Perfect start drives Rochestown to Cork colleges hurling final victory over CBC

CHAMPIONS: The Rochestown College team celebrate after their win in the O'Callaghan Cup against CBC. Picture: David Creedon

Dr O’Callaghan Cup final: St Francis College Rochestown 2-15 Christian Brothers College 2-9 

St Francis College Rochestown claimed the Dr O’Callaghan Cup (Cork PPS SAHC) at a wet 4G pitch in SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh on Monday night. They got the perfect start through Ronan Dooley’s brace of goals within the opening three minutes, and after an impressive display during which they were never led, they finished strong to emerge with six points to spare.

They were 2-6 to 1-4 ahead at the break, the team backboned by three current Cork minor panellists - Cork captain Liam Kelleher, and brothers Mark and Jack O’Brien.

It is Rochestown’s first title since back-to-back triumphs in 2015 and 2016.

A dual school, who exited the Simcox Cup last week at the semi-final stage when losing to Clonakilty Community College by the minimum, they are coached by former Cork hurler Alan Cadogan.

Rochestown's Ronan Dooley and Christians James O'Callaghan Maher scrap for the ball. Picture: David Creedon

They led 2-1 to nil before Conor McCarthy got the Christians scoreboard moving in the 10th minute, and this was closely followed by a Diarmuid Wall free from out the field.

After quarter of an hour, Rochestown stretched the lead through Dooley and Mark O’Brien, 2-3 to 0-2.

CBC fought back to strike 1-2 - Wall’s goal came from a close-in free after referee Simon Stokes moved the ball forward to a more favourable position.

A trio of points from St Francis College left it 2-6 to 1-4 at the break.

CBC lost Wall to a leg injury straight after half-time, but they regrouped and brought the deficit back to a point midway through the second half, 2-8 to 2-7 after Fionnán Barry blasted a penalty in the 36th minute following a foul on Andy Hourigan.

But a point was the closest they could get.

Mark O’Brien, his brother Jack, and a monster free from Sean Healy enabled St Francis College to see out this game, while substitute Cathal Lowney fired over the final point deep in stoppage to seal their six point victory.

A nasty melee involving a lot of players towards the end of the hour saw Rochestown’s Eoin O’Flynn see red as he was already on a yellow card.

Scorers for St Francis College: R Dooley (2-1), M O’Brien (0-5, 0-1 free), C Lucas and C Yelland (0-2 each), S Healy (free), R Hanley, J O’Brien, C Hallahan and C Lowney (0-1 each).

Scorers for Christian Brothers College: D Wall (1-2 frees), F Barry (1-0 pen), C McCarthy (St Finbarr’s) (0-3, 0-2 frees), A Hourigan (0-2), C McCarthy (Glen Rovers) and B Mayer (0-1 each).

ST FRANCIS COLLEGE: J Murphy (Blackrock); L Kelleher (Douglas), D Reddington (Douglas), T O’Brien (Nemo Rangers); E O’Flynn (Douglas), S Healy (Blackrock), J Burke (Douglas); R Hanley (Douglas), J O’Brien (Douglas); C O’Keeffe (Douglas), M O’Brien (Douglas), C Yelland (Nemo Rangers); C Lucas (Douglas), C Hallahan (Douglas), R Dooley (Douglas).

Subs: C Lowney (Tracton) for C O’Keeffe (51), O Barry (Douglas) for C Yelland (58).

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS COLLEGE: E Coughlan (Blackrock); J O’Callaghan Maher (Douglas), D Collins (Erin’s Own), J Huggins (Sarsfields); R Buckley (Whitechurch), C McCarthy (Glen Rovers), D Browne (Blackrock); A Hourigan (Mallow), J Brosnan (Glen Rovers); F Barry (Douglas), B Nolan (Erin’s Own), B Mayer (Ballinora); D Wall (Glen Rovers), C McCarthy (St Finbarr’s), P Lehane (Na Piarsaigh).

Subs: M Brosnan (Glen Rovers) for D Wall (34 inj), J Hartnett (Douglas) for P Lehane (45), J Leddy (Sarsfields) for R Buckley (47), J Cronin (Blarney) for B Mayer (58), C Murray (Bishopstown) for F Barry (66).

Referee: Simon Stokes (Tullylease).