Corca Dhuibhne power past Críost Rí challenge

Pobalscoil Chorca Duibhne 0-14 Coláiste Chríost Rí 1-3

Playing with the wind in the first half, the holders built up a 0-9 to 0-1 lead. While their Cork city opponents did come back to within four points, as Ian O’Callaghan netted a penalty and then converted a close-range free midway through the second half, Críost Rí wouldn’t score again. Corca Dhuibhne always looked in control and two points each from Conchúir Ó Géibheannaigh and Cathal Ó Bambaire gave them an eight-point victory.

With just three teams in Group D, the Dingle school will secure a quarter-final spot if they beat IS Killorglin on November 12. Should that happen, the game between Killorglin and Críost Rí on November 26 would then be a straight play-off for second place in the group.

Despite the loss of some key men from last year’s successful Hogan Cup run, Corca Dhuibhne still possess quality. Ó Géibheannaigh and Ó Bambaire caused problems in the full-forward line and, until his second- half black card, centre-forward Séamus Ó Muircheartaigh was very effective.

For Críost Rí, Chidozie Ogbene threatened with a couple of penetrating second-half runs but they were always going to find it difficult to overhaul the interval deficit, however.

Ó Muircheartaigh’s early free was answered by one for O’Callaghan, but that was the extent of Críost Rí’s first-half scoring. Corca Dhuibhne necklaced a series of fine scores together to lead 0-7 to 0-1 after the first quarter.

Further points by Ó Bambaire — after two wonderful passes by Ó Súilleabháin and Ó Muircheartaigh — and then Ó Súilleabháin put eight between the teams. Críost Rí did have a half-chance of a goal late in the half, when O’Callaghan’s free hit the post, but Shane Hannigan’s fisted effort from the rebound was kept out by de Bhailís.

Ó Muircheartaigh opened the second-half scoring to extend the lead further, but then Críost Rí enjoyed their most fruitful period. Ogbene’s jinking run yielded a point, and in the 39th minute, John Good was fouled for a penalty, which O’Callaghan rolled to the net.

When he pointed on the three-quarter mark, it was 0-10 to 1-3, but Corca Dhuibhne weren’t for wilting. A nice Barra Seán Mac an Bhradáín pass allowed Ó Géibheannaigh to get his fourth point and then he got his fifth from a free as Críost Rí’s hopes died, Ó Bambaire’s late efforts rounding off the win.

Scorers for Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne: C Ó Géibheannaigh 0-5 (three frees), S Ó Muircheartaigh (three frees), C Ó Bambaire (two frees) 0-3 each, Tomás Ó Súilleabháin, G Ó hIcí-Ó Brosnacháin, BS Mac an Bhradáin 0-1 each.

Scorers for Coláiste Chríost Rí: I O’Callaghan 1-2 (1-0 penalty, two frees), C Ogbene 0-1.

POBALSCOIL CHORCA DHUIBHNE: L de Bhailís (Dingle); A Ó Conchúir (Dingle), C Ó Súilleabháin (Dingle), M Ó Baoill (Dingle); P Mac an tSithigh (Dingle), C Ó Murchú (An Ghaeltacht), Tomás Ó Súilleabháin (Dingle); M Ó Conchúir (Dingle), S Ó Gairbhia (An Ghaeltacht); M Ó Gormáin (An Ghaeltacht), S Ó Muircheartaigh (An Ghaeltacht), G Ó hIcí-Ó Brosnacháin (Dingle); C Ó Géibheannaigh (Dingle), BS Mac an Bhradáin (Rinn Mhaoil), C Ó Bambaire (Dingle).

Subs: Seán Ó Bambaire (An Ghaeltacht) for Ó Gormáin, Tom Ó Súilleabháin (Dingle) for Ó Baoill (both half-time), Ó Gormáin or Ó Muircheartaigh (39, black card), L McLarnon (Dingle) for Ó hIcí-Ó Brosnacháin (43, black card).

COLÁISTE CHRÍOST RÍ: M O’Mahony (Nemo Rangers); C Scully (St Finbarr’s), C Dennehy (St Finbarr’s), D Byrne (St Finbarr’s); S McCarthy (St Finbarr’s), A O’Callaghan (St Michael’s), C Buckley (St Finbarr’s); S Hannigan (St Finbarr’s), P Geary (Sliabh Rua); O Murphy (St Finbarr’s), C Ogbene (Nemo Rangers), J Good (Tracton); S Dennehy (St Finbarr’s), I O’Callaghan (St Finbarr’s), C Buckley (St Finbarr’s).

Subs: B Kerins (St Finbarr’s) for Geary, A West (Nemo Rangers) for Hannigan (both half-time), F Ó Sé (St Finbarr’s) for Murphy (44), C McCarthy (Douglas) for Dennehy (50), J Ryan for O’Callaghan (60, injured).

Referee: R Moloney (Limerick).