Clonakilty finish strong to knock out Coláiste Choilm in decisive Corn Uí Mhuirí clash
Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig's Cian Ahern breaks from Clonakilty community college's Conrad Murphy during the TUS Corn Ui Mhuiri, group 4, round 3 at Newcestown. Picture; Eddie O'Hare
Clonakilty Community College have qualified for the knockout stages of the Corn Uí Mhuirí at the expense of Coláiste Choilm after winning by seven points at Newcestown on Wednesday afternoon.
This was pretty much winner-takes-all in this Group 4 Round 3 encounter with the side from West Cork finishing strong to prevail.
Clonakilty have won all three games as they top their group. They started well in a game where they never trailed. They were one point ahead at half-time having played against the wind.
They were very much on top in the second 30 minutes and if it wasn’t for some poor shooting, the margin of victory would have been greater.
Clonakilty Community College manager Micheál O’Sullivan has put their great run to date this year down to several factors.
“It's big for us getting out as the No 1 seeds in our group and qualifying for the quarter-finals.
“We'll be playing beyond Christmas, which is great for us. We have another huge game coming up against Coláiste Choilm next week in the Simcox Cup final and that will be a different kettle of fish, I can guarantee you that because both teams were missing key players today and this was a real battle in tough conditions.
“We have a very good group of players, very good coaching staff and look, football is going well in the school in general.
“We’re in the Frewen Cup final as well. There's a lot of players in common across all the teams. We have got support from local clubs, great support from management in the school. It’s a combination of all those things, real hard work."
In difficult conditions, Clonakilty were fast out of the traps in Newcestown. They goaled after two minutes when James Maguire finished to the net after Oisín Harrington set him up.
It was followed by a Seán Whelton point. In an uneventful opening 30 minutes, Coláiste Choilm got their first score after 14 minutes.
Seán Murphy’s effort for a point dropped short only for Luke O’Mahony to react quickest to smash the ball into the net.
Whelton converted a free until Coláiste Choilm put two points together to draw parity. A Cian Ahern free and a Brian Cronin effort, 1-2 apiece after 24 minutes.
Another Whelton white flag, Clonakilty’s only point scorer in the first half, bisected the posts as the West Cork outfit led 1-3 to 1-2 at half-time.
They had the wind advantage for the new half, but it took them some time to gain an upper hand.
The sides traded white flags while Tom Whooley was denied a goal after a brilliant reflex save from Coláiste Choilm goalkeeper Nathan Tait.
Wayward shooting wasn’t helping Clonakilty. They were forcing the issue too much.
A gorgeous Peter Rose point drew Coláiste Choilm level, 1-4 each after 42 minutes.
A Rory Twohig 45 from the Clonakilty net minder gave his team the advantage once more.
A Whelton two-point free and efforts from Jason Murray and Conrad Murphy gave Clonakilty a 1-9 to 1-4 lead with eight minutes remaining.
An O’Mahony orange flag from a free did leave Coláiste Choilm three points behind. Denis Keohane’s side wouldn’t score again after that effort after 54 minutes.
Clonakilty finished strong with efforts from Mike Collins and Whelton and a super two-pointer from play from sub Emmet Nolan.
The sides will meet again on Friday week in the Simcox Cup final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.
S Whelton 0-6 (1 2pt f, 0-1 f), J Maguire 1-0, E Nolan (1 2pt), J Murray 0-2 each, R Twohig (45), M Collins, C Murphy 0-1 each.
L O’Mahony 1-2 (1 2pt f), C Ahern 0-2 (0-1 f), P Rose, B Cronin 0-1 each.
R Twohig (Kilmeen); O Harrington (Kilmeen), H O’Donovan (Kilmeen), T Bailey (Kilmeen); J O’Leary (Ballinascarthy), D Harte (Clonakilty), O Murphy (Kilmeen); M Collins (Ibane Gaels), E Déiseach (Clonakilty); J Maguire (Castlehaven), S Whelton (St James’), J Murray (Kilmeen); T Whooley (Clonakilty), C Murphy (Ibane Gaels), E Hicks (Carbery Rangers).
E Nolan (Clonakilty) for D Harte (43).
N Tait (Éire Óg); D Sheehan (Éire Óg), P Rose (Ballincollig), D Strand (Éire Óg); E Donovan (Ballincollig), C Herlihy (Inniscarra), A Rose (Ballincollig); R Coakley (Éire Óg), B Cronin (Ballincollig); M Delaney (Ballincollig), C Ahern (Ballincollig), S Murphy (Éire Óg); C Murphy (Éire Óg), L O’Mahony (Ballincollig), J Miskella (Ballincollig).
E Lynch (Ballincollig) for M Delaney (40), F Lordan-Walsh (Ballincollig) for D Strand (45), A Kennedy (Ballinora) for C Murphy (56).
Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).
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