Corn Uí Mhuirí: O'Mullane and Sweeney braces send DLS Macroom into knockouts

With the Mid Kerry school already eliminated after losing their opening two matches, it was always expected that the winners would get the job done. On an afternoon where both sides missed a plethora of goal chances, the Cork outfit were just that bit more clinical when it mattered.

Played in cold but sunny conditions at the Dr Crokes grounds in Killarney, DLS Macroom got off to the brighter start, and were three points up after ten minutes (0-4 to 0-1). O’Mullane was quick to make his presence felt in attack, while Sean O’Leary excelled at centre-back.

Slowly but surely, IS Killorglin settled, inspired by tenacious corner-back Giovanni McCarthy, and the hard-working Eanna Murphy and Adam O’Neill in attack. Indeed, with four unanswered points, the underdogs hit the front (0-5 to 0-4) by the 21st minute.

Finishing the half with a significant flourish, however, DLS Macroom put the collective foot to the pedal, and blitzed their opponents with 2-4 without reply. By the break, goals from O’Mullane and Sweeney helped to move them into a virtually unassailable position (2-8 to 0-5).

Entering the game level on three points with Patrician Academy of Mallow, but four points adrift on scoring difference at the group summit, it was always imperative for DLS Macroom to emerge victorious by as wide a margin as possible. Top spot, of course, would be decided later in the evening.

The green flag opportunities, at both ends of the pitch, continued to mount up throughout the second half, with IS Killorglin wasting at least three gilt-edged chances in the third quarter alone, at the end of which they trailed by ten points (2-11 to 0-7).

With Tom Browne a stylish operator on the ’40, DLS Macroom finally finished off their persistent opponents with further goals from top scorer O’Mullane and Sweeney in the final quarter. O’Neill struck the post with an IS Killorglin penalty, but they enjoyed late consolation with McCarthy finding the net.

Scorers for DLS Macroom: D O’Mullane 2-4 (0-1f), T Sweeney 2-1, T Browne 0-4 (0-1f), J Hourihan, C Fuller O’Sullivan 0-2 each, S O’Leary, E Healy 0-1 each.

Scorers for IS Killorglin: A O’Neill 0-5 (0-4fs), G McCarthy 1-1, P O’Donnell, C Evans 0-1 each.

DLS MACROOM: C Desmond (Kilmurry); I Wood (Kilmichael), C Bourke (Macroom), S Hennigan (Kilmichael); R Sabas (Macroom), S O’Leary (Kilmurry), E Healy (Macroom); M Condon (Macroom), J O’Shea (Macroom); O McCarthy (Clondrohid), T Browne (Kilmichael), S Kelleher Leavy (Macroom); T Sweeney (Uibh Laoire), D O’Mullane (Kilmurry), J Hourihan (Clondrohid).

Subs: C Fuller O’Sullivan (Macroom) for Kelleher Leavy (ht), R McKenna (Macroom) for O’Shea (43), B Murphy (Macroom) for McCarthy (43), C Kelleher (Macroom) for O’Mullane (55), R Griffin (Macroom) for O’Leary (57).

IS KILLORGLIN: A Radny (Laune Rangers); C Birmingham (Laune Rangers), D Butler (Fossa), G McCarthy (Cromane); D Flynn (Laune Rangers), S Griffin (Milltown/Castlemaine), E Kissane (Beaufort); J Jones (Laune Rangers), J Horgan (Laune Rangers); P O’Donnell (Laune Rangers), A O’Neill (Laune Rangers), O O’Sullivan (Laune Rangers); E Murphy (Listry), C Griffin (Milltown/Castlemaine), C Evans (Laune Rangers).

Subs: D Kelly (Laune Rangers) for Kissane (43), J Gabbett (Beaufort) for Flynn (47), C Murphy (Laune Rangers) for O’Donnell (47), T Cronin (Currow) for E Murphy (51), F Murphy (Listry)for O’Sullivan (51).

Referee: S Mulvihill (St Senan’s, Kerry).