Strong second half sees Tralee CBS defeat Abbey CBS to reach Corn Uí Mhuirí semis

BATTLE: Dylan McGrath, Abbey School CBS , controlling the ball against Hugh Lenihan, Tralee CBS in the Corn Ui Mhuiri Quarter finals in UL

TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-final

Tralee CBS 2-13 Abbey CBS 1-5

Tralee CBS are back in the Corn Uí Mhuirí semi-finals after a well-organised team effort overcame Abbey CBS.

The 11-point margin does some disservice to this contest which was alive well into the second half until the Green went on a 1-7 to 0-1 streak after leaking a goal.

Their aggressive press caused the Tipperary representatives problems and was illustrated by the identity of their goalscorers in corner-back Seán Barrett and wing-back Andrew Kerins.

The major blow for the victors was a hamstring injury to former Kerry minor Jake Foley, who exited in the ninth minute. They were already down Maurice Lenihan, who lined out in the midfield last time out, before throw-in but Pat Brosnan was an able deputy in the middle third.

They will now get a chance to scout their semi-final opponents after Coláiste na Sceilge’s meeting with Patrician Academy Mallow at Currans was postponed.

Tralee’s match was also hit by a frozen pitch at Rathkeale, which forced a late switch to UL.

The Abbey were faster out of the blocks with a fine left-footed point by Seán O’Mahony, although the Kerry side had a goal chance in response. Jerh Brosnan raced in along the endline to return a pass to Darragh Cunnane but his palmed effort skipped over the bar.

While Foley was receiving treatment, the Abbey moved ahead with a Bill Quirke point soon followed by a free from goalkeeper Robbie McGrath.

Foley’s replacement Máirtín McKivergan made a prompt impact, kicking the sides level after Luke Rochford had cut the deficit.

Those scores began a 1-4 streak for Tralee, with the major coming in the 17th minute. Kerins’ driving run caused the overlap, Rochford supplied the final pass, and Barrett blasted the ball to the top corner.

Ronan Carroll, Tralee CBS , controlling the ball against Michael Bowers, Abbey School CBS in the Corn Ui Mhuiri Quarter finals in UL

Down numbers in midfield, they were able to turn the possession battle into a footrace rather than an aerial contest to limit their opponents’ size advantage.

That was best exemplified by a flowing kick-out move. The bunch-and-break tactic gave Kerins the ball in space and a quick passing exchange between Rochford and Jerh Brosnan was finished by the latter.

Cunnane and Shane Quigley traded frees to leave it 1-5 to 0-4 at half-time.

A superb long point from Kerins extended the advantage but the Abbey hit back with a 33rd-minute goal. Dylan McGrath and Joseph O’Dwyer combined to find advancing sweeper Adam Ryan and his low shot found its way to the net.

They wouldn’t score again, however, for the next 26 minutes as their tally of missed chances and cheap giveaways grew.

Substitute Stephen Turner kicked a stylish point in response followed by another from Ronan Carroll.

Only a superb double save from Robbie McGrath denied them a goal on the three-quarter mark, pushing away Pat Brosnan’s shot and Kerins’ rebound.

Hugh Lenihan stepped up with three big turnovers in the subsequent minutes, two of which resulted in points; one for himself, the other a Carroll free. In between, Kerins teed up Cunnane to split the posts.

That five-in-a-row run made it 1-11 to 1-4 and it remained that way until the closing minutes when Jack Garrett slotted an Abbey point.

Two tap-over Cunnane frees extended the margin before Kerins broke through in stoppage time and his apparent point attempt dropped just under the crossbar, leaving the keeper stranded.

Scorers for Tralee CBS: D Cunnane (0-5, 3fs); A Kerins (1-1); S Barrett (1-0); R Carroll (0-2, 1f); H Lenihan, L Rochford, J Brosnan, M McKivergan, S Turner (0-1 each).

Scorers for Abbey CBS: A Ryan (1-0); R McGrath (1f), B Quirke, S O’Mahoney, S Quigley (1f), J Garrett (0-1 each).

TRALEE CBS: O O’Halloran (Ardfert); S Barrett (Na Gaeil), E O’Flaherty (Ardfert), E Moriarty (Ballymacelligott); A Kerins (John Mitchels), F Ryan (Austin Stacks), T Deregee (Austin Stacks); L Óg O’Connor (Ardfert), J Foley (Kerins O’Rahillys); H Lenihan (Churchill), L Rochford (Ballyduff), P Brosnan (Moyvane); J Brosnan (Moyvane), D Cunnane (John Mitchels), R Carroll (Austin Stacks).

Subs: M McKivergan (Ballymacelligott) for Foley (9, inj), S Turner (Ballymacelligott) for Deregee (h-t), D Corridon (Ardfert) for J Brosnan (49).

ABBEY CBS: R McGrath (Galtee Rovers); D Ryan (Arravale Rovers), S Lewis (Arravale Rovers), E Bonner (Galtee Rovers); D McGrath (Oola), M Bowes (Arravale Rovers), S O’Grady (Oola); M Gleeson (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), B Quirke (Galtee Rovers); S O’Mahoney (Arravale Rovers), S Carey (Aherlow), A Ryan (Arravale Rovers); S Quigley (Arravale Rovers), J O’Dwyer (Knockavilla-Donaskeigh Kickhams), C Kelly (Arravale Rovers).

Subs: D O’Hora (Solohead) for D McGrath (44), L Finnane (Galtee Rovers) for Gleeson (51), J Crowe (Galtee Rovers) for Carey (51), J Garrett (Arravale Rovers) for Kelly (55).

Referee: John O’Halloran (Bruree).