Kenmare joy as Kerry star Sean O'Shea steers Pobalscoil to first Corn Uí Mhuirí win
Kerry player and Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kenmare mentor Seán O'Shea speaking to his players prior to their TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí U19 group 2 match against Clonakilty Community College at Bishopstown, Cork. Picture Dan Linehan
For Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, it was a day to remember, when they won their first Corn Uí Mhuirí game in Bishopstown on Wednesday. Having made the step up to the top-grade for the first time, they clinched a three-point victory courtesy of second-half goals in the 34th and 35th minute from Jack Tangney and Neal O’Shea.
Tangney was their chief scoring threat and the impressive full-forward finished with 1-5.
“In our first game out, we didn’t know what to expect”, Kerry senior footballer and mentor Seán O’Shea said. “Absolutely delighted for the lads, they are an incredible bunch. There’s a lot of work gone on in the school in the last number of years led by Tom O’Connor. Sadly we lost Tom over the summer. I’m sure he is smiling today.
“It was end-to-end. Very well reffed, he left a lot go, a good sporting encounter. We got two goals in a minute and that changed everything.”
Clonakilty led this exciting and free-flowing contest by the minimum at the break, but aided by the wind, the Kenmare side’s blistering restart put them in control and they built up a sizeable lead, 3-6 to 0-8, at the three-quarter mark Credit to Clonakilty CC who progressed to the quarter-final in 2023, they staged a spirited comeback, Luke Murphy’s goal followed by a point from Seán Whelton closed the gap to three points.
Jack O’Sullivan and centre-back Michael Tangney pushed Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine five up with nine minutes remaining.
There was still time for Clonakilty CC, and while they did haul themselves back through skipper Cillian Twohig and Oisín Harrington points, they couldn’t find an equalising goal in the minutes that were left.
Timothy Cullinane opened the scoring when he put the west Cork school ahead in the third minute, but the lead changed hands when Jack Tangney found the target twice.
Clonakilty CC placed some distance on the scoreboard kicking four on the trot, as well as Cullinane, there were fine points from Whelton and Twohig.
Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, with Liam O’Sullivan as sweeper, kept their heads and when captain and midfielder Jack O’Sullivan saw the space open up in front of him, he pounced for a vital goal 10 minutes from the break, 0-5 to 1-2.
Twice Rory Twohig made brave saves for Clonakilty CC.
The teams were level once more before Murphy from a mark left Clonakilty CC leading at the interval, 0-7 to 1-3.
J Tangney (1-5, 0-1 free), J O’Sullivan (1-1), N O’Shea (1-0), C Kelliher and M Tangney (0-1 each).
L Murphy (1-1, 0-1 mark), S Whelton (0-1 free) and T Cullinane (0-3 each), C Twohig (0-2), O Harrington and J O’Leary (0-1 each).
(Kenmare unless stated) B Fitzsimons; B O’Callaghan, D O’Connor, J Sweeney; D O’Brien, M Tangney, S O’Donoghue (Kilgarvan); J O’Sullivan, D O’Sullivan (Tuosist); C Kelliher (Kilgarvan), L O’Sullivan, R MacGearailt; D Grebowiec, J Tangney, N O’Shea.
R O’Byrne (Templenoe) for S O’Donoghue (40), K O’Sullivan (Kilgarvan) for C Kelliher (52), A O’Sullivan for N O’Shea (53 inj), L Brown for D Grebowiec (59).
R Twohig (Kilmeen); S Maguire (Castlehaven), O Harrington (Kilmeen), O Blackrock (Clonakilty); D Harrington (Clonakilty), D Moloney (Ibane Gaels), K Hennessy (Ibane Gaels); M Murphy (Clonakilty), D Dineen (Ibane Gaels); L Murphy (Ibane Gaels), C Twohig (Kilmeen, Capt), J Crowley (Ibane Gaels); J Collins (Ibane Gaels), T Cullinane (Carbery Rangers), S Whelton (St James).
T Whooley (Clonakilty) for J Collins, J O’Leary (Ballinascarthy) for D Dineen (both half-time), A McCarthy (Ballinascarthy) for O Blackburn, C Murphy (Ibane Gaels) for J Crowley (both 40), H O’Donovan (Kilmeen) for K Hennessy (53).
Brian Coniry (Crosshaven).
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