Corn Uí Mhuirí: Rochestown start their campaign in style with 10-point win over St Flannan's

Padraig McGrath of St Francis College Rochestown on the attack against St Flannan's.

Corn Uí Mhuirí Group 1 Rd 1: St Francis College, Rochestown 3-12 St Flannan's College, Ennis 1-8

St Francis College, Rochestown started their Corn Uí Mhuirí campaign like a train with a stylish 10-point victory over St Flannan's at Knocklong.

Ben Delaney (1-5), Dara O'Sullivan (1-3), and Pádraig McGrath (0-4) did all their scoring until substitute Jack O'Brien bagged a late goal to move them top of Group 1 ahead of their next opponents St Brendan's.

Harry Doherty hauled 1-6 for Flannan's but, starting against the wind, their charge was derailed by the concession of 1-1 within 75 seconds of the throw-in and a 1-4 burst before half-time.

Neville O'Shea was a turnover machine for Roco and his first, shortly after the throw-in, led to a lovely curling opener from McGrath.

From the kick-out, captain Donnacha Reddington snatched a mark and his midfield partner Seán Denn picked out Delaney with a precise kick pass. The Carrigaline forward turned down the attacking mark to race towards goal and found the net with a lethal finish.

Doherty got Flannan's on the board, executing a drop kick under pressure, but they rued a few dead-ball misses.

McGrath was on form off of left and right, splitting the posts with two towering kicks, although he dragged a goal chance wide in between.

Neville O'Shea of St Flannan's breaks away from Harty O'Doherty.

Doherty and O'Sullivan traded frees before the Clare minor hurler got Flannan's back into the contest. Ronan Kilroy's huge punt from a deep free-kick was allowed to bounce around midfield and when Doherty was quickest to react, he had open country to run into. He reached the 14 before unleashing a cracking finish to the bottom corner. 1-4 to 1-2.

The Roco response was perfect to kill off Flannan's hopes, kicking 1-4 in the five minutes before half-time. O'Sullivan slotted a free and dummied onto his left for another. Delaney launched a long-range missile. McGrath landed his fourth of the half.

Their midfield and the wind kept Flannan's penned in and when Reddington claimed another break, it triggered a quick-passing move through Jimmy Harte and Ronan Dooley for O'Sullivan to slide home. 2-8 to 1-2 at midway.

O'Shea and Reddington combined to slice through again on the restart but while the midfielder found the net, his punched effort didn't count.

Conor Ralph, scorer of two goals in last week's Harty Cup draw with Thurles CBS, was impressive as Flannan's defence improved.

The second half became a kicking contest between Delaney and Doherty. The former stretched the lead out to 11 with a long-range effort followed by a brilliantly judged free off the ground.

Flannan's had five of the next six, including four Doherty frees, two of which he won himself. Samuel Garry joined him on the scoresheet with a kick carried over by the breeze. At the other end, Delaney clipped a free and Reddington's solo effort for goal roared wide.

The gap was back to seven but wouldn't close any further. Jack O'Brien's first touch teed up Delaney, although that was cancelled out by a Fionn O'Leary free.

Roco ended the second half as they did the first: with a last-minute goal. Evan Cummins' kick pass found O'Sullivan, who offloaded to O'Brien, and his deflected effort flew to the roof of the net.

Scorers for St Francis College: B Delaney (1-5, 0-2 frees); D O'Sullivan (1-3, 0-2 frees); P McGrath (0-4), Jack O'Brien (1-0).

Scorers for St Flannan's: H Doherty (1-6, 0-5 frees); S Garry, F O'Leary (free) (0-1 each).

ST FRANCIS COLLEGE: J Lyons (Nemo Rangers); L Kelleher (Douglas), D O'Kelly (St Finbarr's), B Murphy (Carrigaline); J Mouret (Douglas), N O'Shea (Nemo Rangers), E Murphy (Carrigaline); S Denn (Nemo Rangers), D Reddington (Douglas, capt); B Delaney (Carrigaline), R Dooley (Douglas), E Cummins (Cobh); J Harte (Douglas), D O'Sullivan (Nemo Rangers), P McGrath (Douglas).

Subs: Jack O'Brien (Douglas) for E Murphy (51), F Gallagher (Douglas) for Denn (59), R Sweeney (Douglas) for Mouret (59).

ST FLANNAN'S: S Hennessy (Éire Óg Ennis); C Ralph (Clarecastle), C Hill (Lissycasey), D Killoughrey (Clondegad); C Daly (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield), R Kilroy (Banner, capt), D Boyle (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield); J Hegarty (Ennistymon), S Garry (Clondegad); J O'Dwyer (Éire Óg Ennis), D Kennedy (Clondegad), B Keating (Éire Óg Ennis); E Kennedy (Clondegad), H Doherty (Clarecastle), M Cleary (Éire Óg Ennis).

Subs: F O'Leary (Clarecastle) for O'Dwyer (h-t), P O'Connell (Clarecastle) for Keating (43), D Ball (St Joseph's Doora-Barefield) for E Kennedy (45).

Referee: J Murphy (Ballylanders).