Mercy Mounthawk march into Corn Uí Mhuirí semi-finals

The Munster PPS SFC quarter final seemed cooked at one staqe - then it got interesting

PRESSURE: Mounthawk's Daniel Kirby hand-passing the ball clear of St. Francis College, Rochestown's Cathal Hallihan in the Corn Úí Mhuirí at Páirc Uí Chaoimh's 4G pitch.

Munster PPS SFC (Corn Ui Mhuiri)

Mercy Mounthawk Tralee 3-12 St Francis College Rochestown 3-6

Mercy Mounthawk continue their march. There’s been no one to match them this season. The field of remaining challengers continues to shrink.

Beaten semi-finalists 12 months ago, the Tralee school once again stands on the cusp of a historic first Corn Uí Mhuirí final appearance.

To get there, they’ll need to first overcome the winners of the postponed St Brendan’s Killarney-Clonakilty CC quarter-final. It was the former who ended Mounthawk’s involvement last January.

If a semi-final repeat should materialise, it’ll be a last four tie to be relished.

Mounthawk’s focus on this crisp Wednesday afternoon was not three-in-a-row chasing Sem or setting up any possible semis reacquaintance, rather it was Rochestown and dealing with a late morning change of venue from Mallow into Cork city.

And although a 0-6 to 0-2 interval scoreline would suggest the Tralee students dealt just fine with their extended journey on Leeside, there was a casualness with the final product that saw them stack up five opening half wides.

As expected, Ben Murphy’s surging runs from deep caused an amount of problems for Rochestown. And further expected was Paddy Lane’s nimbleness also causing distress.

Murphy assisted Lane for the second of his two first-half points from play. Murphy was later fouled for Lane’s second free of the half.

The support cast ain’t half bad either. Centre-forward Odhran Ferris was among their three first half contributors. He was busy and bristling. Little over a minute into the second period, Ferris found the net.

With corner-forwards Lane and Noah Townsend adding a pair in quick succession, Mounthawk’s 1-9 to 0-3 lead on 40 minutes painted a more accurate picture of their fluidity and preeminence.

This quarter-final, appearing cooked, then got a bit funny turning for home.

From nowhere and nothing on 42 minutes, Rochestown sub Mark O’Brien drilled in a green flag with his first involvement. The ensuing short restart went awry and Tomás Vaughan promptly put the ball back in the Mounthawk net.

A Chris O’Keeffe free followed and all of a sudden we had a contest. 1-9 to 2-4.

The two Roco goals were the first of five green flags in a scattered, yet engaging final 20-plus minutes.

On the one occasion a middling difficult question was put to them, it was the aforementioned Murphy and Lane who drove the Mounthawk bus away from closing Rochestown. Three on the spin, including a pair from Lane, quenched the comeback as quickly as it had sparked.

Goals from sub Jake Hoare and full-forward Tomás Kennedy on 57 and 61 minutes eased the winners into an unassailable 3-12 to 2-5 advantage. And while Vaughan bagged a second major at the other end before the finish, Mounthawk focus had already shifted to their next assignment and crossing a hurdle they've never before crossed.

The six-point gap was the closest any side has come of them this Corn Uí Mhuirí season. But outside of the brief few minutes following Rochestown’s unanswered 2-1, they were never in trouble or troubled.

They march on.

Scorers for Mercy Mounthawk: P Lane (0-7, 0-5 frees); O Ferris (1-2); T Kennedy (1-1); J Hoare (1-0); N Townsend, N Collins (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Francis College Rochestown: T Vaughan (2-0); M O’Brien (1-0); R Hanley (0-2); D Reddington, C Hallihan, C O’Keeffe (free), R Dooley (0-1 each).

MERCY MOUNTHAWK: M Tansley (Austin Stacks); G O’Riordan (Ardfert), O McGibney (Churchill), J Fisher (Austin Stacks); P O’Halloran (Austin Stacks), J Murphy (Austin Stacks), B Murphy (Austin Stacks); D Kirby (Austin Stacks), C O’Gara (Churchill); S Corkery (John Mitchels), O Ferris (Ardfert), N Collins (Ballymacelligott); P Lane (Austin Stacks), T Kennedy (Kerins O'Rahillys), N Townsend (Austin Stacks).

Subs: J Hoare (Kerins O’Rahillys) for Corkery (40); K Sheehan (Na Gaeil) for Townsend (55); O Murphy (Churchill) for O’Halloran (57); B Byrne (Austin Stacks) for O’Gara (61).

ST FRANCIS COLLEGE: J Lyons (Nemo Rangers); O Barry (Douglas), N O’Shea (Nemo Rangers), T O’Brien (Nemo Rangers); C O’Neill (Nemo Rangers), J Burke (Douglas), S O’Rourke (Douglas); D Reddington (Douglas), C Hallihan (Douglas); C Yelland (Nemo Rangers), R Hanley (Douglas), D McCarthy (Douglas); E O’Flynn (Douglas), T Vaughan (Carrigaline), R Dooley (Douglas).

Subs: C O’Keeffe (Douglas) for O’Rourke (HT); M O’Brien (Douglas) for O’Flynn, B O’Hehir (Douglas) for Barry (both 40 mins); J O’Brien (Douglas) for McCarthy (52).

Referee: S Stokes.