Murphy’s class proves too much for Tralee

Cork College of FE 3-7

Operating at centre-forward in the first-half, Erins Own star Murphy showed his class in the 16th minute, when he beat a number of defenders before scoring a marvellous individual goal. While the Tralee students battled hard and were only a point down early in the second-half, the ability of the Cork forwards to score goals was the decisive factor.

John Corbett, at full-forward, proved more than a handful for the Tralee defence and his goal in the 10th minute put the home side firmly on their way.

His opposite number Barry Moran was equally effective and when his long range shot dropped into the Cork net five minutes later, it looked as if Tralee would make a match of it.

However, Murphy’s splendid effort helped to confirm the Cork side’s superiority and they were well worth their half time lead of 2-3 to 1-3.

The second-half resumed with Murphy at midfield but it was the visitors who took up the running and with John Keohane and Jody Collins excellent in defence and Barry Moran continuing to pose problems up front, they had the deficit down to the minimum after 37 minutes.

Once again, however, the Cork side responded superbly with a third goal in the 40th minute, when Kieran Murphy’s long delivery was touched home by John Lynch.

That score knocked the heart out of the Tralee men who failed to score for the remaining 20 minutes, as the Cork defence, well marshalled by Hughie Hannon, John Grace and Brendan O’Driscoll, gave nothing away.

Such was the dominance of the Cork college that Kieran Murphy could afford the luxury of taking his point from a 55th minute penalty after John Lynch had been grounded.

Semi-finals pairing: Cork College of FE v Tipperary Institute; Athlone IT v DCU. Both in Thurles, Feb 28.

Scorers for Cork : K. Murphy 1-4 (0-3 frees); J. Lynch 1-1; J. Corbett 1-0; J. Connolly, K. O’Driscoll 0-1 each. Tralee: B. Moran 1-3 (0-3 frees); E.

O’Neill (65), P. McLoughlin, R. O’Meara 0-1 each.

CORK: S. Woulfe; I. McCarthy, N. O’Driscoll, D. Deasy; H. Hannon, J. Grace, B. O’Driscoll; D. Collins, K. O’Driscoll; J. Connolly, K. Murphy, B. Morrissey; J. Lynch, J. Corbett, K. Ryan. Sub. T. O’Connell for Ryan.

TRALEE: S. Goggin; E. Fitzgerald, P. Browne, W. Brosnan; K. O’Sullivan, J. Keohane, J. Collins; E. O’Neill, P. McCarthy; M. Dwyer, S. O’Rourke, P. McLoughlin; R. O’Meara, B. Moran, L. Murphy. Subs. K. Hally for Brosnan; R. Barry for Fitzgerald; E. Scully for Murphy.

Referee: G. Harrington (Cork).