Corn Uí Mhuirí: Clonakilty edge opening-day battle with St Flannan’s

Clonakilty Community College: 1-16 (1-3-10) 

St Flannan’s College, Ennis: 2-11 (2-1-9) 

A positive start to the new Corn Uí Mhuirí season for Clonakilty Community College as they held on to defeat St Flannan’s College, Ennis, in a cold Banteer on Monday afternoon.

Micheál Haulie O’Sullivan’s charges, who reached the quarter-finals last season, won this Group 2 Round 1 game by two points after hanging on in the closing stages.

They had led by nine points after weathering a storm from their opponents, despite the loss of Mike Collins for a short spell to a black card after 43 minutes.

However, a late rally from the Clare side came too late as Clonakilty held on. They made hard work of it at times, but a win is a win.

Clonakilty face a tough challenge next time out against St Brendan’s College, Killarney. They will have to improve for that test, but at least they have two points on the board.

Clonakilty burst out of the traps with points from Riley O’Donovan and James Maguire, followed by a Fionn O’Donovan two-pointer.

However, St Flannan’s were winning the breaking ball around midfield and put together three unanswered white flags. A Liam Keane free was the pick of their scores as Clon led 0-4 to 0-3 after 15 minutes.

Clonakilty remained ahead, but only just, with nine minutes remaining in the half, 0-6 to 0-5.

Tom Whooley and another Maguire effort accounted for the Clonakilty scores.

The West Cork outfit added two further points through Riley O’Donovan and Maguire, but there was only a point between the sides at half-time after Eoin O’Connor clipped over a two-pointer, 0-8 to 0-7.

Clonakilty made a positive start to the second half when Joe Twomey raised an orange flag after Mike Collins did well in the build-up.

There was much more aggression from the West Cork side in the second half.

Tom Whooley extended the gap to four points and they were now on top in every area.

An Eric Hicks effort and a Rory Twohig free gave Clonakilty a 0-13 to 0-7 lead after 37 minutes.

A Twohig two-point free handed his side a comfortable cushion, but a Cormac Moloney score gave St Flannan’s hope.

Mike Collins then picked up a black card after 43 minutes as Clonakilty were reduced to 14 men for ten minutes.

Two quick-fire points from St Flannan’s left them trailing 0-15 to 0-10 after 50 minutes.

Howard O’Donovan pointed before a cracking Whooley goal left Clonakilty with a vice-like grip on proceedings at 1-16 to 0-10 as Collins returned to the field.

They wouldn’t score again in the closing stages, though, as their opponents rallied, even if it was too little, too late.

Graham Ball poked home from close range after Clonakilty failed to clear their lines and then a 45 from goalkeeper Cian McAllister made things interesting.

St Flannan’s had half-goal chances in injury time, but they did get their second goal when Colm Daly finished to the net to leave just two points in it.

There was to be no further action, however, with referee Jerry Kelleher blowing for full-time from the resulting kick-out.

Scorers for Clonakilty Community College: T Whooley 1-2, R Twohig (1 2pt f, 0-1 f), J Maguire 0-3 each, J Twomey (1 2pt), F O’Donovan (1 2pt), R O’Donovan 0-2 each, H O’Donovan, E Hicks 0-1 each.

St Flannan’s College, Ennis: C Daly 1-1, G Ball 1-0, L Keane (0-1 f), C McAllister (0-1 f, 0-1 45), D Mahon, E O’Connor (1 2pt), J Moloney 0-2 each.

CLONAKILTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE: R Twohig (Kilmeen); P Haughney (St James’), H O’Donovan (Kilmeen), E Minihan (Clonakilty); C Murphy (Ibane Gaels), A McCarthy (Ballinascarthy), F O’Donovan (Clonakilty); M Collins (Ibane Gaels), É Déiseach (Clonakilty): J Byerley (Clonakilty), R O’Donovan (Ibane Gaels), J Twomey (Ballinascarthy); T Whooley (Clonakilty), J Maguire (Castlehaven), E Hicks (Carbery Rangers).

Subs: T O’Brien (Kilmeen) for E Hicks (45), F McCarthy (Ballinascarthy) for P Haughney (54), E Whelton (St James’) for J Twomey, C Dooley (St James’) for A McCarthy (both 59).

ST FLANNAN’S COLLEGE, ENNIS: C McAllister; D O’Donovan, M Kennedy, S Meere; D Fahy, J Moloney, C Price; C Daly, L Keane; T Hehir, G Ball, TJ Moore; S Kelly, D Mahon, E O’Connor.

Subs: S O’Neill for S Kelly (40).

Referee: Jerry Kelleher (St John’s).