Corn Uí Mhuirí: Eoin Maguire on song as Hamilton HS Bandon hammer Patrician Academy Mallow

Hamilton High School Bandon: 2-16 (2-3-10) 

Patrician Academy Mallow: 0-9 (0-0-9) 

Hamilton High School Bandon proved too strong for Patrician Academy Mallow in this all-Cork derby in the Corn Uí Mhuirí at Ovens on Tuesday afternoon.

This opening Group 2 encounter between two of the best Cork schools in this competition in the last two seasons was very much a one-sided encounter with last season’s semi-finalists putting in an impressive display.

Hammies had only four starters playing here that featured in the previous Corn Uí Mhuirí campaign, Ben Coffey, Richard Tarrant, Eoin Maguire and Daniel Coughlan.

They conceded the first score, but after that, the West Cork outfit took control and led by nine points at half-time despite playing against the wind.

Castlehaven’s Eoin Maguire, younger brother of Cathal and Rory Maguire, led the attack magnificently for Hammies. He ended up with 0-10 including three brilliant two-pointers.

Played in Éire Óg’s second pitch on Casey’s Road, this was the first Corn Uí Mhuirí game under the new rules.

It was a fairly low-key start with no score inside the first 10 minutes in what was an error-strewn opening.

The first score arrived after 11 minutes as a result of Hamilton High School not having the required numbers in defence.

Ben O’Shea duly converted an easy free, but the exact same breach would cost Patrician Academy minutes later. Maguire had an easy tap over free.

Despite Patrician Academy, semi-finalists two seasons ago, having a strong wind advantage, it was their opposition who were much more composed and economical.

The winners raised their first green flag after 17 minutes when Daniel Murphy slotted home after Coughlan’s shot was parried by Patrician Academy goalkeeper Diarmuid O’Riordan.

Donagh Flynn and Hugh Flanagan added points for Hammies until Cathal Murphy and O’Shea did the same for their team, 1-3 to 0-3 after 23 minutes.

Two minutes later, Hamilton High School got a second goal that they had been threatening.

Coughlan finished expertly to the roof of the net following a driving run. Paddy Lordan’s charges tacked on three unanswered points to lead 2-6 to 0-3 at half-time.

The West Cork outfit had wind advantage for the new half, but it was another slow burner of a half.

The teams traded white flags until Maguire kicked two two-pointers, one coming from a free, to push Hamilton High School 2-11 to 0-4 clear after 42 minutes.

The Bandon-based side were dominating every sector of the field with centre-forward Jack Hennigan pulling the strings.

They led 2-15 to 0-5 with five minutes remaining before Cian Cooney and Dylan O’Connell pointed for Patrician Academy.

Maguire rounded off his team’s scoring with a sweet point from an awkward angle. Cooney and O’Shea (free) did point white flags in added time for their team, as they must regroup following this 13-point defeat.

Hamilton High School Bandon meet Presentation Secondary School Milltown in their next group game in three weeks while Patrician Academy Mallow will face Intermediate School Killorglin.

Scorers for Hamilton High School Bandon: E Maguire 0-10 (2 2pt, 1 2pt f, 0-1 f), D Murphy, D Coughlan 1-1 each, N O’Sullivan, H Flanagan, J Hennigan (f), D Flynn 0-1 each.

Patrician Academy Mallow: B O’Shea 0-4 (0-2 f), C Cooney 0-2, P Murphy, D O’Connell, C Murphy 0-1 each.

HAMILTON HIGH SCHOOL BANDON: R Curtin (Valley Rovers); N O’Sullivan (Newcestown), B Coffey (Clonakilty), R Tarrant (Bandon); Donncha O’Mahony (Newcestown), L O’Donnell (Kilbrittain), A Griffin (Kilbrittain); D Coughlan (Bandon), E O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers); H Flanagan (Newcestown), J Hennigan (Sam Maguires), D Flynn (Ibane Gaels); D Murphy (Bandon), E Maguire (Castlehaven), J Twomey (Ibane Gaels).

Subs: Darragh O’Mahony (Clonakilty) for D Murphy (44), C O’Flynn (Bandon) for E O’Sullivan (46), D Brady (Valley Rovers) for D Coughlan, C Murphy (Valley Rovers) for Donncha O’Mahony (both 51), J McCarthy (Valley Rovers) for D Flynn (54).

PATRICIAN ACADEMY MALLOW: D O’Riordan (Mallow); A Murphy (Mallow), P Murphy (Mallow), T Britton (Mallow); C O’Mullane (Clyda Rovers), M O’Riordan (Kilshannig), K Plaku (Mallow); C Murphy (Mallow), C Cooney (Clyda Rovers); H Punch (Mallow), B O’Shea (Mallow), R Crowley (Kilshannig); C Hayes (Killavullen), J Murphy (Mallow), D O’Connell (Kilshannig).

Subs: C O’Shea (Mallow) for H Punch, R O’Connor (Clyda Rovers) for C O’Mullane, C Daly (Mallow) for C Hayes (all h-t), D Murphy (Killavullen) for R Crowley (49), C Glynn (Clyda Rovers) for K Plaku (52).

Referee: Alan Hourihan (Aghinagh).