Corn Uí Mhuirí preview: De La Salle College Macroom meet Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne with quarter-final spot up for grabs 

De La Salle College Macroom will today hope to join three Cork schools in the quarter-finals of the TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí.

With last season’s semi-finalists Patrician Academy Mallow, Hamilton High School Bandon and St Francis College Rochestown all safe in the knowledge that they will be playing in this competition after Christmas, De La Salle College will be fancied to join them, but it won’t be an easy one.

They take on Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne of Kerry in the preliminary quarter-final at Dr Crokes in Killarney with throw-in at 3pm. The other match at this particular stage of the competition is an all-Kerry affair between Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare and St Patrick’s Secondary School Castleisland. That one will take place next Monday.

The two winners will then go into the quarter-final draw, which will happen in the coming weeks.

Once De La Salle College and Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne were drawn against each other last week, memories of the 2014 Corn Uí Mhuirí final came flooding back. While it did end in disappointment for De La Salle College, it was a decent campaign when the dust settled and it did provide a platform for many of their players to kick on with their clubs.

The Macroom school lost by five points that day, but that was an excellent Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne side that time. That’s not to say this current one isn’t, but they aren’t the force they once were and De La Salle College will be confident without being overly confident heading over the county bounds today.

But then again, there have been plenty of examples over the years of Cork schools coming back from Kerry with the tail between their legs so De La Salle College will be absolutely forewarned about this game. It does help that the Mid-Cork side have plenty of football knowledge and experience on the line that will help keep the players grounded.

Bobbie O’Dwyer, who managed the Cork minor footballers to All-Ireland glory in 2019, is part of the management ticket as well as Kerry senior football goalkeeper Shane Ryan. Experienced GAA referee on Leeside John Ryan is also involved as well as Liam Long, who was a brilliant footballer for Kilmurry’s first team for many years.

As mentioned in these pages when the draw was made last week for the preliminary quarter-final, De La Salle College were desperately unlucky not to go direct to the quarter-finals as they missed out on scoring difference to Patrician Academy Mallow.

In fairness to the Macroom outfit, they haven’t put a foot wrong in the Corn Uí Mhuirí this season, which is why they should head into today’s game against Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne full of confidence and belief.

They beat Mitchelstown CBS 1-15 to 2-5 in their first group game before drawing with Patrician Academy until the big victory over Intermediate School Killorglin on a scoreline of 4-15 to 1-8.

De La Salle College have a nice blend to their team with Cormac Bourke of Macroom an excellent defender at full-back. Kilmurry's Seán O’Leary holds the number 6 jersey as he looks to continue his good form. 

In attack, they have plenty of weapons. Kilmichael’s Tom Browne is an excellent fielder in the half-forward line but he can also score. In the full-forward line, the dynamic duo of Denis O’Mullane of Kilmurry and Tim Sweeney of Iveleary have caused the opposition defences untold problems this season.

If those two in particular are on fire, De La Salle College will have every chance of prevailing today. The Kilmurry duo of O'Leary and O'Mullane made their debuts for Kilmurry's first team in the AIB Munster Club JFC final win over Firies last Saturday. Both played well too. 

Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne were part of a three-team group this season. The Dingle school lost 2-15 to 0-12 to Tralee CBS before overcoming Presentation Secondary School Milltown, 2-7 to 1-9. Pádraig Ó Mainnín and Cian MacGearailt will be integral for their side in the forward department. 

TODAY 

TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí preliminary quarter-final: De La Salle College Macroom v Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne, Dr Crokes, 3pm.

MONDAY

TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí preliminary quarter-final: Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare v St Patrick’s Secondary School Castleisland, venue and time TBC.