Saints march on after huge scare
Since the competition began St. Brendan’s have been favourites to lift the title and they may just have faced their sternest test against an enthusiastic side that was physically stronger.
In the end it was Kerry minor, James O’Donoghue, who saved the day with a six point contribution from placed balls that punished the Ballincollig side severely for indiscretions inside the range of the target.
Coláiste Choilm midfield pair Kealin Hickey and big Liam Murphy were dominant in midfield and they had a lively attacking half back in Daniel Murphy who caused endless problems for St. Brendan’s.
The defence was rock solid in the face of an attack led by O’Donoghue who was given plenty of support by Cian Tobin and Shane O’Neill and the fact that St. Brendan’s only managed three points from play bore testament to the efficiency of the back line.
They launched attack after attack on the St. Brendan’s defensive line and twice in the first half, when Coláiste Choilm were playing into the wind, St. Brendan’s full-back, Padraig O’Connor, had to put himself on the line to keep them out.
But, for all their effort and with star forward Cian Sheehan kept under wraps by Jonathan Lyne, they could only manage two points in the opening half — both from John Dineen frees in the 10th and 17th minutes. It was in response to the last of those that St. Brendan’s scored their first point from play — a delightful movement involving half forwards Shane O’Neill and Christopher O’Leary that was finished off by Cian Tobin.
Shane O’Neill latched on to a Jamie O’Sullivan pass to notch their second point from play but they were somewhat flattered by a 0-7 to 0-2 lead at half time.
In the first minute of the second half Liam Murphy fielded a high ball in the centre of the field, passed it to Joe O’Dowd who, in turn, found Kealin Hickey and he took his point to give Coláiste Choilm the perfect start but, as in the first half, they conceded a close-in free and O’Donoghue confidently restored the status quo.
St. Brendan’s were now under ferocious pressure and Hickey capitalised on a half cleared free to cut the arrears to four points. Jamie O’Sullivan replied but Hickey struck again and John Dineen added a point from play and another from a free to leave just two between the sides going into the last 10 minutes.
James O’Donoghue put St. Brendan’s three points clear again with a well taken free before both sides had a player sent off with a second yellow card for St. Brendan’s wing back, Daniel Murphy, and a red for Coláiste Choilm’s wing forward, Joe Dowd.
Substitute Daragh Kiely pointed from long range to cut the arrears to two points and he had a hand in the move that placed Hickey to score his fourth and leave just one between the sides before but St. Brendan’s hung on to claim victory.
Scorers for St. Brendan’s: J. O’Donoghue 0-6 (frees), C. Tobin 0-2 (0-1 free), and J. O’Sullivan and S. O’Neill 0-1 each.
Scorers for Coláiste Choilm: K. Hickey 0-4, J. Dineen 0-4 (0-3 frees), D. Kiely 0-1.
ST. BRENDAN’S: B. Kelly (Legion); F. Fitzgerald (Dr Crokes), P. O’Connor (Legion, J. O’Mahony (Firies); D. O’Sullivan (Spa), J. Lyne (Legion), J. Coffey (Beaufort); K. O’Regan (Spa), J. O’Sullivan (Kilcummin); J. O’Donoghue (Legion), S. O’Neill (Dr Crokes), C. O’Leary (Kilcummin); C. Tobin (Spa), P. O’Connor (Dr Crokes), D. Twomey (Legion). Sub: A. O’Sullivan (Spa) for K. O’Regan.
COLAISTE CHOILM: E. Doyle (Ballincollig); T. Coveney (Eire Og), L. Jennings (Ballincollig), J. Olawlor (Ballincollig); D. Murphy (Ballincollig)l, J. P. Murphy (Ballincollig), D. Barry (Ballincollig); K. Hickey (Ballincollig), L. Murphy (Eire Og); D. Brown (Ballincollig), C. Sheehan (Eire Og), J. Dowd (Kilmurry); K. Hallissey (Eire Og), I. Coughlan (Ballincollig), J. Dineen (Eire Og). Sub: D. Kiely (Ballincollig) for D. Brown.
Referee: Kevin Walsh (Clare).
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