Brendan’s work hard for victory

St. Brendan’s 3-7 Coláiste Chríost Rí 1-12

Críost Rí came agonisingly close to snatching a draw in the closing seconds but Eric Hegarty, who had scored 1-9, was narrowly off target.

Making their inaugural appearance in this season’s championship, Críost Rí made all the early running in heavy conditions.

They were two points to the good before Hegarty goaled from the penalty spot in the fifth minute after McCarthy was fouled. Hegarty followed with a point from play as St Brendan’s found themselves 1-3 in arrears.

But St Brendan’s hit back with a vengeance. First centre forward Ruairí Mangan soloed through before unleashing an unstoppable shot in the 10th minute. Four minutes later left half forward Sean Brosnan scored another superb individual goal. Much to Chríost Rí’s dismay, they were all square at the end of the first quarter.

Four points in a row, from both play and frees by Hegarty, re-established Chríost Rí’s supremacy, but a minute from the interval they were rocked when corner forward Jamie Doolan chipped the ball over goalkeeper Darren Haines and into the net.

Hegarty replied with a point to leave it 1-8 to 3-0 to Chríost Rí at the break it was clear the Cork lads would have it all to do against the wind in the second half.

With Doolan now operating at full forward, St Brendan’s equalised for the second time in the 44th minute when the Dr Crokes teenager pointed a free. A minute later Doolan gave St. Brendan’s the lead with another pointed free and he increased his side’s advantage with a point from play entering the closing stages.

Chríost Rí battled all the way but Hegarty’s last unlucky attempt drifted wide. They must now defeat Coláiste Cholm if they are to join St. Brendan’s in the quarter finals.

Scorers: St. Brendan’s:. J. Doolan 1-4 (0-2 from frees); R. Mangan 1-1; S. Brosnan 1-0; J. O’Donoghue and A. Moynihan (free) 0-1 each. Coláiste Chríost Rí: E. Hegarty 1-9 (1-5 from frees); I. Madden, P. Horgan and B. Corry 0-1 each.

ST. BRENDAN’S: A. Kelly; S. Fenton, K. Breen, P. O’Connor; B. Devane, S. Lynch, G. Tucker; A. O’Regan, J. Bartlett; A. Moynihan, R. Mangan, S. Brosnan; J. Doolan, A. O’Reilly, D. Twomey.

Subs: J. O’Donoghue for Twomey; D. Long for Devane; K. Callaghan for O’Reilly.

COLÁISTE CHRÍOST RÍ: D. Haines; I. Foley, D. Bracken, E. Allen; J. M. O’Sullivan, P. Butler, A. Duggan; K. O’Mahony, B. Corry; P. O’Riordan, B. Newman, E. Hegarty; S. McCarthy, I. Madden, P. Horgan.

Subs: R. Walsh for O’Riordan; S. Duncan for O’Mahony; I. Leahy for Horgan.

Referee: D. Farrell (Mitchelstown).