casey was superb in the line outs, stealing 2 of theirs, and a breaking run of some 50 metres before he got tackled and isolated.
Damian Attridge, Fergal Considine and Ian O’Malley (Capt.) were equally brilliant against a very strong front row of Abbeyfeale’s scrum.
And Paul Daly needs to be mentioned for the three times he launched a strong attack from short range against a heavy Abbeyfeale pack and determined defense.
Ballincollig RFC commences its Annual Door to Door Collection.
We will be starting Monday night, going out Monday & Tuesday nights between 7~9 pm during the month of October.
The Club is looking for volunteers to help out.
Anyone who can give their time for even 1 night should contact
Tim Murphy (087) 263 0659 or
John O’Callaghan (087) 908 3424
for more information.
Please show your continued support for your Club by helping us at our Annual Collection.
Waterford City 14 – Ballincollig RFC 11
Ballincollig traveled to Waterford City last Sunday to play in the quarter final of the Martin O’Sullivan cup.
Ballincollig started well and although playing against a very strong wind took the lead.
With a brilliant try started in their own half by Podge O’Flynn who inter-passed with Shane Campbell who scored under the posts.
Unfortunately the conversion was missed.
At this point Waterford were getting on top in the scrums and put a lot of pressure on our pack.
Ballincollig then were awarded a penalty to leave the score 8pts to nil.Converted by Kevin Ryan.
Waterford City scored a try against the run of play in the corner to leave the score 8pts to 5pts at half time.
Ballincollig were awarded another penalty the score was now 11pts to 5 pts in our favour.
Indiscipline by Ballincollig gave Waterford another 9pts from penalties to leave the final score Waterford 14pts Ballincollig 11pts.
Shane Campbell ,Kevin Ryan and Owen Linnell stood out with their performance in this match.
Next Sunday we play Douglas in a challenge game in Tanner Park at 2.30.
Ballincollig played host to Corca Dhuibhne (Dingle) in the Martin O’Sullivan Cup at Tanner Park.
Ballincollig took a while to settle into the game, but eventually got some quality ball, and after 15mins they got a good try from Podge O’Flynn. They went further ahead with and Andy Coughlan try.
After 37mins Glen Murphy scored a try from some strong forward play, and it was converted by Denis Galvin to make the score 17pts to nil.
The Dingle pack made Ballincollig work very hard in the loose and line out areas.
At the stroke of half time Shane Kavanagh scored a try in the corner leaving the score 22pts to nil.
Ballincollig made several changes at the break and with 2 further tries from Podge O’Flynn
and one try from Podge Bohane all converted by Kevin Ryan.
Dingle did score a try under the posts from some poor tackling by the hosts.
Dingle added a further 3pts when we conceded a penalty. The final score was Ballincollig 43pts Corca Dhuibhne 10pts.
Conor Owens, Shane Kavanagh, and Fergal Considine had a good day in the forwards.
While Podge O’Flynn with 3 tries Brian Mahony and Andy Coughlan again stood out in the
back line. A good alround game was played by Ballincollig RFC.
Ballincollig played Mallow in a challenge game last Sunday in Mallow.This was a game of the 2nd Div against the 3rd Div in a pre-season friendly.
Ballincollig started very well with some good tackling from Andy Coughlan, Bryan O’Keefe, Shane Kavanagh and Keith Lynch. This hard work kept the score to zero, but then Mallow got a very good try in the corner from some good back play. They increased the score with another good converted try to leave the score 12pts to nil at half time.
In the second half Ballincollig really got into the game with good line out work by D Casey B O’Brien and Owen Llevle and took the game to the more experienced side. Due to injuries in the back line Mallow took advantage and scored another try. Mallow got a further try to leave the score 22pts to nil. With ten mins to go Ballincollig got a try from Denis Casey. Overall this was a good warm up game for Ballincollig.
Next Sunday we play at home against Corca Dhuibhne (Dingle) in the Martin O’Sullivan cup at 2.30pm
On Sun Sept 12th Ballincollig played Kinsale in the 2nd round of the Dennehy Cup in Kinsale.
The game started with a very strong cross wind. Conditions otherwise were very good.
Ballincollig started the game very well with some hard forward drives into the more
experienced and heavier opposition pack.
Kinsale took the lead after 8 min with a penalty for off side.
They increased their lead again with another penalty in the 25th min.
Ballincollig then played some very good passing movements and were rewarded with a
penalty in the 40th min converted by Ken O’Connell. 6pts to 3pts for Kinsale at half time.
Ballincollig spent the first 15 of the second half camped inside the Kinsale 22 mts line, but
a mistake by Ballincollig allowed the opposition to break out and eventually score a converted try.
Ballincollig kept their composure and were rewarded with a try from some very determined
forward play by Cal Barrett and Jack Kelleher. Ken O’Connell added the conversion.
13pts to 10pts in favour of Kinsale.
Kinsale sealed victory with another penalty with 2 mins to go. Final score 16pts to 10pts in
favour of Kinsale.
This was a very good run out for the younger players coming up from the under 19’s including Denis Ryan, Kevin O’Connell and Jack Kelleher.
Next Sun the 16th of September we play away to Mallow in a challenge game.
Ballincollig RFC beat Cork Transport in the first round of the Dennehy Cup last Sunday. A fantastic 6 try display earned Ballincollig a 42 – 14 victory and a well deserved place in the next round. Next up is Kinsale away on September 9th at 12 noon. Come and support the boys on the day!