Ballyhegan Davitts complete historic double with Sean Quinn Cup win

Ballyhegan Davitts eased to a comprehensive 5-13 to 2-7 over Collegeland to lift the Sean Quinn Cup at Box-It Athletic Grounds and in doing do completed a historic league and championship double.

They simply overpowered their opponents in the second period with a classic display of direct football. By then, it was backs the wall stuff for the O’Rahilly’s up against a side possessed of all the qualities needed to suit the occasion.

The fact that the vanquished were limited to a single two-pointer in the second half indicates where the dominance lay in the final 30 minutes.

However, the gap in the scoreline bears no reflection of the first half exchanges where two evenly matched sides went at it hell for leather, serving up entertainment of a high level as well as five goals.

It didn’t take long for the Davitt’s to find their stride and take control of the tempo but it was their second half performance that really showcased their class. In that spell they went from strength to strength moving with an assurance that the opposition were finding increasingly difficult to come to terms with.

Ballyhegan raced into as six-point lead in the first eight minutes but found themselves trailing by the end of the opening quarter.

Despite the slow start Collegeland grabbed the nettle to go in front but the champions returned to ascendency to lead 3-7 to 2-5 at the break.

Ballyhegan talisman James McCormack and county star Peter McGrane shared the victors first half goals, the former netting twice whilst at the other end Cathair McGeary and Cathal McCracken raised green flags.

The Davitts point-takers in this half were McCormack, Ryan McQuade, Cormac Murphy and James Harvey with responses from the O’Rahilly’s leading scorer Steafan McKenna and goalkeeper Niall Brady.

Harvey with his second helping extended the Ballyhegan lead on the restart while Jack Rafferty nailed their fourth goal. As the one-way traffic system developed, Kevin McCann, McQuade and Murphy widened the gap to 12.

When the Sean Quinn silverware plainly in sight there was to be no let-up, McCormack and McCann piling on the agony before McCormack competed his hattrick by converting from the penalty spot.

It was all over bar the cheering by the time McKenna’s two-pointer signalled the end of a disappointing day for the O’Rahilly’s who simply folded in the second half.

BALLYHEGAN - Joe McKeever, Paul McQuade, Michael McCann, Peter McGrane (1-0), Ben McQuade, Conor Morgan, Cormac Murphy (0-2), Kevin McCann (0-2), Conor Williamson, James Harvey (0-2), Ryan McQuade (0-3), Aodhan McGrane (0-1), Ruairi McGrane, Jack Rafferty (1-0), James McCormack (3-3).

Subs - James McKeever for Cormac Murphy, Ryan Rafferty for Conor Williamson, Mark Hughes for Jack Rafferty, Jamie McKenna for Ruairi McGrane, Paul McCann for Conor Morgan.

COLLEGELAND - Naill Brady (0-2), Conor Donnelly, Ruairi McGeary, Oran McCracken, James Mackle, Bartley Finnegan, Matthew Conway, Cathair McGeary (1-0), Tom Murphy, Steafan McKenna (0-5), Jason Kelly, James Quinn, Nathan McParland, Shane Donnelly, Cathal McCracken (1-0).

Subs - Oisin Duffy for Nathan McParland, Conor McGarvey for Cathal McCracken, Peter Vallely for Bartley Finnegan, Eamon McGeary for James Mackle.