Thomas Scannell makes it safe for Clonakilty CC

Clonakilty CC 1-13 IS Killorglin 1-5

A slow start meant IS Killorglin were always chasing the outcome as they allowed the Cork school ease into an 0-8 to 0-0 lead after 20 minutes. While they did up their performance thereafter, a goal from Clonakilty CC attacker Thomas Scannell four minutes from time ended the game as a contest.

Clonakilty CC mentor Micheál O’Sullivan, who is also in charge of the Carbery Rangers senior football team, was thrilled with the result but maintained they made hard work of it.

“Especially after the good start,” he claimed. “But the conditions were bad. And IS Killorglin are not at this quarter-final stage without being a reasonably good team either. It is huge for us to be in the semi-final. Last year was our first year in this competition and we didn’t get out of our group. The semi-final is a massive game for us to look forward to.”

Holders Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne will be their opponents in the last four, however, for now, they can reflect positively on this latest win. A dominant midfield and forward unit meant scores arrived at will early on. Sean McEvoy pulled the strings in a busy forward line, shooting four brilliant points, while Ross Mannix and David Lowney were also prominent. Clon kicked eight unanswered points whilst it took until the 21st minute for ISK to open their account, through a Patrick Daly free. The Kerry outfit were back in the game when Chris Doncel netted a penalty three minutes later after a foul on Timmy Hussey. By the interval, they trailed 1-2 to 0-9.

That gap was cut to three points a minute after the restart and while Killorglin were now more involved, scoring from open play was their achilles heel — bagging only one point from play courtesy of centre-back Mike Breen. Yet, the margin was attainable, 1-5 to 0-11, with 15 minutes to play.

That is why McEvoy’s sixth point was so crucial, coming after a scoring lapse of 10 minutes. Inspired by solid work at the back, Clonakilty CC then came good. When Mannix’s wonderful delivery fell into the pathway of Thomas Scannell, he finished low to the net to push the difference to seven points. Clonakilty wing-back Shane Scannell received a second yellow card at the death, but it mattered little as Lowney closed out the match with a super effort two minutes from time.

Scorers for Clonakilty CC: S McEvoy (0-6), T Scannell (1-1), D Lowney (0-3), R Mannix (0-2), D Kiely (0-1).

Scorers for IS Killorglin: P Daly (0-4 frees), C Doncel (1-0 pen), M Breen (0-1).

CLONAKILTY CC: W Tyner (Kilmeen); D O’Brien (Ballinascarthy), B Keohane (Kilmeen), L O’Donovan (Clonakilty); D Kiely (Barryroe), E Deasy (Clonakilty, Capt), S Scannell (Kilmeen); M White (Clonakilty), S Ryan (Ballinascarthy); R Mannix (Clonakilty), D Lowney (Clonakilty), S McEvoy (Clonakilty); D Scannell (St Mary’s), T O’Connell (Clonakilty), T Scannell (Kilmeen).

Subs: K Keohane (Kilmeen) for T O’Connell (57), P Walsh (St James) for D Kiely (58).

IS KILLORGLIN: D Curran (Beaufort); A Cox (Killorglin), B Cronin (Beaufort), N O’Brien (Listry); R Leen (Legion), M Breen (Beaufort), D O’Shea (Listry); C Culloty (Legion), T Hussey (Spa); P Daly (Killorglin), D Healy (Beaufort, Capt), D Griffin (Glenbeigh); C Teahan (Glenbeigh), K Brosnan (Listry), C Doncel (Dr Crokes). Subs: C O’Connor (Beaufort) for R Leen (12), F Clifford (Killorglin) for K Brosnan (42), J Clifford (Killorglin) for D Griffin (53).

Referee: Richard Moloney (Limerick).