Second half surge secures top spot for never-say-die Coláiste Choilm

Coláiste Choilm 2-11 Clonakilty CC 2-10: A strong second-half surge saw Coláiste Choilm qualify for the Corn Uí Mhuirí as Group D winners at Brinny yesterday.

Going into this game, the permutations were numerous – depending on the score in the game between St Fachtna’s and Mercy Mounthawk, Coláiste Choilm might have beaten Clonakilty CC and not qualified, or lost the match and still made it through. As it was, Mounthawk’s failure to win meant that the Ballincollig school could have lost by six points without their advancement being in danger, but the one-point win meant they pipped Clon for top spot on the head-to-head basis.

Trailing by 2-4 to 1-4 at half-time, they twice fell four points behind in the second half, but they outscored their opponents by 1-5 to 0-1 between the 46th and 53rd minutes, Matthew Whelan’s second goal putting them 2-10 to 2-7 in front. While points from Liam O’Connor and Ross Mannix – who finished with seven – brought Clon back to within a point, a Whelan free eased Coláiste Choilm clear again. Mark White replied for Clon in injury-time, but the equaliser they required to top the group remained elusive though they progressed to the last eight also.