CIT flex muscles despite host of injuries

CIT produced a marvellous second half to see off Imokilly in round three of the Cork SHC at Páirc Uí Rinn last night and in the process served notice that, at full strength, they could have a huge say in the destination of this year’s title.

The students were forced to line out without county senior hurler Lorcan McLoughlin and county senior footballer Aidan Walsh, both of whom picked up injuries playing with their club in the IHC on Saturday night, and their situation was compounded by the loss of corner-back David Duggan, forced out with a knee injury after just two minutes.

However, they overcame those losses well and after the sides were level on four occasions, CIT’s marginally better hurling began to tell.

County senior footballer Ciaran Sheehan set up Simon O’Brien for his side’s opening goal in the 16th minute and after the sides swapped points to be level again at 1-5 to 0-8, the students put in a storming last 10 minutes to the break, scoring 1-3 without reply to lead 2-8 to 0-8 at the short whistle.

Bill Cooper kept Imokilly in touch with two points in a row before Simon O’Brien scored his second goal.

A game that was a very lacklustre affair in the opening half, improved immeasurably on the change over helped by an Imokilly goal from Mick Galvin 30 seconds after the resumption.

However, the students cancelled out that goal with three points in a row, the best of them the second scored by Eoin Conway from an acute angle.

The students were full value for their 2-13 to 1-11 lead at the three-quarter stage and any chance the east Cork divisional side had of winning was finally extinguished by a third CIT goal in the 50th minute, scored by Colin Casey.

Bill Cooper’s late goal came too late for Imokilly.

Scorers for CIT: S O’Brien 2-2; C Casey 1-2; T Murphy, Ml O’Sullivan 0-3 each; C Sheehan, D Drake 0-2 each; E Dillon 0-1.

Scorers for Imokilly: B Cooper 1-3; E Conway 0-4; M Galvin 1-1; P O’Regan 0-2 (1 65); B Ring (1f), A O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

CIT: T Quaide (Limerick); D Duggan, R Cashman, B Withers; E Dillon, S Leahy (Waterford), P Butler; N Kelly, M O’Sullivan; A Murphy, C Casey, D Lordan; S Sheehy (Tipperary). C Sheehan, S O’Brien.

Subs: C Hurley for D Duggan (3); D Drake for D Lordan (28); B O’Sullivan for Leahy (h-t); M O’Callaghan for Sheehy (45); S Ó Croinín for T Murphy (55).

* All CIT players are from Cork except where mentioned

IMOKILLY: C Cronin (Lisgoold); B Twomey (Castlemartyr), P Butler (Fr O’Neills), C Spillane (Castlelyons); M Hickey (Carrignavar), C McGann (Castlelyons), P O’Regan (Watergrasshill); L Sexton (Castlelyons), A O’Sullivans (do.); M Galvin (Aghada), B Cooper (Youghal), R Spillane (Carrignavar); J Halbert (Watergrasshill), E Conway (Fr O’Neills), B Ring (Youghal).

Subs: B Smiddy (Castlemartyr) for McGann (40); B Murphy (Fr O’Neills) for A O’Sullivan (45); S O’Callaghan (Watergrasshill) for R Spillane (55); T O’Keeffe (Aghada) for Galvin (55).

Referee: D Kirwan (Éire Óg).