Sharp Clonakilty gain revenge on Sem with statement win in Corn Uí Mhuirí opener

This was no smash-and-grab victory by Clonakilty. The Cork side were simply hungrier and more efficient than their Kerry opponents. 

Seán Whelton scored five points for Clonakilty Community College in his side's Corn Uí Mhuirí victory over St Brendan's College Killarney. Pic: Chani Anderson.

Corn Uí Mhuirí: Clonakilty Community College 0-15 (0-2-11) St Brendan’s College Killarney 0-11 (0-1-9) 

There was a moment, somewhere between their fourth second half miss and 12th minute without a score, when you could almost feel it shift – the sense that this wasn’t going to be the Sem’s afternoon.

They had chances, but Clonakilty Community College made sure they were nothing more than that – chances.

Having lost to the Kerry school in the Frewen Cup final last year, half of that team got their revenge here with a four-point win in their Corn Uí Mhuirí opener against St Brendan’s Killarney at Cill na Martra on Wednesday.

It wasn’t smash-and-grab stuff either. No lucky bounce, no fluke goal, no miracle. Clon were simply the better team – sharper, hungrier, and far more efficient.

They were 0-5 to 0-3 down after 16 minutes, but the tide turned in the second quarter. Clon hit six points without reply to lead 0-9 to 0-5, the Sem going 16 minutes without scoring before finally ending the drought before the break.

The same pattern held after the restart. Another barren spell – 12 minutes this time – and another Clon surge. By the time Jerry O’Leary, Seán Whelton and Dylan Harrington fired three on the spin in the 42nd minute, Clon were 0-13 to 0-6 in front.

St Brendan’s rallied briefly. Joey McCarthy’s two-pointer cut the gap to five, white flags from Ben Kelliher and Liam O’Brien left three between them, 12 minutes to play.

In the 56th minute, Liam O’Brien’s two-point free attempt dropped short. Mark Kennelly gathered, went for goal, but clipped it over. A minute later, Byerly rattled the crossbar and over at the other end – the gap back to four, 0-15 to 0-11, where it stayed.

The Sem created plenty but converted little. They finished with 14 wides and four efforts dropped short – twice the inaccuracy of their opponents. Zach Cronin stood out in defence, but up front they were miles off their usual standard.

Clon’s composure told. Whelton got them going with a two-point free early on, though Brendan’s responded with five of the next six to lead 0-5 to 0-3. Then came the spark.

A Tom Whooley point closed the gap, before Clon stitched together the move of the game – James Murray, Olan Murphy, Jamie Collins and Whooley all linking neatly before Collins levelled.

Whooley then turned provider for Harrington’s stunning two-pointer, and moments later Rory Twohig’s kick-out found Conrad Murphy, who sent it straight to Whelton for another. In a flash, they were 0-8 to 0-5 clear.

They carried that three-point margin into the break and never once looked like surrendering it.

Scorers for Clonakilty Community College: S Whelton 0-5 (1 tpf, 0-1 f), D Harrington 0-3 (1 tp), J O’Leary 0-2, J Byerly, T Whooley, J Murray, J Collins, D Harte 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Brendan’s College Killarney: L O’Brien 0-4 (0-1 f), B Kelliher 0-3 (0-2 f), J McCarthy 0-2 (tp), F Blackwell, M Kennelly 0-1 each.

CLONAKILTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE: R Twohig (Kilmeen); O Harrington (Kilmeen), H O’Donovan (Kilmeen), T Bailey (Kilmeen); J O’Leary (Ballinascarthy), D Harrington (Clonakilty), O Murphy (Kilmeen); M Collins (Ibane Gaels), E Deiseach (Clonakilty); D Harte (Clonakilty), S Whelton (St James), J Murray (Kilmeen); T Whooley (Clonakilty), C Murphy (Ibane Gaels), J Collins (Ibane Gaels).

Subs: J Byerly (Clonakilty) for Harte (46), R O’Donovan (Ibane Gaels) for Murray (49), J Maguire (Castlehaven) for Murphy (53), E Hicks (Carbery Rangers) for Collins (56).

ST BRENDAN’S COLLEGE KILLARNEY: K Robak (Dr Crokes); D McCarthy (Listry), F Doyle (Fossa), Z Cronin (Kilcummin); J Rudden (Glenflesk), R Walsh (Killarney Legion), J Nash (Dr Crokes); M Kennelly (Fossa), M O’Carroll (Dr Crokes); L Hennigan (Dr Crokes), J McCarthy (Spa), F Blackwell (Killarney Legion); L O’Brien (Glenflesk), B Kelliher (Dr Crokes), J Dempsey (Milltown/Castlemaine).

Subs: J Ahern (Kilcummin) for Dempsey (47), B O’Connor (Killarney Legion) for Nash (56), J Henderson (Firies) for Blackwell (60+1).

Referee: J Kelleher (St John’s)