Tuesday night the Minor Hurlers took to the first round clash against Ballinhassig in Carrigaline, where they showed what they were capable of when at their best. The pitch was hard and slippy after it being a drizzly day for the most but still very close. Unfortunately, before the game would start Fermoy would lose a player through an injury in the warm up, Ryan Sargent was unlucky enough to go over on his ankle which meant that Jeff Ennis was brought in at corner back and the whole of the defence shuffled around. With our strongest possible 15 starting, we would be a match for most and we showed that in the opening 10 minutes scoring 1-2 before Ballinhassig could reply. Fermoy asserted themselves in the opening half and would raise the green flag again on the 25th minute, this time putting some daylight between the teams at the score of 2-5 to 0-2. Ballinhassig would fail to score again in the half as it was a strong and dominant performance form all the 6 backs but most impressive was Greg Lardner at full back and Jeff Ennis, who was introduced just before the beginning of the game. A half back line of James Malloy, Luke Aherne and Jack Scannell at centre more often then not broke down the Ballinhassig attacks. Fermoy went on to tag on 2 more points before the half leaving the score at 2-7 to 0-2. Anytime the ball went in to the forwards, they looked to be dangerous. Shane O’Keeffe, Captain and sharp shooter, found his range from play and the placed ball while Colm Hurley put in quite the shift at centre forward. With such hard work, Ballinhassig were always going to get the purple patch, it was just for how long Fermoy could keep them quite was the question. The warm and wet conditions would too play a part in the game as the first half was tough through missed pick ups and slipping and sliding.
The second half was always going to be a step up as the Ballinhassig side would have came out with all guns blazing. The first quarter of the second half was tense to watch, Ballinhassig pointed twice and found the back of the net bring the score to 2-8 to 1-4. Fermoy lads would have to dig deeper and the fullback line did so with the half back line working evening harder. Nathan Collins and Sean McCarthy were the outlets from defence and the forwards were frustrated with Ballinhassig stepping up the defence. Adam Ronan would be brought in for David O’Callaghan and to be fair to Adam he worked very well when introduced and even managed to point in the closing moments of the game. With up to 8 wides in the second half from Fermoy, they left Ballinhassig close the gap to 2-11 to 1-7 only minutes from the end. The Carrigdhoun side rallied and won a free on the 21 yard line and managed to slip it past John Wales, who had pulled off a point blank save moments before, and the other backs. with the goal it may have been too little too late, lucky enough Fermoy were able to go up the field and point one last time, insuring the victory and their place against Carrigtwohill in the next round for a place in the Semi Final. Fermoy may have kept Ballinhassig at bay in the second half but only through a full hearted performance in the first half, the first 30 minutes being the best these lads have played in tough conditions. The team lined out as following; J Wales, J Waters, G Lardner, J Ennis, J Malloy, J Scannell, L Aherne, D Daswon, N Collins, S McCarthy, C Hurley, A Creed, S O’Keeffe (Capt), D Lardner, D O’Callaghan. Subs Used: J Ennis for Ryan Sargent (Inj) and Adam Ronan for David O’Callaghan.
