Rochestown and Clonakilty find out their Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-final opponents

The two Cork teams remaining in the Corn Uí Mhuirí have found out their quarter-final opponents following the draw on Monday afternoon.

St Francis College Rochestown and Clonakilty Community College are flying the Rebel flag having started with six teams from Cork at the start of the famous competition.

Liam Sheehan’s Rochestown outfit will take on Intermediate School Killorglin after Christmas.

Clonakilty will face High School Clonmel in another quarter-final tie.

If the Cork teams are successful in their respective games, they will avoid each other in the semi-final.

If Rochestown were to beat Intermediate School Killorglin, they would end up meeting either St Brendan’s College Killarney or Tralee CBS with Clonakilty locking horns with either Presentation Secondary School Milltown or St Patrick’s Secondary School Castleisland.

Rochestown have been the closest to ending Kerry’s stranglehold on this competition over the last decade or so having lost deciders in 2015 and 2023.

It’s well documented at this stage Cork’s struggles in the Corn Uí Mhuirí. Coláiste Chríost Rí were the last team from Leeside to lift the trophy in 2011.

De La Salle College Macroom have also tasted defeat at the final hurdle since 2011 when the Muskerry outfit lost the 2012 and 2014 deciders.

The two Cork teams remaining will believe that they will have a chance of progressing very deep into the competition. Both Rochestown and Clonakilty have fared quite well to date.

It’s not just the victories, which are obviously the priority, but it’s also the manner of the performances that have been eye-catching.

Rochestown finished up with five points in Group 1. They drew first day out with Pobalscoil Inbhear Scéine Kenmare before victories over High School Clonmel and St Flannan’s College Ennis.

Clonakilty have arguably been the team of the campaign so far. There’s great momentum down there, winning their three Group 4 matches against St Brendan’s College Killarney, Skibbereen Community School and Coláiste Choilm.

They lifted the Simcox Cup title for the first time last Friday after victory over Coláiste Choilm in the final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The U17 side are in the Frewen Cup final on Wednesday against David Clifford’s St Brendan’s College Killarney in Banteer at 1pm.