Colman’s show of strength stifles Spioraid Naoimh

St Colman’s 1-13 Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh 0-4

Greasy underfoot conditions and a persistent drizzle made it difficult for both sides, but Colmans’ greater physical strength was a crucial advantage.

The Fermoy side opened brightly with a pointed free from Padraig Lynch and they never relinquished that lead, tacking on points from Mark O’Connor, Kevin Dineen and the impressive Adrian Mannix. Padraig Cotter at centre-back was dominant for Colmans and Spioraid Naoimh found it hard to create chances.

The Bishopstown school finally scored in the 19th minute with a pointed free by Eoin McCann, but by then Colmans already had six points to their credit.

It was 0-8 to 0-3 at half-time and when Colmans’ Alan O’Connor forced home a goal in the 36th minute the contest was as good as over. Colmans added four more points, with Spioraid Naoimh managing just one white flag in the second half.

Scorers: St Colmans: A Mannix 0-5; A O’Connor 1-0; P Lynch 0-3; P Cotter 0-1; K Dineen 0-1; J Kearney 0-1; P Hoye 0-1.Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh: R Dwyer 0-3; E McCann 0-1.

ST COLMANS: C O’Keeffe; J O’Connor, K Kearney, J O’Sullivan; S Walsh, P Cotter, M Barry; M O'Connor, S Cotter; J Kearney, P Hoye, K Dineen; P Lynch, A O’Connor, A Mannix.

Subs: P Maher for Hoye, R Fraher for Lynch, J Barry for Dineen, J Ahern for Mannix, L Coleman for M O’Connor.

COLÁISTE AN SPIORAID NAOIMH: K O’Halloran; R Mawe, M Collins, R Buie; B Murphy, B Noonan, B O’Neill; T Creed, R Fitzgibbon; R Dwyer, M Shields, E McCann; M Power, D Crowley, I Jones.

Subs: S Power for Buie, C Jones for O’Neill, D O’Connor for Shields.

Referee: D Fleming (Brian Dillons).