Corn Uí Mhuirí: Strong finish from Clonakilty sees off Coláiste Choilm and seals knockout spot

Clonakilty Community College: 1-13 (1-2-9) 

Coláiste Choilm: 1-6 (1-1-4) 

Clonakilty Community College have advanced to the knockout stages of the Corn Uí Mhuirí at the expense of Coláiste Choilm at a damp Newcestown on Wednesday afternoon.

This was pretty much winner-takes-all in this Group 4 Round 3 encounter.

Clonakilty have now won all three games as they top their group. They started well in a game where they never trailed. They were one point ahead at half-time having played against the wind.

They were very much on top in the second 30 minutes and if it wasn’t for some poor shooting, the margin of victory would have been greater.

Coláiste Choilm were missing key players for this one, which didn’t help their cause. Cork U20 footballer Danny Miskella, Kevin O’Leary and Cian O’Connor were absent.

In difficult conditions, Clonakilty were fast out of the traps. They goaled after two minutes when James Maguire finished to the net after Oisín Harrington set him up.

It was followed by a Seán Whelton point. In an uneventful opening 30 minutes, Coláiste Choilm got their first score after 14 minutes.

Seán Murphy’s effort for a point dropped short only for Luke O’Mahony to react quickest to smash the ball into the net.

Whelton converted a free until Coláiste Choilm put two points together to draw parity. A Cian Ahern free and a Brian Cronin effort, 1-2 apiece after 24 minutes.

Another Whelton white flag, Clonakilty’s only point scorer in the first half, bisected the posts as the West Cork outfit led 1-3 to 1-2 at half-time.

They had the wind advantage for the new half, but it took them some time to gain an upper hand.

The sides traded white flags while Tom Whooley was denied a goal after a brilliant reflex save from Coláiste Choilm goalkeeper Nathan Tait.

Wayward shooting wasn’t helping Clonakilty. They were forcing the issue too much.

A gorgeous Peter Rose point drew Coláiste Choilm level, 1-4 each after 42 minutes.

A 45 from the Clonakilty netminder Rory Twohig gave his team the advantage once more.

A Whelton two-point free and efforts from Jason Murray and Conrad Murphy gave Clonakilty a 1-9 to 1-4 lead with eight minutes remaining.

An O’Mahony orange flag from a free did leave Coláiste Choilm three points behind. Denis Keohane’s side wouldn’t score again after that effort after 54 minutes.

Clonakilty finished well with efforts from Mike Collins and Whelton and a super two-pointer from play from sub Emmet Nolan.

Both sides will meet again on Friday week in the Simcox Cup final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Scorers for Clonakilty Community College: S Whelton 0-6 (1 2pt f, 0-1 f), J Maguire 1-0, E Nolan (1 2pt), J Murray 0-2 each, R Twohig (45), M Collins, C Murphy 0-1 each.

Coláiste Choilm: L O’Mahony 1-2 (1 2pt f), C Ahern 0-2 (0-1 f), P Rose, B Cronin 0-1 each.

CLONAKILTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE: R Twohig (Kilmeen); O Harrington (Kilmeen), H O’Donovan (Kilmeen), T Bailey (Kilmeen); J O’Leary (Ballinascarthy), D Harte (Clonakilty), O Murphy (Kilmeen); M Collins (Ibane Gaels), E Déiseach (Clonakilty); J Maguire (Castlehaven), S Whelton (St James’), J Murray (Kilmeen); T Whooley (Clonakilty), C Murphy (Ibane Gaels), E Hicks (Carbery Rangers).

Subs: E Nolan (Clonakilty) for D Harte (43).

COLÁISTE CHOILM: N Tait (Éire Óg); D Sheehan (Éire Óg), P Rose (Ballincollig), D Strand (Éire Óg); E Donovan (Ballincollig), C Herlihy (Inniscarra), A Rose (Ballincollig); R Coakley (Éire Óg), B Cronin (Ballincollig); M Delaney (Ballincollig), C Ahern (Ballincollig), S Murphy (Éire Óg); C Murphy (Éire Óg), L O’Mahony (Ballincollig), J Miskella (Ballincollig).

Subs: E Lynch (Ballincollig) for M Delaney (40), F Lordan-Walsh (Ballincollig) for D Strand (45), A Kennedy (Ballinora) for C Murphy (56).

Referee: Alan O’Connor (Ballygarvan).