Corn Uí Mhuirí: Patrician Academy denied top spot by St Brendan's

Mallow’s Patrician Academy were denied top spot in Group 3 of the TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí as they were defeated by St Brendan’s College at Banteer on Wednesday afternoon.

Wins over Coláiste Choilm of Ballincollig and Ennis side St Flannan’s College had earned Patrician Academy a place in the knockout stages for the first time but they could maintain their 100 percent record as they fell to a 0-13 to 0-8 defeat against the Killarney school, who have won the last two editions of the competition.

A draw with Flannan’s in their last game meant that Brendan’s were a point behind Mallow going in but they led all through, even playing against the wind in the first half.

Full-forward Alex Hennigan was proving to be a threat in attack for Brendan’s, kicking four points as they established a 0-6 to 0-2 lead by the 25th minute. While Alan O’Connell and Ben O’Shea had frees to bring Patrician Academy to within two points by half-time, Brendan’s held the upper hand.

Mallow did bring themselves to within a point early in the second half as Alan O’Connell and Dylan O’Connell points sandwiched one from Hennigan and Ben O’Shea went close to a goal. However, Brendan’s regrouped and six points on trot put them firmly in control and on their way to top spot. 

Patrician Academy must now wait to see if they are the lucky second-placed side to receive an automatic quarter-final place or if they must contest a preliminary quarter-final.

Also in Banteer, De La Salle Macroom’s campaign came to an end with a 2-15 to 2-12 defeat to Presentation SS of Milltown in Group 2

In what was Pres Milltown’s first-ever victory in the competition, the teams were close throughout. Macroom had a great start as Oisín O’Sullivan scored a goal and a point in the opening six minutes and they led by 1-4 to 0-3 with ten minutes remaining until half-time.

A good save from Macroom goalkeeper Stiofán McSweeney was required to deny Michael Byrne a goal for Milltown while Darragh Clifford hit the post for them but a flurry of points coming up to half-time ensured parity, 1-5 to 0-8.

Green flags did arrive for Milltown in the second half. Evan McCarthy was fouled for a penalty which Darragh Clifford converted and then James Cliffor set up McCarthy. By the three-quarter mark, they were leading by 2-12 to 1-8 and, while Jack Sweeney did land a second De La Salle goal, they could not come closer than three points.

Also exiting the competition were Coláiste Choilm, but they did at least sign off on a positive note, coming from seven points down to beat St Flannan’s by 1-12 to 2-8 at UL.

St Flannan’s still had a sliver of a chance of qualifying – a big win was needed, combined with a St Brendna’s defeat to Mallow. They led did amass a 1-6 to 0-6 half-time lead, Harry Doherty with the goal, but a number of other scoreable chances went begging.

With the wind in the second half, Ballincollig had Flannan’s under a lot of pressure but a breakaway led to a penalty, which was scored by Darren Keane before his point left seven in it.

However, Coláiste Choilm never gave up. Two Ciarán Buckley points were a big part of their fightback and Danny Miskella’s goal brough them level. They were also grateful to goalkeeper Caolán for a pair of good saves.

Ben O’Connell put Coláiste Choilm in front only for Keane to level but Johnny Galvin had the final say as he sent over the winner.