Harty Cup: St Colman's defeat Pobalscoil na Tríonóide to keep qualification hopes alive

St Colman’s Fermoy: 3-14 

Pobalscoil na Tríonóide Youghal: 1-12 

ST COLMAN’S were too strong for Pobalscoil na Tríonóide in the Harty Cup at Bishopstown on Wednesday afternoon.

This second game in Group 2 was a crucial one after both teams suffered defeats in the opening round, but it was St Colman’s that kept their hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages alive following this win in what was an all-Cork clash.

They had a more balanced team, a nice spread of scorers, while their opposition were reliant on Jayden Casey to get the scores. 

St Colman’s made a fast start as they hit four unanswered points inside the first 14 minutes. Liam Óg Hegarty with three points, one from a free, and a Donnacha Hickey effort. After four wides in the early stages, Pobalscoil na Tríonóide hit their first point as the lively Casey converted a free after 15 minutes.

St Colman’s hit two of the next three points before they raised two green flags in the space of a minute. Ciarán O’Leary and Oisin Fitzgerald with the goals, 2-6 to 0-2 after 23 minutes. Casey pointed from a free for his side until St Colman’s, backed by their vocal supporters, hit two points on the trot through Louie Roche and Seán O’Donoghue.

Casey raised another point from a free for Pobalscoil na Tríonóide on the stroke of half-time as they failed to score from play in the opening 30 minutes, 2-8 to 0-4 at the interval.

Casey raised a white flag courtesy of a free a minute into the new half before St Colman’s more or less put the game beyond their oppositions reach with a third goal through Fionn Lardner, 3-8 to 0-5 after 33 minutes. The game tipped along and by the third quarter, the Fermoy school led 3-9 to 0-9.

The sides traded points before Brian Lynch billowed the back of the net for the Youghal school, 3-10 to 1-10 with ten minutes remaining. A comeback never looked likely, as St Colman’s hit four of the last six points to prevail.

Both teams are out in three weeks’ time on Wednesday, November 15. St Colman’s face St Joseph’s Tulla while Pobalscoil na Tríonóide take on Thurles CBS.

Scorers for St Colman’s Fermoy: L Foley 0-4, L Óg Hegarty (0-2 f), S O’Donoghue 0-3 each, O Fitzgerald, F Lardner, C O’Leary 1-0 each, L Roche 0-2, D Hickey, K O’Donoghue 0-1 each.

Pobalscoil na Tríonóide Youghal: J Casey 0-10 (0-9 f), B Lynch 1-1, S Coughlan 0-1.

ST COLMAN’S FERMOY: R O’Riordan (Bride Rovers); A Hickey (Ballyduff, Waterford), J O’Brien (Fermoy), D O’Brien (Fermoy); O Fitzgerald (St Catherine’s), D Cashman (Bride Rovers), B McGrath (Fermoy); D Hickey (Ballyduff, Waterford), S O’Donoghue (St Catherine’s); L Roche (Bride Rovers), L Óg Hegarty (Kilworth), L Foley (Watergrasshill); T McGrath (Glanworth), F Lardner (Fermoy), C O’Leary (Watergrasshill).

Subs: C O’Brien (Buttevant) for C O’Leary (39), J Temple (St Catherine’s) for F Lardner (54), L Cronin (Fermoy) for B McGrath (56), K O’Donoghue (St Catherine’s) for T McGrath (58), E Sykes (Ballyhooly) for L Óg Hegarty (61).

POBALSCOIL NA TRÍONÓIDE YOUGHAL: O Walsh (Youghal); M Desmond (Youghal), B Nicholson (Youghal), P Geary (Killeagh); H McGann (Killeagh), R O’Brien (Youghal), S O’Brien (Youghal); F Hill (Youghal), C Buckley (Youghal); Cian Galvin (Youghal), J Casey (Youghal), B Lynch (Youghal); Conor Galvin (Youghal), S Meade (Killeagh), S Coughlan (Clashmore-Kinsalebeg, Waterford).

Subs: F Brennan (Youghal) for C Buckley (37, inj), M Ó Dochartaigh (Killeagh) for B Nicholson (57), D Buckley (Killeagh) for S Coughlan (59).

Referee: Brian Barrett (Douglas).