The wides count rested at ten by full time (five in each half). Mid way through the second half, they created chance after chance to dispose of Drom Broadford but failed to do so. Several players were also guilty of running into traffic and taking too much out of the ball, particularly in the opening period. 19 minutes of the second half zipped by before Gary Hurney and Michael O’Halloran removed the uncertainty with the clinching points. “For some reason today we tended to slow down the ball around the middle of the field whereas all year we were more direct,” said selector Neil Moore. “Dromcollogher were flooding back with bodies and made it hard for us. We are delighted with the win but certainly a lot of improvement to do before we travel to Clare in two weeks’ time.”
Cork referee Conor Lane penalised Courty repeatedly during the second half as they started to concede territory and allowed Broadford to rebuild. 44 frees were squashed into the 60 minutes. Some were puzzling including a call against Gary Hurney for overcarrying when the game was in the fire. The concession of 25 frees (18 in the second half) left Moore frustrated. “When Dromcollogher flood the middle of the field, you are going to have that type of a game. There was very few players within the 45s on both teams so it seemed to be condensed in the middle third. That makes for a lot more physical contact which gives a lot more frees. I thought that we came out the wrong end of a few calls there when the game was in the melting pot.” The most pleasing part was how they dug out the scores while playing below their best. Jason O’Brien and Mark Ferncombe gambled around the goalmouth and they stuck away two predatory three pointers when they appeared to be running out of ideas. “I thought in the first half we played quite poorly,” admitted Richie Foley. “Only for those goals, it would have been a different first half. We kind of woke up half way through with those goals.” They took a hold of midfield through Gary and Patrick Hurney in those tense moments when Broadford closed to within a single point. Their defence remains robust despite leaking four from play to Derry McCarthy. In fact, Broadford eased the pressure by bizarrely withdrawing the dangerous number ten. The half backs like to attack at will but Courty are still a mean unit. Brian Looby and David Collins are holding their positions in unfussy fashion to aid Sean O’Hare in the last line. Stephen Enright has only seen three goals fly by him. Overall, Ballinacourty’s willingness to work and persevere is driving them deep into the winter months. No one is spared from mucking in. Mark Ferncombe has scored freely in this run yet it was noticeable in the first half how he tracked back into the half back line to retrieve possession.
The fog hanging over the Clare championship is starting to clear. Cratloe qualified for the final last weekend with a 2-8 to 0-9 win over Eire Og Ennis. Doonbeg and Lisseycasey clash in the second semi final this weekend. In the overall Munster picture, Dr Crokes are cast iron certainties to win with the bookies at 1/20. With nine wins from nine, the 14/1 long shots are moving up quietly on the rails and with some fine tuning, they may end up as the final provincial hurdle for Gooch and company to jump over on the first of December.
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