Corn Uí Mhuirí: Ballincollig give up three goals and fall to St Brendan's Killarney

Colaiste Choilm's Shane Rue O'Sullivan under pressure from St. Brendan's Jack Rudden.

Corn Uí Mhuirí Rd 1: St Brendan's College Killarney 3-4 Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig 0-4 

Neither side will be very much pleased with their opening day endeavours. The outstanding difference, of course, is that the Sem still succeeded in putting two points beside their name on the Group 1 table.

As the scoreline attests to, this was not an opening round Corn Uí Mhuirí contest sprinkled with scores. Neither was it sprinkled with sustained spells of quality fare.

What the hour didn’t lack for was mistakes, turnovers, giveaway goals, and a great deal of poor finishing.

St Brendan’s Killarney found themselves two goals to the good after nine minutes. They could scarcely believe their good luck. Ballincollig could scarcely believe their self-inflicted misfortune.

Less than two minutes in, corner-forward Oisin Fleming’s point attempt lacked the sufficient legs. It instead hopped in the square and hopped into the net.

Seven minutes further on, another gift for the Killarney students. Coláiste Choilm goalkeeper Matthew Murray was turned over by full-forward Josh Bowler, with the same player then rolling the ball into the empty net. 2-0 to 0-0.

The Sem gratefully accepted the early platform and never relinquished their grip. The closest their opponents came of them thereafter was five points.

St. Brendan's Owen Fleming tries to find his way out of trouble.

Ballincollig, who were missing captain and 2023 Cork minor midfielder Darragh Clifford, opened their account on 12 minutes through an Adam Dodd free. Danny Miskella, one of eight Coláiste Choilm starters from the recently victorious Ballincollig minor team, added their second and last white flag of the opening half 12 minutes further on. It was to prove their sole score from play of the hour.

Behind by 2-2 to 0-2 at the break, Coláiste Choilm owned possession for the 10 minutes after half-time. Problem was they struggled desperately to get the ball over the bar.

Of the six shots they took in this 10-minute period, two went wide and three went short. Add these to their five first half wides and it all made for a frustrating first day at the office.

St Brendan’s, by contrast, were more direct, incisive, and far less wasteful. Top-scorer Josh Bowler, at the end of a length-of-the-field play, fisted over their second half opener on 40 minutes. Joey McCarthy kicked his second free on 48 minutes, with all doubt removed from the result a minute later as Bowler goaled for a second time.

St Brendans' entire 3-4 total was supplied by the inside trio of McCarthy, Bowler, and Fleming. The three lads are among eight survivors from those who saw game-time during last January’s heavy semi-final defeat to Mercy Mounthawk.

Much better than what was produced here will be required in later rounds if the Sem are to reassert themselves at the top of the Corn Uí Mhuirí tree.

Scorers for St Brendan's College Killarney: J Bowler (2-1); O Fleming (1-1); J McCarthy (0-2, 0-2 frees).

Scorers for Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig: C Ahern (0-2, 0-2 frees); A Dodd (0-1 free), D Miskella (0-1 each).

St Brendan's College, Killarney: K Robak (Dr Crokes); D Brosnan (Spa), A Byrne (Dr Crokes), C Fleming (Listry); J Rudden (Glenflesk), J Moynihan (Glenflesk), C Mulcahy (Dr Crokes); O O'Neill (Spa), M Kennelly (Fossa); A Buckley (Kilcummin), T O'Gorman (Fossa), D Stack (Kilcummin); J McCarthy (Spa), J Bowler (Legion), O Fleming (Legion).

Subs: D Murphy (Legion) for Rudden (49); C Morrissey (Kilcummin) for Kennelly, B O'Shea (Legion) for Buckley (both 51).

Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig: M Murray (Ballincollig); S O'Callaghan (Éire Óg), P Rose (Ballincollig), C Power (Ballincollig); C Herlihy (Inniscarra), C O'Connor (Ballincollig), E Donovan (Ballincollig); K O'Leary (Ballincollig), D Miskella (Ballincollig); D McCarthy (Éire Óg), C Ahern (Ballincollig), S Rue O'Sullivan (Ballincollig); SP Murphy (Éire Óg), C Murphy (Ballincollig), A Code (Canovee).

Subs: C O'Donoghue (Ballinora) for Dodd (46); L O'Mahony (Ballincollig) for Herlihy, B Cronin (Ballincollig) for O'Sullivan (51); A Kennedy (Ballinora) for Murphy (56).

Referee: T McCarthy.