Long trek to Bal in vain
May 18, 2026
Killavullen, on Sunday last took the long trek , deep into West Cork, and Ballinascarthy specifically to play the host team in the Henry Ford field, in that village, and it proved to be a fruitless voyage as the host team , were too strong physically, for a light weight Killavullen team, that was short a few regulars, with injuries and other commitments.
Killavullen opened brightly in the huge playing field, that is home to our celebrated West Cork opponents, and Jamie Magner scored a free for us, and followed up quickly with another converted dead ball situation. Ballinascarthy hit back though, and their Dublin based centre forward was very effective from dead ball’s and from open play – and he drew them level by the 5th minute of the game. Killavullen regained the lead with a Sean Palmer score, only for our opponents to again equalise in the 7th minute of an open and entertaining game of hurling. We scored a good goal, from a close in free, that Jamie drilled hard and low into the ground, and it skidded off the wet surface and past the custodian from Ballinascarthy. When we added the next point, from open play from Colm Hannon and then another point, this time from the very hard working Darragh O Grady, the lead was sizeable in the 12th minute of the game. Ballinascarthy hit back though and the inside forward line were adept at hold the ball when received and passing it out the field to men in space, who invariably picked up good open positions, and duly scored. A squally shower, in which the wind picked up considerably and drove right across the open expanse of the huge playing field, added to the difficulties of the players, but Ballinascarthy coped much better in this period. They had reduced the arrears to just two points, by the 24th minute, with our solitary point, in this period, from Seamus Fox, and took the lead in the 27th when they scored from close range after their full forward had forced his way, in along the end line, but got his shot away and past Charlie in our goals. The score at the break was 1-07 to 1-06 in favour of the home team.
Killavullen equalised shortly after Cormac Dineen, the accomplished referee, started the second period of the game but Ballinascarthy regained the lead, a lead that they did not surrender with a point in the 3rd minute of the half, and added another point before seizing the initiative with a well worked goal, in the sixth minute of the half. That was a goal, that came from a misplaced pass, when Killavullen were in possession, so disappointing to concede. The Carbery team, scored two more points, and assumed ascendancy in key areas of the field, that Killavullen could not rally against. Seamus O Mahony replaced Sean Palmer and Jamie got a point back for us from another free. Ballinascarthy replied though with another point, before Mikey O Connor was to score for us from distance, again our opponents did not let up in the intensity and physicality that they brought to the game and forced another point in reply. Darragh O Grady scored a good point for us, from midfield, a very congested midfield area but Darragh worked tirelessly in that department throughout the game. Again, Ballinascarthy replied but we answered that back from dead ball situations, with Jamie again the scorer. We tried valiantly to the end, conceding one, rejigging the team by switching personnel around and scoring two more points, to leave the score at the end of the game, 2-14 to 1-13 in favour of our opponents.
Ultimately falling short, but the spirit shown by those wearing the blue and while, was commendable.
The team and scores were:
- Charlie Cremin
- Kevin Fox
- Brian Cotter
- Patrick O Grady
- Eddie Cotter
- Liam Cronin
- Niall Feaheny
- Darragh O Grady (0-02)
- Jamie Magner (1-07) (0-5F)
- Mickey O Connor (0-01)
- Finn Killion
- Seamus Fox (0-01)
- Colm Hannon (0-01)
- Ronan Barry
- Sean Palmer (0-01)
Substitutes
- Seamus O Mahony for Sean Palmer
- Conor Griffin for Finn Killion
- Sean Palmer for Patrick O Grady (injured)