De La Salle squeeze past Killorglin but need to improve

HOLDERS De Le Salle Macroom, thanks to a last minute point from Rory Buckley, remain in this year’s Corn Uí Mhuirí but only just after they beat a below-par Killorglin at Gneeveguilla yesterday.

The fact that St Brendan’s are so superior to both these sides spells trouble for Killorglin, who have already beaten Skibbereen, but Macroom will make it through to the last eight if they beat the same opposition.

Macroom dominated yesterday’s opening quarter thanks to the work of Buckley and James O’Leary at midfield, but shot six wides with O’Leary being the main culprit.

It took spirited play from Anthony Sweeney, Paddy O’Sullivan and Peter Crowley to keep Killorglin afloat.

Con Dunne and Ian Casey gave the Cork side the early advantage but Killorglin’s Timmy O’Sullivan opened his side’s account.

Macroom struck for an opportunist goal in the 13th minute and Ian Wiseman and Kieran Desmond were involved as the ball was allowed to cross goal and Dunne finished to the Killorglin net.

Three points from O’Sullivan, who had to move to the 40, kept Killorglin in touch and they led at half time when Leon Seidler fisted a Peter Crowley cross to the net to make it 1-4 to 1-3.

O’Leary kicked four second half Macroom points but Killorglin sensed a chance of a result as they trailed 1-7 to 1-5 with ten minutes to go. Buckley pointed a free while Ronan Sayers levelled with five minutes left. Killorglin missed two great opportunities for a winner as they shot wide from close range and it was left up to Macroom midfielder Rory Buckley to kick the winning point in the 59th minute. Both sides will know that they are well below the standard of the top sides.

Scorers: De la Salle Macroom: J O’Leary 0-5 (0-2 frees), C Dunne 1-1, I Casey and R Buckley 0-1 each. Killorglin: L Seidler 1-1,T O’Sullivan 0-4 (0-3 frees), J Buckley 0-1 ‘45, R Sayers 0-1

DE LE SALLE: W Ambrose, G O’Riordan, M Golden, G Angleland, D Murphy, B Healy, I Casey, R Buckley, J O’Leary, K Desmond, C Dunne, A Cronin, I Wiseman, S Casey, C O’Sullivan.

Subs: M O’Sullivan for K Desmond, B Cronin for I Wiseman, O Lynch for C O’Sullivan (inj)

INTERMEDIATE KILLORGLIN: C O’Rourke, M Moriarty, A Sweeney, L Clifford, P O’Sullivan, J Clarke, P Crowley, J Buckley, M Lynch, D Coffey, C O’Riordan, L Seidler, K Corkery, T O’Sullivan, S Walsh

Subs: T Curran for M Moriarty, L Walsh for C O’Rourke, R Sayers for D Coffey

Referee: N Barrett (Carrigtwohill).