Corn Uí Mhuirí: St Francis College, Rochestown end their campaign with a big win over St Flannan's

Corn Uí Mhuirí Group 1 round 3 

St Francis College, Rochestown 2-16 (2-1-14) 

St Flannan’s College 0-9 (0-0-9) 

St Francis College, Rochestown, confirmed their place in the Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-finals with a routine 13-point victory over St Flannan’s on the second pitch at Rathkeale’s Mick Neville Park on Wednesday.

Whether they will finish as Group 1 winners or runners-up, though, remains up in the air.

Should Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine, Kenmare, win their delayed final-round clash with High School Clonmel, they will join Roco on five points. 

In that case, Scéine will take top spot based on a new tiebreaker rule, having scored more goals in their 2-7 to 0-13 first-round draw. 

Any other result would see Roco remain in first place and take a seeded berth in the quarter-final draw.

They completed their unbeaten group stage with 2-4 from Ben Corkery-Delaney and 0-7 from Pádraig McGrath in a performance built upon hard tackling across the field.

It says something about Roco’s free-wheeling attacking style that they’ve had just one score from a placed ball in each of their three games, with the other 5-35 all coming from open play. They could’ve even clipped a few more scores here with some more clinical finishing.

They fielded minus key forward and captain Dara O’Sullivan, who has suffered an ankle injury, while Flannan’s were also without their captain, Conor Hill.

Thomas Hehir kicked the opener for the already-eliminated Ennis school before Roco began to show their teeth. Joe Mouret cut inside for the leveller. 

Callum Griffin won a Flannan’s kick-out to lay on Corkery-Delaney’s first. Then, McGrath’s fierce shot was palmed over by Cian McAllister.

Flannan’s had a half chance of their own, with James O’Flaherty comfortably handling John Barry’s effort. 

They were soon level with points from an Eoin O’Connor free and David Loftus.

Corkery-Delaney pointed before striking a major blow to Flannan’s morale. Ronan Sweeney played a one-two with McGrath and rounded the keeper, who unceremoniously hauled him down. 

Johnny Murphy signalled for a penalty, which Corkery-Delaney clinically tucked away.

O’Flaherty did well to tip over a Seán O’Callaghan strike before Roco struck for their second goal in the 21st minute. Mouret and Jack O’Brien were involved before Corkery-Delaney rifled to the roof of the net.

O’Brien came close to one of his own, but McAllister scrambled across to save the deflected shot. 

They tagged on the final three points of the half through Corkery-Delaney, McGrath, and Mark O’Brien for a 2-7 to 0-4 lead.

Danny Lyne converted two frees on the resumption, but two standout blocks by James Gordon prevented Flannan’s from gaining any momentum.

Roco then reeled off eight unanswered points across the subsequent 12 minutes. 

Mark O’Brien slotted one before corner-back Diarmuid O’Donoghue surged forward to score. The increasingly prominent McGrath then accounted for five points in a row, including the game’s only two-pointer.

Corkery-Delaney added one after his hat-trick attempt was saved by McAllister. 

The Flannan’s goalie also denied Jack O’Brien for a second time.

Roco manager Liam Sheehan used the remainder to get game time into his bench, while Flannan’s sub Damien Guilfoyle kicked a fine score. 

Mark O’Brien’s skyscraper accounted for his third point before Flannan’s finished with a pair from Hehir and Lyne.

Scorers for St Francis College: B Corkery-Delaney (2-4, 1-0 penalty); P McGrath (0-7, 1tp); M O’Brien (0-3); D O’Donoghue, J Mouret (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Flannan’s: D Lyne (0-3, 3 frees); T Hehir (0-2); D Loftus, E O’Connor (free), S O’Callaghan, D Guilfoyle (0-1 each).

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

Subs: A Kelly (Douglas) for O’Neill (37), D O’Mahony (Tracton) for Sweeney (45), R McCormick (Cobh) for Griffin (45), D McClafferty (St Michael’s) for Mouret (49), K Kavanagh (Douglas) for J O’Brien (49).

ST FLANNAN’S COLLEGE: C McAllister (Clondegad); S Cassidy (Clooney-Quin), A O’Connell (Éire Óg Ennis), D O’Donovan (Clooney-Quin); J Murphy (Lissycasey), J Barry (Ennistymon), K Doyle (Éire Óg Ennis); D Loftus (Éire Óg Ennis), D Lyne (Éire Óg Ennis); T Moore (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield), L Keane (Lissycasey), D Monaghan (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield); T Hehir (Clondegad), E O’Connor (Ballyea), S O’Callaghan (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield).

Subs: L Talty (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield) for Monaghan (36), D Guilfoyle (Clooney-Quin) for Keane (41), J Kelly (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield) for O’Callaghan (41), O Murphy (Lissycasey) for Doyle (46).

Referee: J Murphy (Limerick).