Christians get going early and win easily
Christians started like they meant business, an unanswered 2-3 on the board inside eight minutes, and by half-time they were 2-11 to 0-7 in front.
Kilmallock’s Coláiste Iosaef improved in the second period though and suggested they might mount a comeback with a goal and a point on the resumption.
While the scores weren’t as frequent for Christians as they had been, late goals from Denis McBarron and Mark Walsh ensured they were never going to be caught and, with just three teams in Group A and two to advance to the last 16 — Kilmallock face Doon’s Scoil na Tríonóide Naofa in a fortnight — they are likely to progress.
After points from Jamie Corkery and Ben Keohane in the game’s nascent stages, Corkery struck for a fine individual goal. Then, after wing-forward Jack Twomey added another point, he was the beneficiary of lovely flicked pass from Corkery to set him away and finish to open up a nine-point lead.
Paul Treacy, Gearóid Barry and Callaghan McCarthy had a quick trio of Kilmallock scores, but CBC were in a groove and Corkery, McBarron, Walsh and Twomey all had points before half-time, though three from Kilmallock’s Paul O’Riordan ensured they had a glimmer of hope at the turnaround.
Two minutes into the second-half, a 10-point deficit had become six with O’Riordan’s free followed by a goal by Barry. Unfortunately, while the first-half had produced just two wides, now they began to pile up and when the period of dominance passed, CBC were able to recalibrate.
Though they lost Corkery to injury, his replacement Tommy O’Connell was just as adept from placed balls. Then, on 52 minutes, another sub, Eoin McCarthy, drew a save from Séamus Connery, with McBarron poking home after a scramble. While O’Riordan — scorer of all but one of the Kilmallock points in the second half — replied, an O’Connell free was followed by the fourth CBC goal, from midfielder Walsh. O’Connell was able to add three more in the elongated injury time, and 13 points was the final cushion.
J Corkery (1-4, 2 frees); J Twomey, D McBarron (1-3 each); T O’Connell (0-5, 3 frees); M Walsh (1-1); B Keohane (0-1).
P O’Riordan (0-8, 5 frees); C McCarthy (0-3, 1 free, 1 65); G Barry (1-1); P Treacy (0-1).
D Heffernan (Mallow); J Roche (Midleton), C Power (Blarney), A Cronin (Glen Rovers); C McNamara (Erin’s Own), E Moloney (Midleton), C Barrett (St Finbarr’s); D Hanlon (Blarney), M Walsh (Cloughduv); J Twomey (Kilshanning), C Murphy (Na Piarsaigh), B Keohane (Ballincollig); D McBarron (Carrigaline), J Corkery (Glen Rovers), S Finn (Midleton).
T O’Connell (Midleton) for Corkery (42, injured), E McCarthy (Inniscarra) for Murphy (51), C Flynn (Na Piarsaigh) for Hanlon (55), B Slattery (Mallow) for Power (57), B Hartnett (Douglas) for Twomey (60).
S Connery (Kilmallock); A Enright (Kilmallock), C Doherty (Effin), J Quaid (Dromin/Athlacca); P O’Connor (Kilmallock), A Finn (Kilmallock), L English (Kilmallock); P Mulcahy (Bruff), C McCarthy (Kilmallock); P O’Riordan (Bruff), P Treacy (Kilmallock), D O’Leary (Bruff); G Barry (Kilmallock), G McCarthy (Bruree), D Browne (Bruff).
D O’Brien (Kilmallock) for Mulcahy (24, injured), S Rabbitt (Bruree) for O’Leary (60).
M Sheehan (Liscarroll).
