Corn Uí Mhuirí: Abbey CBS come alive late on to secure opening round victory

Abbey CBS rolled the dice with some subs and got their reward.

VICTORIOUS: Adam Ryan, Abbey CBS, under pressure from Shane Kelleher and Shane Gilroy, St Pat’s, Castleisland.

Abbey CBS 1-10 St. Patrick’s Castleisland 1-8 

Abbey CBS claimed an opening round victory of the 2023/24 Corn Uí Mhuirí after defeating St. Patrick’s, Castleisland at a soaked University of Limerick. The rain had barely relented on Shannonside for over 24 hours but thankfully the 4G artificial surface could host this novel pairing at the top tier of schools football.

Indeed, it marked a first-ever outing at this grade for Castleisland who annexed the All-Ireland C title earlier this year. They will be frustrated not to have come away with the win, having held a four-point buffer when Luke McShane found the net inside the final quarter.

The Tipperary outfit staged a strong comeback and 1-4 on the trot to take the points. It was a return to the top table for the school after a decade-long absence. Munster B winners in the last two seasons, they’d fallen just short in the All-Ireland B final last spring.

This Group 5 clash only sparked to life after the interval which saw the Kerry side leading 0-4 to 0-2 despite conceding much of the territory to Abbey. It was a half where both sides struggled with the conditions with six Abbey CBS wides frustrating their management which included Tipperary's Conor Sweeney.

Three-pointed threes from Jack O’Donoghue and a fine score from play from Michael Horan helped Castleisland into that two-point lead. They’d shown their quality for Horan’s team score, but hadn’t done this enough to pull clear of the slow-building Abbey side.

The second half took a new life and players played with greater purpose. O’Donoghue curled over two more frees to open a four-point gap but Oola’s Sean O’Mahony, who impressed throughout helped keep cut the gap.

The wingbacks were having an impact at both ends and Ruairi Brosnan set up what looked to be a crucial goal for Castleisland on 46 minutes. His long-direct and accurate kick was fielded well by Eoghan Shire. He spun his marker and blasted to the net, to make it 1-6 to 0-5.

Abbey rolled the dice with some subs and got their reward. They were playing with width, allowing cornerback Emmet Bonner to notch a point and they were level when scoring a penalty after a desperate defensive scramble ended with a foul. A well-taken dead ball by Joseph O’Dwyer set up an interesting last 10 minutes.

A trio of points in as many minutes - one from Stephen Carey and two O’Dwyer frees – put them in firm control in stoppage time. Castleisland couldn’t be escapeped until right at the last and they notched a point through another O’Donoghue free. The lively forward overhit his delivery when searching for a game levelling score.

Clonakilty Community College are the other side in this three-team group – and will face both sides in the coming weeks.

Scorers for Abbey CBS: J O’Dwyer 1-5 (1-0 pen; 0-4 frees); S O’Grady 0-2; S O’Mahony, E Bonner, S Carey 0-1 each.

Scorers for St. Patrick’s Castleisland: J O’Donoghue 0-6 (all frees); E Shire 1-0;M Horan 0-2.

Abbey CBS: R McGrath (Eire Og Annacarthy); E Bonner (Galtee Rovers), S Lewis (Arravale Rovers), D Ryan (Arravale Rovers); D McGrath (Oola), L Finanne (Galtee Rovers), S O’Grady (Oola); A Ryan (Arravale Rovers), M Gleeson (Kickhams); M Bowes (Arravale Rovers), S Carey (Aherlow), S O’Mahony (Arravale Rovers); D O’Hora (Solohead), J O’Dwyer (Kickhams), C Kelly (Arravale Rovers) 

Subs: B Quirke (Galtee Rovers) for Finanne (38); J Garrett (Arravale Rovers) for O’Hora (45); S Quigley (Arravale Rovers) for Kelly (49); J Crowe for Gleeson (52).

St. Patrick’s Castleisland: L Nolan (Castleisland Desmonds); C Sheehan (Currow), E Brennan (Castleisland Desmonds), S Kelliher (Cordal); R Brosnan (Currow), O O’Connor (Currow), T Jones (Cordal); C Reidy (Scartaglen), M Horan (Ballymacelligot); K Dennehy (Cordal), R Bourke (Castleisland Desmonds), E Shire (Castleisland Desmonds); M Horan (Scartaglen), L McShane (Scartaglen), J O’Donoghue (Scartaglen).

Subs: D Healy (Currow) for McShane (49) ; C Cahill (Knocknagoshel) for Bourke (51).

Referee: Jonathan Hayes (St. Senan’s, Limerick).