Corn Uí Mhuirí: St Brendans comfortably into last eight with win over wasteful Rochestown

Padraig McGrath of St Francis' College Rochestown tries to get away from Cian Fleming.

Corn Uí Mhuirí Group 1: St Brendan’s College, Killarney 2-12 St Francis College, Rochestown 1-4

A second group victory over Cork opposition has St Brendan’s comfortably into the last-eight of the Corn Uí Mhuirí with a round to spare.

In a carbon copy of their opening bow against Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig, St Brendan’s made the most of limited possession in the opening half, whereas their opponents squandered chance after chance.

That wastefulness came back to bite Rochestown - and bite hard - when the Sem kicked an unanswered 1-2 at the end of the opening half to turn around five ahead. And, in truth, they never looked back from there.

That 1-2 was part of an unanswered 2-8 which took an all-square fixture and turned it into a 14-point lead.

Defeat for Rochestown sends them into a winner-takes-all final round group game against Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig.

A first half of little to no separation finished with St Brendan’s five in front. They finished with a cutting directness. The gap was forged in first-half injury-time. 1-2 without reply.

Joey McCarthy, with a superb kick, shoved the Sem back in front. 0-5 to 0-4. Then the game’s opening goal. Oran O’Neill fed full-forward Josh Bowler, whose finish was flawless. James Dempsey completed their injury-time spell of dominance. 1-6 to 0-4 the interval scoreline.

The frustration for Rochestown would not have been the Sem’s injury-time burst. The frustration for Rochestown would have been their own first-half wastefulness.

Darragh Brosnan of St Brendan's is tackled by Jimmy Harte. 

Rochestown had four wides inside nine minutes. They finished the half with seven different wides, two point attempts dropped short, a further point attempt blocked, a green flag effort by Dara O’Sullivan repelled by ‘keeper Kasper Robak, while the subsequent two rebounds were also kept out.

Add it all up and 1-9 was left behind. Rochestown, in total, finished with 14 wides, while three further second half goal efforts were kept out or missed.

The Sem’s Joey McCarthy, Jamie Moynihan, and James Dempsey kicked the opening three points of the second half to swell their lead to eight. It was game over on 38 minutes, Oisin Fleming goaling for the Kerry students.

Jamie O’Brien’s 54th minute goal for Rochestown was their first score of the second half and first in 35 minutes of play. It was their sole second-half score.

A frustrating outing for them, especially when their approach play was so precise. A relatively stress-free outing for the Sem. They, as ever, will be involved after Christmas.

Scorers for St Brendan’s: J Bowler, O Fleming (1-1 each); J McCarthy (0-4, 0-2 frees); J Moynihan, J Dempsey (0-3 each).

Scorers for Rochestown: J O’Brien (1-0); P McGrath (0-2); D O’Sullivan (0-1 free), J Harte (0-1 each).

ST BRENDAN'S: K Robak (Dr Crokes); D Brosnan (Spa), D Stack (Kilcummin), C Fleming (Listry); J Rudden (Glenflesk), A Byrne (Dr Crokes), C Mulcahy (Dr Crokes); O O'Neill (Spa), M Kennelly (Fossa); T O'Gorman (Fossa), J Moynihan (Glenflesk), J McCarthy (Spa); J Dempsey (Milltown/Castlemaine), J Bowler (Legion), O Fleming (Legion).

Subs: B Walsh (Legion) for Moynihan (temporary, 34-37); B Walsh (Legion) for Kennelly (44); G Morrissey (Kilcummin) for O’Gorman, D Murphy (Legion) for Dempsey (both 48); C Cronin (Firies) for Bowler, C Russell (Spa) for Moynihan (both 55).

ROCHESTOWN: 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); B Delaney (Carrigaline), R Dooley (Douglas), E Cummins (Cobh); J Harte (Douglas), D O'Sullivan (Nemo Rangers), P McGrath (Douglas).

Subs: R Sisk (Crosshaven) for O’Shea (HT); J O’Brien (Douglas) for Cummins, M O’Brien (Douglas) for Harte (both 38).

Referee: D O’Callaghan (Limerick).