Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh pip Rochestown in O'Callaghan Cup hurling

St Finbarr’s sharpshooter Conor O’Donoghue led his Spioraid Naoimh side, notching 12 points over the hour at Bishopstown GAA 4G.

Rochestown College's Dylan Norberg is tackled by Colaiste Spioraid Naomh's Jack Drinan during the O'Callaghan Cup clash at Bishopstown. Picture; Eddie O'Hare

O’Callaghan Cup quarter-final: Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh 0-28 St Francis College, Rochestown 2-19 

Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh progressed to the semi-finals of the O’Callaghan Cup Cork PPS Senior A Hurling Championship after narrowly overcoming St Francis College, Rochestown on Wednesday.

St Finbarr’s sharpshooter Conor O’Donoghue led his Spioraid Naoimh side throughout, notching 12 points over the hour at Bishopstown GAA 4G.

However, it was his opposite number, Mark O’Brien, operating at centre forward for Roco, who would grab the opening score of the meeting.

The Douglas man was on hand to finish to Ciaran Hendrick’s net to get his side going early on and it wasn’t long before he and midfielder Cathal Lowney had Roco five to the good.

The aforementioned O’Donoghue and Mark O’Brien would then begin their first mini-battle of the afternoon from there.

O’Donoghue broke from a ruck, rose the sliotar, planted his feet and arrowed over his side’s first from near his own dugout.

He would raise another white flag from a similar area soon after, this time from a free, before the pair would swap further points a minute later.

Twelve gone, Roco with their noses ahead.

Another Mark O’Brien point was sandwiched between scores for Spioraid Naoimh midfield pair Stephen Young and Jack Drinan, with the Ballinora hurler’s score coming after a brilliant save by Roco ‘keeper Noah Duane.

Mark O’Brien would push the Roco lead out before points from Spioraid Naoimh centre-back Callum Caplice and another from O’Donoghue – again from long-range – cut it back once more during a period of Roco wastefulness in front of goal.

Rochestown College's Charlie Hanratty is tackled by Colaiste Spioraid Naomh's Dave Enright during the O'Callaghan Cup clash at Bishopstown. Picture: Eddie O'Hare

From there, Spioraid Naoimh corner-forward James Naughton came to the fore. Four points from the Douglas club man – coupled with a CJ Barrett score - gave his school a big boost prior to referee PJ Dennehy’s short whistle.

Jack O’Brien – impressive throughout – and the aforementioned Mark, would ensure Roco only went into the interval down three – 0-13 to 1-7.

Spioraid Naomh started the second period the better. Caplice grabbed his second, O’Donoghue swelled his tally. It gave Spioraid Naoimh a 0-17 to 1-8 lead.

Roco needed answers, and the O’Briens – Mark and Jack – and wing-forward Liam O’Callaghan provided them.

Fourty gone on the clock, gap back to three.

Barrett and Daire Lyons would swell the lead but Roco were not easily shaken off, the O’Briens and Ciaran Fitzgerald swinging over to keep their school within touching distance.

The tit-for-tat nature of the clash was not one for changing, and Barrett and imposing full-forward Neil Crowley answered for Spioraid Naoimh.

Jack O’Brien would find another score from his midfield berth but Spioraid Naoimh marksman O’Donoghue would again find the necessary accuracy to cancel out any Roco attempt at grabbing the lead.

A Mark O’Brien goal from a free with five to play would ensure an extremely tight finish, but even though the centre-forward arrowed another couple over the bar late on, scores from Spioraid Naoimh’s James Lombard, O’Donoghue, Crowley and Barrett ensured their school was semi-final bound.

Scorers for Colaiste an Spioraid Naoimh: C O’Donoghue 0-12 (0-4f, 1 65), J Naughton 0-4 (0-2f), CJ Barrett, N Crowley (both 0-3), C Caplice 0-2, D Lyons, S Young, J Drinan, J Lombard (all 0-1).

Scorers for St Francis College, Rochestown: M O’Brien 2-9 (1-2f, 165), J O’Brien 0-5, C Lowney 0-2, L O’Callaghan, C Fitzgerald, C Griffin (all 0-1).

COLAISTE AN SPIORAID NAOIMH: C Hendrick (Bishopstown); B O’Brien (Bishopstown), E Barrett (St Finbarr’s), C Walsh (Ballygarvan); D Enright (Inniscarra), C Caplice (Bishopstown), A Cussen (Ballinhassig); J Drinan (Ballinora), S Young (Bishopstown); D Coffey (Bishopstown), C O’Donoghue (St Finbarr’s), D Lyons (Ballinora); CJ Barrett (St Finbarr’s), N Crowley (Bishopstown), J Naughton (Douglas).

Subs: C O’Donovan for C Hedrick (HT), J O’Callaghan (Bishopstown) for B O’Brien (40), J Lombard (Ballinhassig) for D Lyons (44), A Reidy (Douglas) for J Naughton (53).

ST FRANCIS COLLEGE, ROCHESTOWN: N Duane (Douglas); P Heavey (Passage), D O’Donoghue (Douglas), J Mouret (Douglas); D Norberg (Blackrock), L Kelleher (Douglas), S Whyte (Passage); J O’Brien (Douglas), C Lowney (Tracton); S O’Keeffe (Douglas), M O’Brien (Douglas, L O’Callaghan (Douglas); C Fitzgerald (Douglas), C Hallahan (Douglas), C Hanratty (Carrigaline).

Subs: C Griffin (Passage) for S Whyte (43), C Dooley (Douglas) and O O’Donovan (Passage) for C Hallahan and C Hanratty (Both 45).

Referee: PJ Dennehy