Clonakilty had too much strength in depth for UCC

Clonakilty 2-13 UCC 2-6

Struggling to stamp their authority on the game, Clon introduced Howard Kenny and Colm Callanan for the second half and in the space of two minutes both had the ball in the college net to put the issue beyond the students.

The win could set up a mouth-watering quarter final clash against fellow west Cork side Castlehaven, provided the Haven beat Muskerry, but Clon won't need any reminding that they'll have to improve considerably on last night's form if they are to make any further progress in this year's championship.

Given the shortage of a number of key players, UCC did well to be just seven points adrift at the final whistle, but it's hard on a side whose players were involved in club and county football prior to last night's match to have any great appetite for this game.

Aided by the breeze, Clonakilty, playing with only two in the full forward line, had two points on the board inside the opening three minutes, and the first one should have been a goal: Sean Quirke drove a piledriver off the crossbar, and Colin O'Donovan pointed the rebound.

With Padraig Griffin given a roving commission, Clon played the possession game very well, and with Sean Quirke a live wire in attack, the west Cork side were full value for their 0-4 to 0-1 lead at the end of the first quarter, Quirke scoring two of those points.

However for all the possession Clon enjoyed, it wasn't reflected on the score board, and they went 15 minutes without adding to their tally Colin O'Donovan pointing a free in the 25th minute.

UCC for their part could make no headway against a Clon defence in which full back Tony Anglin and Liam Lyons were particularly impressive.

They went from the fifth to the 30th minute without a score and at half time Clon led 0-7 to 0-2, after shooting seven wides to just two for their opponents.

Clearly unhappy with their return from having dominated possession, Clon made those two substitutions which were to transform this game completely. After the impressive Sean Quirke kicked over his second point, Kenny showed his value to his side with a peach of a goal set up for him by Conrad Murphy, who made a great run from midfield.

Murphy, who has great potential, was also involved in the second goal two minutes later, this time putting Colm Callanan in. From a position of vulnerability at half time, Clon found themselves 2-9 to 0-3 in front after 37 minutes and looked to be skating home.

However, Fintan Goold began to win a lot of possession and he gave his side a great lift when he squeezed home a goal in the 40th minute after, doing all the work himself. It was an inspirational score and the students began to enjoy their best spell.

Fellow county senior John Hayes, landed an excellent long-range point and when Goold got through for a second major in the 50th minute Clon's lead was down to manageable proportions. However, it was evident that the students had little left in the tank and the far fitter club side took control again.

Brendan Walsh began to open up the UCC defence with some excellent cross-field passing and it was fitting that Conrad Murphy should finally get on the score sheet, kicking an excellent point. At the other end Fintan Goold came close to completing his hat-trick but missed.

In the end Clon finished worthy winners and can look forward with confidence to at least one more day out. For UCC it's a case of having to wait another year.

Scorers for Clonakilty: C. O'Donovan 0-3 (0-1 free); H. Kenny, C. Callanan 1-0 each; S. Quirke, C. Murphy, P. Griffin 0-2 each; Timmy Anglin, B. Walsh (free), N. Hayes, D. Lyons 0-1 each.

Scorers for UCC: F. Goold 2-1; J. Hayes 0-3 (0-2 frees); D. O'Hare, L. O Lionan 0-1 each.

CLONAKILTY: E. Harte; T. O'Sullivan, Tony Anglin, J. Forrestal; L. Lyons, F. Coughlan, N. Hayes; Timmy angling, B. Walsh; S. Quirke, P. Griffin, D. Lyons; J. Connolly, C. Murphy, C. O'Donovan.

Subs: H. Kenny for Connolly; C. Callanan for O'Donovan; D. Murphy for Timmy Anglin; E. O'Brien for Griffin; C. O'Donovan for Murphy.

UCC: S. O Cairdabhain; W. O'Sullivan, C. O'Connell, D. Riordan; R. Power, K. O'Keeffe, D. O'Hare; P. Madden, F. Goold; B. Mulvihill, P. Galvin, P. O'Connor; J. Hayes, D. O'Sullivan, L. O Lionan. Subs: J. O'Shea for O'Connor; F. O'Sullivan for O'Shea; E. O'Donoghue for D. O'Sullivan.

Referee: R. Murphy (Lyre).