St Colman’s let St Fachtna’s off the hook

THREE teams, two games apiece, and all draws.

It couldn’t have been tighter in Group C of the Corn Uí Mhiurí, so the battle to go through to the quarter-finals is still up for grabs as play-offs loom to decide the top two qualifiers.Yet it might have been so different in the biting cold and swirling wind.at Coachford yesterday had St. Colman’s taken their chances in the second-half. However, they found a resolute St. Fachtna’s defence, in which Richard Hodnett (until he retired injured) Conor McCarthy and Danny O’Donovan stood tall, a tough nut to crack. Not even the fillip of two early goals could drive the Fermoy side on.

Just seven scores from play between the two sides is a poor return, but it has to be said that the stinging, swirling wind did make life extremely difficult for both sets of forwards. Still it was a lively opening half, with St. Fachtna’s quick to hit the target when Ger Minihane pointed a free after only 40 seconds. And the midfielder kicked two more later on, scores instrumental in their narrow first-half lead. But St. Colman’s were always lively and competitive and it took them only four minutes to get their opening goal when Darragh O’Carroll set up midfield partner Sean Finn and the sides were level 0-3 to 1-0 after the opening quarter.