Corn Uí Mhuirí: Scintillating Sem run riot against Skibb to book quarter-final spot
Paddy Collins, Skibbereen and Mark Kennelly, St Brendan's College challenge for possession in the air. Corn Uí Mhuiri football - St Brendan's College v Skibbereen at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh 4G. Picture: Larry Cummins
St Brendan’s Killarney booked their place in the quarter-finals of the Corn Uí Mhuirí with a resounding 24-point victory over Skibbereen CS on Wednesday afternoon.
The Sem knew they needed at least an eight-point victory for safe passage to the knockouts - they did that and then some - while victory for Clonakilty against Ballincollig then secured second place for the Kerrymen.
The first half was evenly matched, however, the second was much more one-sided, with the Killarney students running away with the contest.
Forwards Ben Kelleher and Liam O’Brien were on form for The Sem, contributing 1-16 of their side’s scores on the day.
Skibb got the proceedings underway on the 4G pitch at Páirc Uí Caoimh with a well-taken Luke O’Sullivan point in the 4th minute but mere seconds later The Sem had the ball in the net down the other end.
It was hardly the most aesthetically pleasing goal — Ben Kelleher was quickest to a ball in the square, poking it into the net to give his side early encouragement.
The sides traded scores (1-3 to 0-4 to The Sem) until the quarter-hour mark, when the Killarney school began to take hold of the contest, putting together a five-score streak - four points for Liam O’Brien including a towering two-point effort from a free, plus a Ben Kelleher free off his right side.
The Sem had a magnificent opportunity for a second green flag after 20 minutes when Mark O’Carroll powered through the midfield and laid it off to Henderson whose effort hit the top of the crossbar, yielding neither point nor goal.
Skibbereen weren’t ready to roll over and put together a five-point streak of their own at the end of the half, bringing it to a two-point game. Kelleher would point from a free just before the whistle to nudge The Sem three ahead.
The second half painted a different picture, though. The Sem came out all guns blazing from the restart, posting a quickfire 0-3 thanks to usual suspects O’Brien and Kelleher plus a finessed effort by half-forward Joey McCarthy.
Skibb’s O’Sullivan took his point nicely from a free to pull one back but after this the floodgates opened. The Sem claimed 13 of the next 14 scores including goals from John Henderson, Mark Kenneally and sub Jack Dempsey.
L O’Sullivan 0-4 (1tp, 2f), D McCarthy 0-4, J Goulding, O Herlihy and N O’Callaghan 0-1 each.
L O’Brien 0-10 (2tp, 4f), B Kelleher 1-6 (3f), J Henderson, J Dempsey and M Kenneally 1-0 each, S Scroope and M O’Carroll 0-2 each, J McCarthy, B Walsh and C Clifford 0-1 each.
A Limrick (Castlehaven); D Courtney (Castlehaven), A Daly (O’Donovan Rossa), N McCarthy (O’Donovan Rossa); M Murphy (O’Donovan Rossa), J Goulding (O’Donovan Rossa), A Demsey (O’Donovan Rossa); P Collins (Ilen Rovers), N O’Callaghan (Castlehaven); O Herlihy (O’Donovan Rossa), D McCarthy (Castlehaven), W O’Donovan (Clann na nGael); E O’Donovan (Castlehaven), L O’Sullivan (O’Donovan Rossa), A Whooley (Ilen Rovers).
R Collins (O’Donovan Rossa) for D Courtney (HT), C Daly (Ilen Rovers) for O Herlihy (HT), M Hurley (Ilen Rovers) for W O’Donovan (40), E Buckley (Castlehaven) for N McCarthy (55), R Hourihane (O’Donovan Rossa) for A Whooley (62).
C Mitchell (Spa); D McCarthy (Listry), A Cremin (Firies), B O’Connor (Legion); C Clifford (Dr Crokes), Z Cronin (Kilcummin), J Nash (Dr Crokes); M Kennelly (Fossa), B Walsh (Legion); F Blackwell (Legion), J McCarthy (Spa), M O’Carroll; L O’Brien (Glenflesk), B Kelliher (Dr Crokes), J Henderson (Firies).
C Stack (Kilcummin) for B O Connor (HT), S Scroope (Legion) for J Henderson (45), J Hallissey (Fossa) for C Clifford (53), J Dempsey (Milltown Castlemaine) for J McCarthy (55), C Breen (Fossa) for F Blackwell (58).
Alan Hourihane.
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