Ben Kelliher the star as Sem shock the Green in Corn Uí Mhuirí Kerry derby

Ben Kelliher scored five points while Joe McCarthy hit 1-4 for St Brendan's Killarney. They will face Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine in the last four. 

Eoin Moriarty Tralee CBS and Ben Kelliher St Brendan's in action at Austin Stack Park during the Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-final. Photo By : Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD.

Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-final: Tralee CBS 1-9 St Brendan's College Killarney 1-18 

The two aristocrats of the Corn Ui Mhuiri faced off at Austin Stack Park on Wednesday afternoon as St Brendan's College Killarney, with 24 titles, met Tralee CBS who lie second in the roll of honour with 16. Something had to give. Last year’s beaten finalists the Green were fancied to take down the old enemy from Killarney, the Sem, but St Brendan's had other ideas.

The Sem set out their stall with Jamie Moynihan a stand out figure at midfield, and with Frewen Cup winning hotshot Ben Kelliher tormenting the Green defence, the Tralee side was under the cosh.

At the other end, Dara Stack, Cian Fleming, Adam Byrne, and particularly Cian Mulcahy, kept the dangerous Ryan O’Driscoll and Ronan Carroll under wraps for the entire hour.

The game was a slow burner during the opening quarter with St Brendan's leading 0-3 to 0-2. A Joey McCarthy free and two Ben Kelliher beauties -  serving early notice of his threat - had the Sem on the scorebaord. Tadgh O’Connor and Ronan Carroll kept Tralee CBS in touch but Jamie Moynihan added his first as the Killarney side was completely on top.

Tralee CBS had Eoin Moriarty to thank for preventing a Sem goal. He scooped the ball off the goal line after Kelliher had his shot for goal parried but was heading for the net, only for the Ballymac defender’s intervention. The Sem kicked on and added points from Joey McCarthy, Oisin Fleming and a superb left-footed Moynihan effort.

Ryan Carroll scored a sublime point from the touchline while Ryan O’Driscoll converted a free for his only score of the half, as St Brendan's led 0-7 to 0-4 at the interval.

Jamie Moynihan had the opening score of the second half but the introduction of Nick Lacey for the second half appeared to fire up the Green, and Ronan Carroll struck for a trademark goal in the 32nd minute after a Luke Rochford assist. Kelliher replied with a point for the Sem but points by Carroll and O’Driscoll saw the side’s level on 1-6 to 0-9 in the 35th minute.

It was nip and tuck for the next seven minutes as Bowler and McCarthy added Sem points but Luke Rochford and Martin McKivergan levelled the contest.

But it was the Sem, with their defence on top, and Moynihan dominant at midfield that took over and settled the contest with three unanswered points, two from 16-year-old Ben Kelliher and then the killer goal that was started by the outstanding Cian Mulcahy, carried on by Jamie Moynihan and finished to net by Joey McCarthy. Six points clear with ten left was always going to be a bridge too far for the Green who only managed a single point in the final twenty minutes.

The Sem added five more before the final whistle and they now are serious contenders for ultimate honours. They will face Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine in the last four. 

Scorers for St Brendan's College: J McCarthy (1-4, 2fs), B Kelliher (0-5), J Moynihan (1f) and O Fleming (0-3 each), C Mulcahy, J Bowler and L O’Brien (0-1 each) 

Scorers for Tralee CBS: R Carroll (1-2), R O’Driscoll (0-3, 2fs), H Lenihan (f), M McKivergan, T O’Connor and L Rochford (0-1 each).

TRALEE CBS: Ó O’Halloran (Ardfert); S Óg Brosnan ( Austin Stacks), E O’Flaherty (Ardfert), E Moriarty (Ballymac); T O Slatara ( Churchill), F Ryan ( Austin Stacks), H Lenihan ( Churchill); L Óg O’Connor ( Ardfert), T O’Connor ( Ballyduff); P Brosnan ( Moyvane), M McKivergan ( Ballymac), R Carroll ( Austin Stacks); L Rochford ( Ballyduff), D Corridon ( Ardfert), R O’Driscoll ( Austin Stacks).

Subs: N Lacey (Kerins O’Rahillys) for D Corridan (h/t), M Corridan (Ardfert) for M McKivergan (53), B Pierce (Kerins O’Rahillys) for T O Slatara (56), T Quilter (Churchill) for R O’Driscoll (56) 

ST BRENDAN'S COLLEGE KILLARNEY: K Robak (Dr Crokes); D Brosnan (Spa), D Stack (Kilcummin), C Fleming (Listry); J Rudden (Glenflesk), A Byrne (Dr Crokes), C Mulcahy (Dr Crokes); J Moynihan ( Glenflesk), O O’Neill ( Spa); T O’Gorman ( Spa) J McCarthy ( Spa), M O’Carroll ( Dr Crokes), B Kelliher ( Dr Crokes), J Bowler ( Legion), O Fleming ( Legion) 

Subs: D O’Meara ( Fossa) for T O’Gorman ( 46), B Murphy ( Legion) for M O’Carroll ( 53), L O’Brien ( Glenflesk) for J Bowler ( 57), J Dempsey ( Milltown/Castlemaine) for D Brosnan ( 60), M Kennelly ( Fossa) for J McCarthy ( 62).

Referee: E Walsh (Rathmore)