Aghabullogue: 1-23 

Ballincollig: 1-15 

 
Aghabullogue have advanced to the Muskerry U21 A hurling championship semi-final after an impressive win over defending champions Ballincollig in the opening round at Ovens on Wednesday. It was a deserved victory for the Coachford side, led on by the outstanding Matthew Bradley, who scored a massive 0-16, with only five from frees.
The winners playing slick hurling made the best possible start, with 1-5 without reply in the first seven minutes. Niall Barry-Murphy tucked away a great goal, after being set up by Dano Dineen, who worked very hard throughout the hour.
 
Ballincollig responded with 1-2 in three minutes, Karl Spillane and Peter O’ Neill with the points, while Karl Walsh buried the ball into the net, after getting inside the Aghabullogue rear-guard.
 
The game continued at a relentless pace for the remainder of the half, with both sides exchanging points on many occasions. Ballincollig’s Sean Walsh was keeping his side in touch, with three points. 1-12 to 1-8 at the break.
 
Ballincollig did improve slightly in the second half, with Fintan Denny standing out at wing-back. They reduced the gap to three points many times, but Aghabullogue’s response was swift every time. Aghabullogue led 1-17 to 1-14 with 12 minutes remaining, but Ballincollig did have chances to reduce the deficit, but racked up six wides in total in the second half.
 
The Coachford side raised two white flags on the bounce, until they were reduced to 14 players. Shane Tarrant received a straight red for an off the ball incident. The sending off didn’t have any impact, and the winners scored a brace of points, through Bradley and Dineen. 1-21 to 1-14 with three minutes remaining.
Ballincollig replied with a long range Ross O’ Donovan point, but Aghabullogue finished with a flourish, scoring two points in injury time to seal the win. Ballincollig will play the losers of Ballinora or Cloughduv in Round 2.
 
Scorers for Aghabullogue: M Bradley 0-16 (0-5f), D Dineen 0-3, N Barry-Murphy 1-0, S Tarrant 0-2, A Healy 0-1, D Desmond 0-1.
 
Scorers for Ballincollig: S Walsh 0-5, A O’ Donovan 0-4 (0-3f), K Walsh 1-0, P O’ Neill 0-2, K Spillane 0-2, S O’ Sullivan 0-1, R O’ Donovan 0-1.
 
Aghabullogue: C Cooney, K Cotter, D O’ Callaghan, S Furey, J Lynch, S O’ Connell, S Lane, N Barry-Murphy, D Thompson, A Healy, D Dineen, S Tarrant, D Desmond, M Bradley, L Twohig.
 
Subs: P Ring for D Thompson (41).
 
Ballincollig: J Linehan, R O’ Donovan, J O’ Leary, C Lucey, F Denny, J Murray, S O’ Sullivan, R Burke, K Spillane, L Fahy, P O’ Neill, K Walsh, S Walsh, A O’ Donovan, S Murphy.
 
Subs: T Jordan for K Spillane (HT), D Mulroy for S Murphy (48).
 
Referee: Joe Larkin (Ballinora

By Barry O'Mahony