Brilliant Fermoy stunned Killeagh to prevail by five points in this Co-Op SuperStores SAHC clash at Ballynoe on Friday evening.

The north Cork side, who shipped four goals in their nine-point loss last time out against Carrigtwohill, were excellent here in every part of the field. This was their best performance in many years.

They led by a point at the interval and a green flag six minutes into the second half gave them the cushion to keep their opposition at arm’s length.

They were led on by the evergreen Brian O’Sullivan, who was unerring from frees, but it would be unfair to pick out one player from this heroic and dogged display.

Following their gritty opening Group 1 victory over Na Piarsaigh a fortnight ago, Killeagh were off-colour here with ill-discipline also playing a part. They finished with 13 players. They also only had three different scorers.

It was a nervy start by Killeagh, which set the tone, with the short passing game not working as well as they would have liked against a stubborn Fermoy side.

The Avondhu team hit the first two points from a Shane Aherne effort and an O’Sullivan free.

Darragh O’Carroll’s sweeper role was proving effective for Fermoy. A Barry Walsh 65 was timely for Killeagh after 10 minutes. It was cancelled out by an O’Sullivan free before the Imokilly team looked to have finally arrived after 16 minutes.

Barry Walsh with an excellent goal, as his unstoppable effort rifled the roof of the net to give his team the lead for the first time.

The game went on for another nine minutes without anything of note before a crucial moment came with five minutes to the break when Killeagh were reduced to 14 players after Shane Smiddy received a straight red card for an altercation off the ball.

Fermoy were on top for the remainder of the half with the extra player. They hit three unanswered points until a pair of Barry Walsh frees did draw up proceedings.

An O’Sullivan placed ball handed Fermoy a 0-7 to 1-3 half-time advantage.

On the resumption, Fermoy continued from where they left off, a different free taker though, as David Lardner bisected the posts from an awkward angle.

The north Cork men rattled off 1-1 in two minutes to give them breathing space. An O’Sullivan free was followed by a Darragh Daly green flag after a pass from Shane Aherne, 1-9 to 1-3 after 36 minutes.

The sides traded points before Killeagh were given a lifeline when Evan Lane finished from close range after Fermoy failed to clear their lines, 1-10 to 2-4 after 43 minutes.

Seconds after the goal, Killeagh were down to 13 players, substitute Colm Leahy received a straight red card for an off the ball incident.

It sucked the life out of Killeagh for the final quarter. Fermoy hit three of the next four points, 1-13 to 2-5 ahead with six minutes remaining.

The eventual winners pointed two successive frees through goalkeeper Shane Coughlan and O’Sullivan, as they were now in total control.

A Barry Walsh goal from a close range free cut the gap to four points after 57 minutes, 1-15 to 3-5, but time was firmly against them.

An O’Sullivan placed ball was the insurance score for Fermoy.

A turn-up for the books.

Scorers for Fermoy: B O’Sullivan 0-9 (0-8 f), D Daly 1-0, S Aherne 0-2, S Coughlan (f), P de Róiste, K Morrison, D Lardner (f), J Carr 0-1 each.

Scorers for Killeagh: B Walsh 2-4 (1-3 f, 0-1 65), E Lane 1-0, G Leahy 0-1.

FERMOY: S Coughlan; G Lardner, L Aherne, B McGrath; P de Róiste, J O’Brien, K Morrison; M Brennan, D Lardner; D O’Carroll, B O’Sullivan, P Murphy; J Molloy, S Aherne, D Daly.

Subs: D O’Callaghan for M Brennan (h-t), T Clancy for D O’Carroll (43), J Carr for D Lardner (50), A Aherne for J Molloy (60), B Daly for D Daly (63).

KILLEAGH: P O’Neill; A Keniry, P O’Brien, B Delaney; A Walsh, D Walsh, Ben Walsh; S Long, C Fitzgibbon; S Smiddy, R McCarthy, Barry Walsh; D McCarthy, R Long, E Lane.

Subs: Ciarán Leahy for A Keniry (23), Colm Leahy for R Long (h-t), G Leahy for Ciarán Leahy (46).

Referee: David Daly (Brian Dillons).