Corn Uí Mhuirí: St Francis College Rochestown roar back with four goals to sink High School Clonmel

St Francis College Rochestown 4-8 

CBS High School Clonmel 1-13 

St Francis College Rochestown were stung by late lapses against Kenmare three weeks ago, but on an arc-less Maguires Pitch at UL on Wednesday afternoon, there would be no repeat of those errors. Four goals, three carved from turnovers, saw them overturn a seven-point interval deficit and keep their Corn Uí Mhuirí hopes alive.

Had the arc been in operation, at least three orange flags would have been raised, yet even that wouldn’t have altered the outcome. It would only have extended the margin in Roco’s favour.

But it was a scenario that did not look likely at the break. After a half of football with High School running the show, they were 1-9 to 1-2 ahead at the interval, having been patient in pass and shot selection. Roco didn’t have a sniff beyond their first goal.

And then, within eight minutes of the resumption, Rochestown had already surpassed their first half scoring tally with two goals, both of which came from turnovers at the other end of the field.

Mark O’Brien and Cathal Lowney combined to tee up Pádraig McGrath for the first, before a sweeping move – McGrath, Cummins, Callum Griffin, back to McGrath – opened the gate for Lowney to leap and palm home, his finish lobbing the advancing goalkeeper. Suddenly, a side that had looked adrift were within one.

A stunner from Cummins that would have been a two-pointer, and another white flag from a Roco wing-back in Joe Mouret left them a point ahead, 3-4 to 1-9. Paddy Spelman clipped one back for the Tipp school in the 44th minute to level the contest for the third time. They would still be level by the 52nd minute, 3-6 to 1-12.

And while Luke Foley nudged High School back in front from a free, Roco’s response was a fourth major, Jack O’Brien with a stunning finish as he turned his man and fired to the bottom corner.

A couple of points from McGrath stretched their lead out to four, with High School Clonmel unable to stop Roco’s running game in the final quarter. Foley was shown a late black card to compound their disappointment.

Earlier, O’Brien’s ninth-minute goal had Roco 1-0 to 0-1 to the good, but High School rattled off five of the next six, and then three more white flags, before Jamal Yousif pounced to slam home a stunning goal. A seven-point cushion at half-time looked secure. It wasn’t.

Roco’s second-half ignition changed everything.

Scorers for St Francis College Rochestown: J O’Brien 2-0, P McGrath 1-2, C Lowney 1-0, K O’Neill 0-2, B Corkery Delaney (f), D O’Connor, E Cummins, J Mouret 0-1 each.

Scorers for CBS High School Clonmel: J Yousif 1-2, L Foley 0-4 (0-3 f), F Napier 0-2, K Smith, M McGuire, P Spelman, A McAndrew, B Morrisson 0-1 each.

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), K O’Neill (Cobh).

Subs: T Murray (Douglas) for O’Neill (51), A Kelly (Douglas) for Sweeney (53).

CBS HIGH SCHOOL CLONMEL: J O’Brien; J Lyons, R Galko, A Ryan; L Hannigan, P Spelman, B Landers; M McGuire, L Foley; A McAndrew, K Smith, B Morrisson; C Freaney, F Napier, J Yousif.

Subs: O O’Reilly for Hannigan (43), J Aylward for Landers (44), D Ryan for McAndrew (50).

Referee: J Murphy (Ballylanders, Limerick)