Courtney stays cool as Michael’s edge to final

Eddie Courtney kept his composure to land an injury-time winner from a 40m free and propel St Michael’s to a deserved victory over PobalscoilChorca Dhuibhne in the All-Ireland Colleges’ Senior A football championship semi-final at O’Moore Park on Saturday.

Courtney gave a magnificent exhibition of kicking from distance in the second half, punishing Corca Dhuibhne’s indiscipline.

The centre-forward finished with six points as St Michael’s made little of their MacRory Cup exertions five days earlier to dominate the final 25 minutes.

St Michael’s began confidently with Courtney converting a free before Tommy McCaffrey pointed superbly on the turn to push them two points clear. Pádraig Ó Dubháin kicked an excellent opener for the Kerry contingent before the impressive Dara Ó Sé equalised from a free.

Ó Sé and the brilliant Tomás Ó Cliabhán were major threats for Corca Dhuibhne but were denied enough possession in the second half to turn the tide in their side’s favour.

Pobalscoil finished the opening period a point ahead and it would have been more but for a smart save byPaddy Sweeney from Micheál ÓFlannúra.

Maitiú Ó Flatharta and Ó Cíobhán extended the advantage to three early in the second half but St Michael’s powered into the game thereafter.

Courtney slotted two frees and Liam Martin pointed from play to equalise. Ó Cíobhán restored his team’sadvantage with a sensational point,deceiving his marker by fisting ahopping ball back over his head,turning inside and lofting over from 40 yards.

The Fermanagh outfit continued to dominate but hit the upright three times and though they did wrest back the advantage, excellent scores against the run of play from Ó Sé and Ó Cliobhán gave Pobalscoil an unlikely lead.

St Michael’s had another gear though. Courtney’s outside-of-the-boot conversion of a 45m free brought the scores level and prompted huge cheers from his side’s supporters.

When he repeated the trick from just five metres closer, the celebrations could begin in earnest.

Scorers for St Michael’s: E Courtney 0-6(5fs); B McAleer, T McCaffrey, L Martin, D Teague 0-1 each.

Scorers for Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne: D Ó Sé, T Ó Cíobháin 0-3(1f) each; É Ó Conchúir, P Dubháin, M Ó Flatharta 0-1 each.

ST MICHAEL’S: P Sweeney; E Hamill, C Cullen, K McDonnell; N Beggan, L Cullen, R Brennan, B McAleer, R Hyde; C Murphy, E Courtney, N Maguire; T McCaffrey, L Martin, L Jones.

Sub: L Brennan for Martin (24); D Teague for Murphy (ht); Martin for Jones (ht); D Gallagher for Beggan (55).

POBALSCOIL CHORCA DHUIBHNE: G Ó Curráin; P Ó Conchuir, C Ó Luing, T Ó Súilleabháin; P Ó Dubháin, P Ó Sé, M Ó Flatharta; B Ó Súilleabháin, É Ó Conchúir; B Ó Raoill, T Ó Cíobháin, J Ó Súilleabháin; S Ó hUallacháin, D Ó Sé, M Ó Flannúra.

Subs: T Ó Sé for Ó Flannúra (46); C Ó Bambaire for Ó hUallacháin (51); S Ó Diomsaigh for Ó Raoill (60).

Referee: F Kelly, Longford.