Roco survive late Coláiste Choilm sweat to advance to Corn Uí Mhuirí knockouts
SPOT KING: Two-goal Ben Delaney in action for St Francis College in their Corn Ui Mhuiri group game against Cola¡ste Choilm at Bishopstown. Pic: Larry Cummins
A PAIR of well taken penalties from Ben Delaney and a tidy finish by Ronan Dooley after the break set St Francis College on their way to victory in the TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí in Bishopstown 4G.
It catapulted them into an 11-point lead by the 40th minute in this all-Cork Round 3 tie. However, their passage to the knockout stages was far from plain sailing with the Coláiste Choilm fightback yielding goals from Adam Dodd and Seán Patrick Murphy soon after, and therefore reducing the margin to five points.
They outscored Roco four points to two on the home stretch. Despite the anxious finish, Roco held out and will be in the hat for next Monday’s knockout draw.
“The penalties were crucial, but I think it is the moves that created them really you have to give credit for,” St Francis College’s Eamonn Hennessy said.
“Obviously Ben dispatched them very well. We’ve a nice panel and there are lots of fellas pushing to start or come off the bench. That’s what you need to be competitive at this level. It’s hard to win Munster A any day out, we’re just happy to be in the next round.”
Roco were 0-6 to 0-3 in front at half time, but had wasted a few good opportunities. There were six-one up after 23 minutes, Pádraig McGrath sending over two monster efforts.
Danny Miskella and Darragh Clifford made sure Coláiste Choilm stayed within touching distance.
Then those crucial scores arrived straight after half time. Dara O’Sullivan was fouled for the first penalty in the 33rd minute and immediately after Ben Delaney’s conversion, Ronan Dooley booted another goal. Six minutes later, Pádraig McGrath was brought down and Delaney blasted to the net once more, 3-6 to 0-4.
But the Ballincollig side quickly got their act together when Dodd and Murphy netted. The gap remained at five with10 minutes of regulation remaining after Donnacha Reddington and sub Diarmuid O’Donoghue exchanged points with Cian Ahern.
Coláiste Choilm needed a goal and twice Cian O’Connor forced St Francis College to clear their lines.
The Rochestown school, 3-8 to 2-5 up, went the final 12 minutes plus six of stoppage without scoring. as Coláiste Choilm did most of the pressing. An Ahern free was followed by superb points from Darragh Clifford in the 58th and 59th minute.
In one of the final acts, Roco defender Neville O’Shea made a superb block to deny Ballincollig a share of the points. It was a little to close for comfort for the Roco lads but they survived.
B Delaney (2-1, 2-0 pens), R Dooley (1-1), D O’Sullivan (0-1 free) and P McGrath (0-2 each), D O’Donoghue and D Reddington (0-1 each).
A Dodd and S P Murphy (1-0 each), D Miskella (0-1 free) and D Clifford (0-3 each), C Ahern (0-2, 0-1 free).
J Lyons (Nemo Rangers); L Kelleher (Douglas), D O’Kelly (St Finbarr’s), B Murphy (Carrigaline); J Mouret (Douglas), N O’Shea (Nemo Rangers), E Murphy (Carrigaline); S Denn (Nemo Rangers), D Reddington (Douglas, capt); E Cummins (Douglas), B Delaney (Carrigaline), R Dooley (Douglas); P McGrath (Douglas), D O’Sullivan (Nemo Rangers), J Harte (Douglas).
: D O’Donoghue (Douglas) for Denn, Jack O’Brien (Douglas) for E Murphy (both 44), Jamie O’Brien (Douglas) for McGrath, M O’Brien (Douglas) for Cummins (both 48), L Collins (Ballygarvan) for D O’Kelly (60 inj).
N Tait (Ballincollig); S O’Callaghan (Éire Óg), P Rose (Ballincollig), C Power (Ballincollig); C Herlihy (Inniscarra), C O’Connor (Ballincollig), E Donovan (Ballincollig); K O’Leary (Ballincollig), D Clifford (Éire Óg, Capt); S Rue O’Sullivan (Ballincollig), C Ahern (Ballincollig), S P Murphy (Éire Óg); D Miskella (Ballincollig), C Murphy (Ballincollig), A Dodd (Canovee).
: D McCarthy (Éire Óg) for C Murphy (34), B Cronin (Ballincollig) for S Rue O’Sullivan (40 inj), L O’Mahony (Ballincollig) for S P Murphy (45), N Buckley (Inniscarra) for E Donovan (47).
: Brian Coniry (Crosshaven).
