Colman’s too strong for Abbey

ST COLMAN’S, FERMOY were easy winners against Abbey CBS in this Munster Colleges S‘B’FC semi-final (Corn An Uachtarán) in Ballyporeen yesterday.

Abbey CBS, wind assisted, showed good form early on and led 0-2 to 0-0 after six minutes, but Colman’s battled hard with the Spillane brothers impressive at midfield and took the lead when Gary O’Callaghan was quick to react to finish to the net in the 15th minute after Abbey keeper Kevin Byrnes saved well from Martin Brennan.

The winners were on top from here on and two more goals before the break from Colm Spillane and Martin Brennan helped them to a 3-4 to 0-3 lead at the break.

In the second-half Colman’s played well. Scoring was difficult due to the wind and rain but a series of points from Gary O’Callaghan (3), Alan Fenton, Noel McNamara and Colm Spillane stretched the lead to 3-10 to 0-5 after 52 minutes.

Abbey CBS had a late goal from Liam Nagle but it was Colman’s who tagged on two more points to run out easy winners the end.

Scorers for St Colman’s: G O’Callaghan 1-3 (0-3f), C Spillane 1-3, M Brennan 1-0, A Fenton 0-3, N McNamara, R Bransfield, P De Roiste 0-1 each.

Abbey CBS: L Nagle 1-2 (0-2f) J Hogan 0-2 (0-1f) P Mulhaire 0-1.

ST COLMAN’S: F Hogan; M Kennedy, C Barry, T Carroll; P Murphy, T Condon, P Blackburne; C Spillane, A Spillane; R Bransfield, P De Roiste, A Fenton; M Brennan, N McNamara, G O’Callaghan.

Subs: D Mangan for M Brennan, W Walsh for A Fenton, J Pyne for M Kennedy, P Leahy for T Carroll.

ABBEY CBS: K Byrnes; S Cunningham, O O’Meara, S Kiely; T O’Donoghue, E O’Meara, D Burke; G O’Callaghan, C O’Donoghue; P Mulhaire, J Hogan, D Dwyer; L Nagle, J Lowry, S Lowry.

Subs: E Fitzpatrick for D O Dwyer, A Daly for S O Dwyer.

Referee: D Cahill (Ballyporeen).