Chorca Dhuibhne still on for three in-a-row

Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne 0-12 Coláiste Chríost Rí 1-6

Coláiste Chríost Rí hold the mantle for the last outfit to inflict defeat on Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne back in the spring of 2011, and history looked set to repeat itself as the Cork school enjoyed a 1-5 to 0-5 lead with 10 minutes of normal time remaining.

Crucially, however, instead of closing out matters, Coláiste Chríost Rí retreated inside their own half and adopted a wholly negative approach. Said defensive mentality allowed Eamonn Fitzmaurice’s charges seize the initiative and although Séamus Ó Muircheartaigh (free) and Tom Ó Súilleabháin both split the posts to reduce the deficit to the minimum, successive wides from Ó Súilleabháin and substitute Colm Ó Muirthile appeared to sound the death knell on Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne’s tenure as Munster kingpins.

With the clock having spilled into injury-time centre-back Caoimhghín Ó Beaglaíoch let fly from 40 yards, more in hope than expectation, but instead of allowing the ball dribble harmlessly wide, Coláiste Chríost Rí goalkeeper Gary O’Sullivan killed possession before illegally gathering the ball off the ground. Free to Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne. Cathal Ó Bambaire kicked the equaliser, extra-time it was.

No longer enjoying the scoreboard advantage, Coláiste Chríost Rí were once more forced to engage in a game of football. Psychologically, though, they were a spent outfit. Indeed, little over 30 seconds had elapsed in the first period of extra-time when Cathal Ó Bambaire edged the Dingle school ahead, the same player doubling his side’s advantage in the subsequent action.

Ó Bambaire and Tom Ó Súilleabháin wrapped up proceedings with further points after the change of ends, Ian O’Callaghan landing a late consolation effort for Coláiste Chríost Rí, their first score in 36 minutes of action.

Perhaps not as difficult as he had envisaged in extra-time, but victorious manager Fitzmaurice was still mightily relieved to have got out of the fixture alive.

“It looked like with 10 minutes to go in normal time we were beaten and maybe that we would need a goal to get back into it.

“Credit to the lads, they just chipped away with their points and we got back level just in time,” he said.

Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne enjoyed the interval advantage, 0-5 to 0-4, but proceedings were turned on its head when keeper Dáithí Ó Conchúir was penalised on 39 minutes for a foot block on Peter Gleeson. Keith Hegarty dispatched the resulting penalty and the centre-forward supplied Coláiste Chríost Rí’s sole score from play thereafter to complete a four-point swing.

Adding to Dingle’s woes was the black card dismissal of captain Barra Ó Súilleabháin, replaced, however, by Gareth Ó Brosnacháin.

Alas, Coláiste Chríost Rí’s decision to shut up shop when momentum had swung their way ultimately proved their undoing.

Scorers for Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne: C Ó Bambaire 0-5 (1f); S Ó Muircheartaigh (2f); T Ó Súilleabháin 0-2 (2f) each; M Ó Conchúir, C Ó Géibheanaigh f), M Ó Flatharta (0-1 each).

Scorers for Coláiste Chríost Rí: K Hegarty 1-1 (1-0 pen); I O’Callaghan 0-4 (4f); C Ogbene 0-1.

POBALSCOIL CHORCA DHUIBHNE: D Ó Conchúir; C Ó Súilleabháin, B Ó Beaglaíoch, C Ó Murchú; M Ó Flatharta, C Ó Beaglaíoch, C Ó Gairbhia; B Ó Súilleabháin, M Ó Conchúir; R Ó Sé, B Ó Raoil, S Ó Muircheartaigh; T Ó Súilleabháin, C Ó Bambaire, C Ó Géibheanaigh.

Subs: S Ó Gairbhia for Ó Murchú (43), S Ó Bambaire for Ó Géibheanaigh (43), G Ó Brosnacháin for Ó Súilleabháin (49), C Ó Muirthile for Ó Muircheartaigh (53), S Ó Muircheartaigh for Ó Raoil (70).

COLÁISTE CHRÍOST RÍ: G O’Sullivan; M Russell, D Kerins, C Scully; D O’Neill, S Cronin, C Dennehy; A O’Callaghan, I O’Callaghan; P Gleeson, K Hegarty, J Good; C Walsh, B Kerins, C Ogbene.

Subs: J Philpott for Dennehy (42), B O’Leary for Scully (46), C McCarthy for Gleeson (50), C Buckley for B Kerins (55).

Referee: K Walsh.