Corn Uí Mhuirí: Presentation Milltown beat Hamilton High School Bandon to reach knockouts for first time

HISTORY: Kevin Coffey getting in a tackle on Loughlin O'Donnell. Pic: Dan Linehan.

Corn Uí Mhuirí Group 2 round 2: Presentation Milltown 1-10 (1-0-10) Hamilton High School, Bandon 0-3 (0-0-3)

For the first time in their history, Presentation Milltown qualified for the Corn Uí Mhuirí knockout stages with a comprehensive 10-point victory over Hamilton High School.

The Kerry side were without their round one top scorer, Killian Fitzgerald, the midfield pairing of Diarmuid (their captain) and Donnacha Quirke, and recent Kingdom minor Michael Lynch, but made light of those absentees.

Brien Mangan controlled the game from midfield, Marcus Clifford was an assured presence in a dominant defensive display, and Cillian Slattery poached the clinching goal.

Hammies notched 2-16 in their opening-day triumph, but struggled to retain possession or commit enough numbers to attack as they failed to score in the first half.

A score difference of +3 keeps them second in Group 2 ahead of a winner-takes-all clash with Intermediate School, Killorglin.

“We were missing a couple of bodies, so we're happy with the boys' intensity and aggression,” said Pres mentor Eoin Fitzgerald.

Ean Doona wins this ball from Jack Hennigan. Pic: Dan Linehan.

“The boys in the full-forward line worked crazy hard, two or three great turnovers in the first half inside the 20-yard line, so we re-emphasised that at half-time.”

Pres took control from the first whistle to get off the first five shots. Amid incessant rain, none were converted. Slattery almost profited from a loose ball, but Rory Curtin saved well.

At the other end, Hammies broke through for Daniel Coughlan to smash the crossbar. The rebound cannoned off the luckless Daniel Murphy’s boot and rolled wide.

With that let off, Pres found their range in the 16th minute. Mangan won a free for Kevin Coffey to pop over.

That repaired their radar. Coffey curled over from play after a Shane O’Loughlin turnover. Then, Mangan picked out Ryan Costello in space for their third.

Mangan’s block down at one end led to their next score, a free won and converted by Coffey.

Then, the midfielder’s pinpoint kick found O’Loughlin to swing over the score of the day for a 0-5 to 0-0 half-time lead.

After seeking shelter from the rain, Hammies finally opened their account in the 33rd minute. Full-back Ben Coffey won a free for Eoin Maguire to fire over.

Their only score from play followed. Darragh Ó Mathúna, Diarmaid Brady, and Eddie O’Sullivan’s quick passing exchange released Adam Griffin to score.

Pres had cancelled out that progress by the three-quarter mark with O’Loughlin and Seán Clifford points.

Two high catches by Griffin and Donagh Flynn led to the latter drawing a free for Maguire to split the posts.

But it was game over in the 48th minute. From James Spillane’s interception, Marcus Clifford, Mangan, and Ryan Carey were centrally involved before Slattery bundled home the dropping ball.

A Costello brace and Coffey extended the final margin, although Curtin saved Hammies from a late concession when denying Carey.

Scorers for Presentation Milltown: K Coffey (0-4, 3 frees); C Slattery (1-0); R Costello (0-3, 1 free); S O’Loughlin (0-2); S Clifford (0-1).

Scorers for Hamilton High School: E Maguire (0-2, 2 frees); A Griffin (0-1).

PRESENTATION MILLTOWN: D Duggan (Firies); J Spillane (Listry), M Clifford (Firies), J Ziober (Milltown-Castlemaine); L Harmon (Firies), E Doona (Firies), S Clifford (Listry); B Mangan (Keel), R Carey (Listry); R Costello (Keel), K Coffey (Beaufort), J Lyne (Annascaul); S O’Loughlin (Firies), C Slattery (Beaufort), D Murphy (Listry).

Subs: T Griffin (Annascaul) for Slattery (60), D Cornally (Firies) for Lyne (60+2).

HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL BANDON: R Curtin (Valley Rovers); N O’Sullivan (Newcestown), B Coffey (Clonakilty), R Tarrant (Bandon); D O’Mahony (Newcestown), L O’Donnell (Kilbrittain), A Griffin (Kilbrittain); D Coughlan (Bandon), E O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers); J Hennigan (Sam Maguires), D Flynn (Ibane Gaels), D Ó Mathúna (Clonakilty); D Murphy (Bandon), E Maguire (Castlehaven), J Twomey (Ibane Gaels).

Subs: D Brady (Valley Rovers) for D Murphy (37), Conor Murphy (Valley Rovers) for O’Mahony (42), H Woods (Valley Rovers) for E O’Sullivan (50), D Crowley (Kilbrittain) for Maguire (57), S Ustianowski (Kilbrittain) for Hennigan (60+2).

Referee: D Hickey (Cork).