Clonakilty Community College drive into Frewen Cup final despite delayed start and wild weather

Clonakilty Community College 2-12 (2-1-10) Intermediate School Killorglin 2-8 (2-1-6) 

One hour and 10 minutes after the official start time of 12 noon, this Frewen Cup (Munster Colleges U17 A) semi-final got underway at a rain-soaked and windswept Bishopstown 4G on Friday.

Referee Brendan Barrett arrived for what he understood to be a 1.30pm start, but at this stage both teams had been out on the field for over an hour.

Clonakilty CC mentor Dan Nyhan, who was also speaking on behalf of IS Killorglin, said the situation was unacceptable.

“It is just not on for an U17A Munster semi-final. That’s my opinion and it is Killorglin’s as well, they came a long distance today to play this important game. It’s disappointing we had to wait an hour for throw-in, in wind and rain, it was the same for both sides. Just not good enough. It was very clear the game was at 12 o’clock, everybody was here and ready to go.” 

 It was no surprise when the match did commence, Clonakilty CC were forced into two late changes due to injuries sustained in the warm-up, with Olan White and Charlie Moore replacing Gearóid Collins (Kilmeen) and Callum Collins (Ibane Gaels).

IS Killorglin chief scorer Michael Culhane found the range first, but with the driving wind at their backs a two-pointer from Conrad Murphy in the 10th minute helped Clonakilty CC to find their feet.

Then a shot from Conor Murphy dropped short but Dara O’Connor was on hand to find the net for the Kerry side to swing the balance their way, 1-2 to 0-3.

That would be the only time they would lead, as Clonakilty CC came roaring back.

Charlie Moore was fouled for a penalty and Christos Delis converted. It was the start of a brilliant 10 minutes before the break. As well as Tadhg O’Brien’s blistering finish to the net after a pin-point cross by Joe Twomey, they kicked points from Delis (2), Moore and Twomey.

They outscored IS Killorglin 2-4 to 0-1, and at the short whistle led 2-7 to 1-3.

Five minutes after the restart, IS Killorglin were back in contention when Culhane belted a penalty following a leg-block on Luke Foley.

Clonakilty CC took control again through a Twomey point.

With the dreadful conditions taking their toll, scores dried up, the next white flag not arriving until the three-quarter mark - a Culhane free, 2-8 to 2-4.

Goalkeeper Rory Twohig twice converted from placed balls, and there were also points from Twomey and Nathan O’Sullivan as Clonakilty CC opened up a commanding six-point lead at the end of regulation.

A Hugh O’Sullivan two-pointer in stoppage time reduced the margin to four.

Finalists last season, Clonakilty CC expect to have a few players back that will bolster their squad ahead of the final against St Brendan’s College, Killarney.

Scorers for Clonakilty CC: C Delis 1-2 (1-0 pen), J Twomey 0-4 (0-1 f, T O’Brien 1-0, C Murphy 0-2 (1 2pt), R Twohig 0-2 f, C Moore, N O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

IS Killorglin: M Culhane 1-4 (1-0 pen, 0-1 f), D O’Connor 1-0, H O’Sullivan 0-2 (1 2pt), L Foley (f), M Hynes 0-1 each.

CLONAKILTY CC: R Twohig (Kilmeen); D Donovan (Clonakilty), E Knowles (Clonakilty), C Moore (Carbery Rangers); A Hunt (Ibane Gaels), H O’Donovan (Kilmeen), F O’Donovan (Clonakilty); C Murphy (Ibane Gaels), T O’Brien (Kilmeen); P Haughney (St James), N O’Sullivan (Clonakilty), O White (Clonakilty); C McCarthy (Clonakilty), J Twomey (Ballinascarthy), C Delis (Clonakilty).

Subs: C Cullinane (Ballinascarthy) for C Moore (52), J Foley (Ibane Gaels) for C Delis (55).

IS KILLORGLIN: D Riordan (Cromane); E Casey (Listry), E Mulligan (Laune Rangers), J Morris (Glenbeigh/Glencar); D O’Shea (Laune Rangers), C Foley (Laune Rangers), C Murphy (Laune Rangers); C Galvin (Beaufort), P O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar); L Foley (Beaufort), M Culhane (Beaufort), S Doherty (Glenbeigh/Glencar); K Patton (Laune Rangers), D O’Connor (Cromane), M Hynes (Laune Rangers).

Subs: C McSweeney (Laune Rangers) for D O’Shea (half-time), H O’Sullivan (Laune Rangers) for K Patton, O Foley (Laune Rangers) for M Hynes (both 48), L Scannell (Beaufort) for J Morris (55).

Referee: Brendan Barrett (Shamrocks).