Simcox Cup: Seán Whelton steers Clonakilty past De La Salle College
Conrad Murphy, Clonakilty Community College, looking to go past Tim Sweeney, De La Salle College, Macroom, during the Simcox Cup semi-final at Macroom. Picture: Dan Linehan
Clonakilty Community College recovered from a slow start to defeat De La Salle College in the Simcox Cup semi-final at Macroom on Monday afternoon.
They will now face Coláiste Choilm in the decider. Both teams will also lock horns in the final Corn Uí Mhuirí group game on Wednesday week.
It took some time for the eventual winners to find their stride, 26 minutes passed before they got their first score, but once they did, they always looked likely winners.
Micheál O’Sullivan’s outfit were forcing the issue too much early on, but driven on by Seán Whelton’s accuracy and Tom Whooley’s fresh impetus off the bench, Clonakilty Community College got over the line.
De La Salle College did a lot right, they had more possession, but it was just that final ball that was lacking. They would have been frustrated to have been five points behind at the interval and could never close that gap sufficiently on the resumption.
In a game where both defences were on top, it reflected in a low-scoring encounter.
Clonakilty Community College had a goal opportunity after 13 minutes, but Whelton's wonderful effort that was heading for the top corner was magnificently saved by De La Salle College goalkeeper Alan Long.
De La Salle College were more determined and had a more positive approach at this juncture. A Jack O’Shea point and a close-range Cian McCarthy effort gave their side a 0-2 to 0-0 lead after 20 minutes.
The game changed though with four minutes to the break when Clonakilty Community College got their first score.
A Whelton two-pointer was followed by a Jack Byerley goal with the latter having an easy finish to the net, 1-2 to 0-2 after 28 minutes.
Efforts from Whelton and Howard O’Donovan gave Clonakilty Community College a five-point advantage at half-time, 1-4 to 0-2.
A Jack Browne orange flag a minute into the second half was just the start that was required for De La Salle College.
It didn’t spur them on though, Clonakilty Community College landed three of the next four points with Rory Twohig’s 45 the pick of those scores. A great effort from the goalkeeper.
The winners were in control as they led 1-7 to 0-5 with 12 minutes remaining.
The sides traded efforts before substitute Whooley scored a fabulous individual goal following a driving run, 2-8 to 0-6 after 56 minutes.
It looked like it was game over, but a Tim Sweeney goal from a close-range free and a white flag from Cathal Neville did make things interesting.
Clonakilty Community College hung on though in added time to advance to the final.
S Whelton 0-5 (0-2 f, 1 2pt), T Whooley 1-1, J Byerley 1-0, R Twohig (45), H O’Donovan 0-1 each.
T Sweeney 1-1 (1-1 f), J Browne 0-2 (1 2pt), C Neville, C McCarthy (f), J O’Shea, R McKenna 0-1 each.
R Twohig (Kilmeen); O Harrington (Kilmeen), H O’Donovan (Kilmeen), T Bailey (Kilmeen); C Collins (Ibane Gaels), J Maguire (Castlehaven), O Murphy (Kilmeen); M Collins (Ibane Gaels), E Déiseach (Clonakilty); D Harte (Clonakilty), S Whelton (St James’), J Murray (Kilmeen); J Byerley (Clonakilty), C Murphy (Ibane Gaels), J Collins (Ibane Gaels).
T Whooley (Clonakilty) for D Harte, E Hicks (Carbery Rangers) for J Collins (both 41), T O’Brien (Kilmeen) for J Byerley (52).
A Long (Kilmurry); R Fitzgerald (Macroom), J Cuddihy (Aghinagh), T Hopkins (Macroom); S Kelleher-Leavy (Macroom), E Healy (Macroom), C Neville (Macroom); J O’Shea (Macroom), R McKenna (Macroom); B Murphy (Macroom), T Sweeney (Uibh Laoire), J Browne (Kilmichael); R O’Shea (Macroom), C McCarthy (Kilmichael), D O’Shea (Macroom).
J Kelleher-Leavy (Macroom) for R O’Shea (h-t), O Creed (Macroom) for B Murphy (50), R O’Sullivan (Naomh Abán) for D O’Shea (52).
Alan Hourihan (Aghinagh).
App?
