Corn Uí Mhuirí: St Francis College Rochestown well beaten in semi-final by Tralee CBS
Diarmuid O'Donoghue, St. Francis College, tries to tackle Tom Quilter, Tralee CBS during their Corn Uí Mhuirí semi final at Cill na Martra. Picture: Jim Coughlan.
It was always going to be a stiff assignment for St Francis College Rochestown. Even so, they will leave Cill na Martra knowing they left far too much behind them in this Corn Uí Mhuirí semi-final defeat to competition favourites Tralee CBS.
On a wet afternoon in Cill na Martra on Saturday, Roco had been competitive for the first 10 or so minutes, showing real spark and intent in possession. Joe Mouret was tagging danger man Gearoid White, and their shape held.
But one move from the Green had the Kerry school through and in on goal. As soon as Ryan Hurley wheeled away in celebration in the 14th minute, something switched. The margin may only have been three, but Roco were rocked and would not recover.
All of a sudden, Tralee were in command of every facet of the game. Possession, chances, kickouts, Rochestown were pinned in and barely able to venture beyond their own 45.
When they did, turnovers, misplaced passes – usually picked up by Tralee defenders Michael Enright and Eoin Moriarity – left them with nothing.
By the time the game’s only goal went in, it was 1-4 to 0-4. Rochestown would not score again until the 41st minute. By then, after a point from Dara O’Sullivan, they trailed 1-13 to 0-5. They would manage two more points before conclusion, Mouret setting up Padraig McGrath and O’Sullivan adding another free, but the game had long been decided.
Roco started well, a two-pointer from Padraig McGrath getting them off the mark after 25 seconds, but Tralee CBS would have it turned around by the fifth minute to go 0-3 to 0-2 ahead.
It was 0-4 apiece when Ronan Carroll slipped Ryan Hurley through on goal just before the end of the first quarter, and the move was such that the outcome was never in doubt. He dispatched cleanly beyond James O’Flaherty to nudge Tralee three in front.
The Green would seize control from there, the outstanding Carroll adding two frees, before then registering two assists – setting up White for his third from play and Nick Lacey for a white flag.
Centre-back Eoin O’Flaherty – impressive throughout – would also get in on the scoring for the Kerry school, while a couple of outstanding saves from Roco goalkeeper James O’Flaherty was all that kept it respectable at the break.
The Tralee CBS lead was eight at half time, but they had registered 21 shots to just four from St Francis College.
The second half brought that same one way traffic, albeit with Tralee less accurate in front of the posts. They managed 0-6 in the latter act to Roco’s 0-3, Carroll again sublime in everything he did, while joint captain Máirtín McKivergan nailed a 45 to cap off a good shift in midfield.
They would finish with just 16 converted attempts from 38, evidence that there remains room for improvement ahead of the final.
But Cork’s Corn Uí Mhuirí drought will continue, and so too will Roco’s.
R Carroll 0-5 (0-3 f), N Lacey, G White 0-3 each, R Hurley 1-0, M McKivergan (45), E O’Flaherty, D Murphy, M Corridon 0-1 each.
P McGrath 0-4 (1 tp), D O’Sullivan 0-3 (0-1 f).
O Lata; M Enright, E Moriarty, S Turner; F Ryan (jc), E O’Flaherty, M Corridon; M McKivergan (jc), C McKenna; T O’Connor, R Carroll, T Quilter; R Hurley, G White, N Lacey.
C Hurley for O’Connor (35), D Murphy for R Hurley, T Ó Slatara for Enright (both 48), S Hickey for Quilter (58), J Power for Ryan (60).
J O’Flaherty (Douglas); C Lowney (Tracton), J Mouret (Douglas), D O’Donoghue (Douglas); C Griffin (Passage West), L Kelleher (Douglas), E Cummins (Cobh); L Collins (Ballygarvan), D O’Connor (Douglas); R Sweeney (Douglas), M O’Brien (Douglas), J O’Brien (Douglas); P McGrath (Douglas), B Corkery-Delaney (Carrigaline), D O’Sullivan (Nemo Rangers) (c).
O O’Donovan (Passage West) for Sweeney, D McClafferty (St Michael’s) for Collins (both HT), J Gordon (Douglas) for Cummins, A Kelly (Douglas) for O’Connor (both 53).
G Twomey (Clare)
App?
