Skibbereen CS edge Coláiste Choilm in close Corn Uí Mhuirí tie
Skibbereen Community School's Robbie Minihane racing clear of Cian O'Driscoll of Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig, in the Corn Uí Mhuirí at O'Donovan Rossa Park, Skibbereen. Picture Denis Minihane.
SKIBBEREEN Community School ensured there will be three west Cork sides in the quarter-finals of the Corn Ui Mhuiri (Munster Post-Primary Schools SFC) after a hard-fought win over Coláiste Choilm in Skibbereen on Tuesday.
They join Clonakilty Community College and Hamilton High School, Bandon, in the last eight, which is made up of five Kerry schools, including Tralee CBS and St Brendan's, Killarney.
Captained by Castlehaven senior player, Robbie Minihane at midfield, Skibbereen also have three former Cork minors in attack, Jack O'Neill, Niall Daly and Jamie O'Driscoll.
But, battling Coláiste Choilm, who were inspired by dashing centre-back Conor Dodd, can count themselves unlucky because they hit the crossbar twice in a wind-assisted first-half and were also denied by a fine save from Skibb keeper Shane Kingston in injury-time.
The west Cork school led by 1-5 to 0-6 at half-time, the goal arriving after 21 minutes following a flowing move involving Fiachra Collins, Daly and O'Driscoll for Luke Shorten to palm home at the far post.
And a couple of minutes later, they were almost in for a second only for Daly's effort to rebound from a post.
The goal-frame also denied Coláiste Choilm's Darragh O'Mahony and Michael Muphy.
Wind the strengthening wide at their backs on the resumption, Skibb would have been expected to drive on, but it was Coláiste Choimh who seized the initiative.
A couple of Diarmuid Dillon frees and one from Murphy from play made it a one-point game, 1-7 to 0-9, after 40 minutes.
But the visitors lost full-back Nathan Davis to a black card for a hand-trip shortly afterwards and Coláiste Choilm were grateful for keeper Jack Forde brilliantly stopping Shorten's effort.
The decisive second goal came after 53 minutes when substitute Oisin Daly was fouled and Minihane expertly tucked away the penalty, 2-9 to 0-9.
But, Colaiste Choilm showed great heart to hit back with the next three points, including Evan Horgan's second, only for an O'Neill point, six minutes into injury-time, making the game safe for Skibb.
L Shorten 1-2 (0-1 f), R Minihane 1-1 (1-0 pen, 0-1 f), N Daly 0-3, S Browne, J O'Driscoll, F Collins, J O'Neill 0-1 each.
D Dillon 0-4 (0-3 f), M Murphy 0-3, E Horgan 0-2, C O'Driscoll, P Kelly 0-1 each, D Coakley 0-1 f.
S Kingston (Tadhg MacCarthaighs); S Carey (Ilen Rovers), J Bohane (Castlehaven), H O'Donovan (Clann na nGael); S O'Connell (Castlehaven), T O'Mahony (do), C Hegarty (Tadhg MacCarthaighs); T O Donnobhain (Clonakilty), R Minihane (Castlehaven), captain; J O'Neill (do), N Daly (Ilen Rovers), S Browne (Castlehaven); F Collins (do), J O'Driscoll (do), L Shorten (Tadhg MacCarthaighs).
O Daly (Tadhg MacCarthaighs) for O Donnabhain 42, L McCarthy (Kilmacabea) for Shorten 59, J O'Brien (O'Donovan Rossa) for Collins.
J Forde (Éire Óg); D Keane (Inniscarra), N Davis (Ballinora), C Clifford (Éire Óg); E Horgan (Ballincollig), C Dodd (Canovee), B Thompson (Ballincollig); C O'Driscoll (do), D Coakley (Éire Óg); M Murphy (do), J McGinn (Kilmurry), P Kelly (Ballincollig); D O'Mahony (do), D Dillon (Éire Óg), C Quigley (do).
T Sheehan (St Mary's).
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