Corn Uí Mhuirí: Rochestown let four-point lead slip late on in draw with Kenmare

St Francis College Rochestown: 0-13 (0-0-13) 

Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare: 2-7 (2-1-5) 

A missed opportunity for St Francis College Rochestown as they let a four-point lead slip in an exciting draw with Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare in the Corn Uí Mhuirí at Cloughduv on Wednesday afternoon.

The city team, with Kerry native Liam Sheehan now in charge, were the better team in this opening Group 1 encounter and will be disappointed to have only come away with a point.

Rochestown, inspired by a lethal full-forward line of Pádraig McGrath, Ben Corkery-Delaney and Dara O’Sullivan, were four points to the good after 59 minutes, but a penalty and then a late free from the accurate Oisín O’Connor ensured Kenmare came away with a share of the spoils.

There are lots of positives to take from the game for the city school, but just composure and decision-making in the closing stages didn't help them.

Ben Corkery-Delaney, nephew of former Cork star Colin Corkery, got Rochestown up and running with a nice point after seven minutes followed by an O’Sullivan effort.

Arguably against the run of play, Kenmare netted a goal after 15 minutes, seconds after Darragh O’Connor was close to raising a green flag for Rochestown.

David Grebowiec trickled the ball into the net after Rochestown failed to clear a scramble in the square. 

In an opening 30 minutes that lacked quality, the teams traded points before Oisín O’Connor gave Kenmare a two-point buffer after 27 minutes.

Liam Sheehan’s outfit then put together four beautiful points, O’Sullivan with two and efforts from Corkery-Delaney and McGrath, 0-7 to 1-2.

The city school were the better team, but wayward shooting and turnovers were hampering them.

Five minutes into added time, a Micheál O’Mahony two-point free ensured Kenmare were level at half-time, 0-7 to 1-4.

Rochestown underlined their dominance with three unanswered points at the start of the new half from O’Sullivan, Jack O’Brien and McGrath.

In what was a low-scoring half with both defences on top, Oisín O’Connor did tap over an easy free for Kenmare, but Rochestown were doing all the running.

They landed three of the next four points with Corkery-Delaney unlucky with a goal opportunity from an acute angle, 0-13 to 1-6 after 57 minutes.

O’Sullivan could have put his team five points clear, but his effort dropped short. It proved costly when Kenmare were awarded a penalty after 59 minutes after sub Liam Brown was fouled.

Grebowiec calmly finished the ball to the back of the net. That man Oisín O’Connor then rescued Kenmare with a close range free.

Rochestown's second group outing is against Clonmel High School in three weeks' time.

Scorers for St Francis College Rochestown: D O’Sullivan 0-5, B Corkery-Delaney 0-4 (0-1 f), P McGrath 0-2, J O’Brien, D O’Connor 0-1 each.

Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare: D Grebowiec 2-0 (1-0 pen), O O‘Connor 0-5 (0-4 f), M O’Mahony 0-2 (1 2pt f).

ST FRANCIS COLLEGE ROCHESTOWN: J O’Flaherty (Douglas); C Lowney (Tracton), C Griffin (Passage West), D O’Donoghue (Douglas); J Mouret (Douglas), L Kelleher (Douglas), E Cummins (Cobh); L Collins (Ballygarvan), D O’Connor (Douglas); R Sweeney (Douglas), M O’Brien (Douglas), J O’Brien (Douglas); P McGrath (Douglas), B Corkery-Delaney (Carrigaline), D O’Sullivan (Nemo Rangers).

Subs: D McClafferty (St Michael’s) for E Cummins (40), E Bruton (St Michael’s) for L Collins (42), T Murray (Douglas) for R Sweeney (48), K Kavanagh (Douglas) for D O’Donoghue (61).

POBALSCOIL INBHEAR SCÉINE KENMARE: E McCarthy; J O’Shea, J Sweeney, C Cronin; R Daly, D O’Brien, D Murphy; K O’Sullivan, C G Hussey; M Jones, M O’Mahony, S O’Donoghue; D Grebowiec, A O’Sullivan, O O’Connor.

Subs: N O’Neill for S O’Donoghue (33), L Brown for M Jones (41), C Galvin for C Cronin (51), C Ó hÚrdail for C G Hussey (56).

Referee: Brian Harte (Kilmurry).