Dean Ryan Cup: Coláiste Choilm too sharp as Ballincollig side see off CBC challenge

Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig: 1-24 

Christian Brothers College: 0-15 

Coláiste Choilm, Ballincollig proved too strong for Christian Brothers College in the opening round of the Dean Ryan Cup at Glen Rovers on Monday afternoon.

The Muskerry school ran out 12‑point winners, having led by just two at the interval. It was an all‑round slick performance from the Ballincollig outfit, who eliminated a Christian Brothers College side that reached last year’s final.

Coláiste Choilm led from pillar to post, even if the opening half was competitive. Cayden Murphy excelled in defence, producing a crucial goal‑saving intervention early in the second half. Fionn Murphy was rock solid at centre‑back, while Billy Mehigan, Darragh O’Driscoll and Donagh Conway were prominent in attack.

Faolán O’Leary was the standout performer for Christian Brothers College, but they managed only five points after the break.

Coláiste Choilm started brightly with points from Mehigan and Conway. O’Leary replied for CBC, but the Ballincollig side held the upper hand. They led 0-7 to 0-3 after the first quarter, with Darragh O’Driscoll influential.

Two O’Leary points — one from a free — and a Henry Hourihan effort cut the gap to one, but Coláiste Choilm responded with three points of their own, Alex O’Driscoll’s the pick of them, to lead 0-10 to 0-6 after 25 minutes.

The sides traded four points before an O’Leary free and a fine Ollie O’Brien score left CBC trailing 0-12 to 0-10 at half-time.

Hourihan pointed on the resumption, but Conway, Darragh O’Driscoll and Mehigan pushed Coláiste Choilm four clear. The sides then exchanged scores as CBC went 14 minutes without registering, during which time Coláiste Choilm hit six unanswered points — Charlie Hannigan’s long‑range effort the score of the match.

Conway had a goal chance during that spell, but his shot was saved by CBC goalkeeper Donnacha Hickey.

An O’Leary free reduced the margin to nine, but any remaining hope evaporated when the excellent Mehigan struck 1-1 in quick succession, his goal rifled into the roof of the net to make it 1-23 to 0-13 after 54 minutes.

Substitute Cuan Connaughton added the final Coláiste Choilm point. CBC landed the last two scores, but the outcome was long settled — job done for the Ballincollig school.

Scorers for Coláiste Choilm: D O’Driscoll 0-10 (0-5 f, 0-1 65), B Mehigan 1-4, D Conway, R Madden, A O’Driscoll 0-2 each, C Hannigan, F Murphy, G O’Keeffe, C Connaughton 0-1 each.

Christian Brothers College: F O’Leary 0-8 (0-5 f), H Hourihan 0-3, O O’Brien, Z Creamer, H Browne, E Cronin 0-1 each.

COLÁISTE CHOILM: J Lynch (Blarney); Cayden Murphy (Ballincollig), M Delea (Blarney), C Hannigan (Ballincollig); J O’Sullivan (Ballincollig), F Murphy (Ballinora), Conor Murphy (Éire Óg); G O’Keeffe (Valley Rovers), E Stack (Ballincollig); A O’Driscoll (Ballincollig), B Mehigan (Ballinora), D O’Driscoll (Cloughduv); R Madden (Cloughduv), D Conway (Ballinora), T Lehane (Cloughduv).

Subs: C Connaughton (Ballincollig) for T Lehane (38), M McSweeney (Ballinhassig) for A O’Driscoll, J O’Riordan (Ballinora) for Conor Murphy (both 54), P Kelly (Ballinora) for J O’Sullivan, O Power (Ballincollig) for R Madden (both 58).

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS COLLEGE: D Hickey (Glen Rovers); R O’Sullivan (Ballinora), M O’Connor (Midleton), M Finnegan (Glen Rovers); C Barry (Douglas), K Geary (Glen Rovers), B O’Brien (Carrigtwohill); O O’Brien (Whitechurch), F Brady (Passage); C McDonnell (Brian Dillon’s), A Kirwan (Blackrock), H Hourihan (Kilshannig); Z Creamer (Glen Rovers), W Twomey (Ballincollig), F O’Leary (Ballincollig).

Subs: H Browne (Brian Dillon’s) for W Twomey (33), R Davis (Sarsfields) for Z Creamer (36), C McSweeney (Glen Rovers) for O O’Brien (40), T Slattery (Bishopstown) for C Barry (45), E Cronin (Douglas) for A Kirwan (48).

Referee: Brian Coniry (Crosshaven).