Danny Miskella inspires Ballincollig to extra-time victory over Éire Óg after gripping Muskerry U21 football final

Ballincollig: 2-15 (2-0-15)

Éire Óg: 0-15 (0-2-11)

(AET)

Ballincollig secured the Macroom Motors Muskerry U21 A Football Championship title following a deserving victory over Éire Óg after extra-time at Ballyanly on Thursday evening.

The Village trailed by six points at one stage in the first half of this final, but super sub Danny Miskella was a key reason why the eventual winners turned it around. 1-5 for the Cork U20 footballer went a long way to victory.

After some dreadful shooting, the Collig were more patient as the game wore on, as two well matched teams slogged it out.

It was no surprise it did go to extra time, but a black card was also a telling factor why the team in green and white won. They were trailing by four points at the time with 47 minutes on the clock. Ballincollig never looked back.

Both teams had chances to win it in normal time, but the Collig scored 1-4 in extra-time, while Éire Óg only managed a point.

It’s Ballincollig's third title at this grade in four seasons.

The first score after four minutes came as a result of Éire Óg not having sufficient numbers in the forward department according to the referee.

Pete Kelly converted the easy free to get Ballincollig up and running. They wouldn’t score again though for another 10 minutes.

Brian Dore, Ballincollig, Daniel Healy, Éire Óg. Picture: Jim Coughlan

An excellent catch by Colm Clifford led to the leveller when he set up Johnny Galvin.

An outstanding two-pointer from Colm Quigley was followed by a Micheál Sheehan effort following a driving run to push Éire Óg 0-4 to 0-1 ahead after nine minutes.

Johnny Clifford’s charges added their second two-pointer, this time from goalkeeper Brendan Linehan courtesy of a free.

Darragh Clifford’s fielding ability in midfield gave Éire Óg the platform for their dominance. Daniel Healy pushed his team 0-7 to 0-1 ahead after 12 minutes.

Ballincollig would creep back into the game, they did add successive points from Ciarán Buckley and a David O’Leary 45.

There were only four points between the teams with still 10 minutes remaining of the half. In between those scores, Pete Kelly had a great goal opportunity but Éire Óg net minder Linehan came off his line quickly to deny the forward.

Ballincollig should have been closer, some of their shooting left a lot to be desired, with eight wides in total in the opening 30 minutes.

A Colm Clifford point gave Éire Óg a 0-8 to 0-3 half-time advantage.

Brendan Linehan, Éire Óg goalkeeper, shoots to score two points from a free kick. Picture: Jim Coughlan

Danny Miskella was introduced after 25 minutes for the Village and he did bring another dimension to the forward unit. He pointed a free a minute into the new half having been fouled.

He then bisected the posts to leave a goal in it.

Daniel Healy’s point was a settler for Éire Óg, but their opposition were awarded a penalty after 36 minutes when Jack Murray was fouled by Éire Óg goalkeeper Linehan.

Miskella duly dispatched the ball to the net, 0-9 to 1-5.

The teams traded points before a Galvin free extended Éire Óg’s lead out to two points.

Two unanswered white flags from the team in red and yellow gave them a 0-13 to 1-6 lead with 14 minutes remaining.

They were then reduced to 14 players for 10 minutes a minute later when Daniel Healy picked up a black card.

It did change the momentum as Ballincollig added three points in five minutes and also had two goal chances, but were denied by Éire Óg’s goalkeeper Linehan following goalmouth scrambles.

Brian Dore and Conor Dalton, Ballincollig, Daniel Healy, Éire Óg. Picture: Jim Coughlan

With Éire Óg now back to 15, a Ciarán Buckley effort tied up proceedings after 58 minutes, 1-10 to 0-13.

The teams traded points in added time as both couldn’t find the winner as extra-time was required.

The teams did exchange points in the first period of extra-time, but Ballincollig had the legs, kicking three unanswered white flags to lead 1-15 to 0-15 at the quick break.

The Village were in control now, as they bossed the second period. Their game management was key.

The only score in the final period came a minute from time from Pete Kelly to seal the victory for Ballincollig.

Scorers for Ballincollig: D Miskella 1-5 (1-0 pen, 0-2 f), P Kelly 1-3, C Buckley 0-3, S O’Neill 0-2, D O’Leary (45), J Murray 0-1 each.

Éire Óg: J Galvin (0-2 f), D Healy 0-3 each, C Quigley (1 2pt), B Linehan (1 2pt f), C Clifford 0-2 each, M Sheehan, D Clifford (f), M Murphy 0-1 each.

BALLINCOLLIG: D Hurley; C Power, B Dore, R Power; T Morgan, C Dalton, T O’Connell (c); B O’Connell, B Moore; G Howard, D O'Leary, S O'Neill; C Buckley, P Kelly, J Murray.

Subs: D Miskella for T Morgan (25), C O’Connor for B Moore, K O’Leary for J Murray (both 46), P Rose for R Power (68), C Ahern for P Kelly (80).

ÉIRE ÓG: B Linehan; D O’Regan, S O’Callaghan, C Murphy; E O’Shea, C Clifford (c), M Sheehan; D Clifford, M O’Connor; S Murphy, J Galvin, C Quigley; S Hurley, D Healy, D Casey.

Subs: M Murphy for S Hurley (36), M Broderick for M O’Connor (48), E Hyde for D Casey (46), C Malone for C Quigley (53), O McLaughlin for S Murphy (59), F O’Leary for E O’Shea (61), K Beechinor for M Broderick (68), D McCarthy for D Healy, C Eagles for D O’Regan (both 71).

Referee: Peter O’Leary (Cloughduv).

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