Corn Uí Mhuirí: Four goal St Francis College Rochestown down CBS High School Clonmel

Clonmel High School's Paddy Spellman clearing the ball despite the pressure from Jack O'Brien. Pic: Brendan Gleeson.

St Francis College Rochestown 4-8 CBS High School Clonmel 1-13

A blistering second half – and 3-6 rattled off in style – ensured St Francis College Rochestown made amends for their first-round lapse against Kenmare in the Corn Uí Mhuirí.

On an arc-less Maguires Pitch in UL on Wednesday, Roco flipped a seven-point half-time deficit into a four-point win, their running game too sharp and too relentless for CBS High School Clonmel once the gears turned.

That turnaround seemed a far cry at the break. High School were calm, clinical and controlled early on, their patience in possession rewarded with a 1-9 to 1-2 interval lead. Beyond Jack O’Brien’s ninth-minute goal, Roco had barely threatened their opposition.

And then, within eight minutes of the resumption, Rochestown had already surpassed their first half scoring tally with two goals.

Mark O’Brien and Cathal Lowney combined to tee up Pádraig McGrath for the first, before a sweeping move – McGrath, Cummins, Callum Griffin, back to McGrath – opened the gate for Lowney to leap and palm home, his finish lobbing the advancing goalkeeper. Suddenly, a side that had looked adrift were within one with 22 left to play.

CBS' Arron McAndrew trying to gain possession. Pic: Brendan Gleeson.

A stunner from Cummins that would have been a two-pointer, and another white flag from a Roco wing-back in Joe Mouret left them a point ahead, 3-4 to 1-9.

Paddy Spelman clipped one back for the Tipp school in the 44th minute to level the contest for the third time. They would still be level by the 52nd minute, 3-6 to 1-12.

And while Luke Foley nudged High School back in front from a free, Roco’s response was a fourth major, Jack O’Brien with a stunning finish as he turned his man and fired to the bottom corner.

A couple of points from McGrath stretched their lead out to four, with High School Clonmel unable to stop Roco’s running game in the final quarter.

Foley was shown a late black card to compound their disappointment, meaning they’ll need something from their final group game against Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare to reach the knockouts.

Earlier, O’Brien’s ninth-minute goal had Roco 1-0 to 0-1 to the good, but High School rattled off five of the next six, and then three more white flags, before Jamal Yousif pounced to slam home a stunning goal. A seven-point cushion at half-time looked secure. It wasn’t.

Roco’s second-half ignition turned the game on its head.

Scorers for St Francis College Rochestown: J O’Brien (2-0), P McGrath (1-2), C Lowney (1-0), K O’Neill (0-2), B Corkery Delaney (1f), D O’Connor, E Cummins, J Mouret (0-1 each).

Scorers for CBS High School Clonmel: J Yousif (1-2), L Foley (0-4, 3f), F Napier (0-2), K Smith, M McGuire, P Spelman, A McAndrew, B Morrisson (0-1 each).

ST FRANCIS COLLEGE ROCHESTOWN: J O’Flaherty (Douglas); C Lowney (Tracton), C Griffin (Passage West), D O’Donoghue (Douglas); J Mouret (Douglas), L Kelleher (Douglas), E Cummins (Cobh); L Collins (Ballygarvan), D O’Connor (Douglas); R Sweeney (Douglas), M O’Brien (Douglas), J O’Brien (Douglas); P McGrath (Douglas), B Corkery Delaney (Carrigaline), K O’Neill (Cobh).

Subs: T Murray (Douglas) for O’Neill (51), A Kelly (Douglas) for Sweeney (53).

CBS HIGH SCHOOL CLONMEL: J O’Brien (Moyle Rovers); J Lyons (Grangemockler-Ballyneale), R Galko (Clonmel Óg), A Ryan (The Nire); L Hannigan (Clonmel Óg), P Spelman (The Nire), B Landers (Clonmel Óg); M McGuire (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), L Foley (Moyle Rovers); A McAndrew (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), K Smith (Clonmel Commercials), B Morrisson (Moyle Rovers); C Freaney (Kilsheelan-Kilcash), F Napier (Clonmel Commercials), J Yousif (Clonmel Óg).

Subs: O O’Reilly (Clonmel Óg) for Hannigan (43), J Aylward (Clonmel Óg) for Landers (44), D Ryan (The Nire) for McAndrew (50).

Referee: J Murphy (Ballylanders, Limerick).