Corn Uí Mhuirí: Ben Corkery-Delaney stars as Rochestown overpower Mount St Michael

St Francis College Rochestown: 2-23 (2-3-17) 

Mount St Michael Rosscarbery: 1-8 (1-3-2) 

Another win for St Francis College Rochestown after proving too strong for a youthful Mount St Michael Rosscarbery in the Corn Uí Mhuirí at Bishopstown’s 4G on Tuesday afternoon.

Rochestown were comfortable winners throughout and rarely looked troubled as they built up a sizeable lead before half-time. 

With a number of county players leading the way, they controlled possession, used the conditions intelligently and never allowed Mount St Michael to gain any sustained foothold in the contest.

The city school now have four points in Group 1 following this all-Cork Round 2 encounter, with Liam Sheehan’s side on the brink of qualification ahead of Hamilton High School Bandon’s game with Intermediate School Killorglin on Wednesday.

Rochestown were totally superior in every aspect of the game as they won by 18 points in the end. They had the wind in the first half and made the most of it.

Cork U20 player Ben Corkery-Delaney landed three orange flags as he finished with 1-14 over the course of the hour.

Newly promoted Mount St Michael, after winning the Senior B title last season, suffered a second defeat on the trot.

After a brave performance on the first day out against Hammies, they were well beaten here, albeit against a much stronger side.

The difficult weather conditions, with heavy rain throughout, didn’t deter Rochestown. They roared into an 0-8 to 0-1 lead after 15 minutes, with Liam Collins very effective in midfield.

Joe McCarthy then pointed a superb score for Mount St Michael, but even at this stage the outcome was always likely to go one way.

A second Corkery-Delaney orange flag was followed by 1-1 without reply from the Carrigaline man, with his goal expertly taken.

Tomás Reddington further enhanced his side’s lead before Corkery-Delaney’s third two-pointer gave Rochestown a 1-14 to 0-2 cushion at half-time.

The city outfit were against the wind in the second half, but they were very smart on the ball and composed. They hit 1-2 without response in a matter of minutes on the restart, with Collins raising the green flag.

Cork minor Luke O’Neill did kick a two-pointer for Mount St Michael and, to their credit, they never gave up.

Corkery-Delaney pointed before Joe O’Donovan got his team’s second orange flag, making it 2-17 to 0-6 after 41 minutes.

Rochestown pushed on again, landing four points on the bounce.

O’Donovan got his second orange flag, followed by a well-taken goal into the corner of the net by McCarthy, making it 2-21 to 1-8 with six minutes to go.

Rochestown finished off the scoring with substitute Ryan Sheehy and Collins getting the final scores.

Scorers for St Francis College Rochestown: B Corkery-Delaney 1-14 (3 2pt, 0-2 f, 0-1 45), L Collins 1-3, C McAuliffe, H McTernan, T Reddington, D Lynch, I Butler, R Sheehy 0-1 each.

Mount St Michael Rosscarbery: J O’Donovan 0-4 (2 2pt), J McCarthy 1-1, L O’Neill 0-3 (1 2pt, 0-1 f).

ST FRANCIS COLLEGE ROCHESTOWN: A McEvoy (St Michael's); C Dooley (Douglas), D Geary (Nemo Rangers), S Whyte (Passage West); C McAuliffe (Douglas), S O'Flynn (Shamrocks), J Dollard Young (Douglas); L Collins (Ballygarvan), R McCarthy (Douglas); H McTernan (St Finbarr’s), T Reddington (Douglas), S Linehan (Douglas); D Lynch (Nemo Rangers), B Corkery-Delaney (Carrigaline), R Denn (Nemo Rangers).

Subs: I Butler (Douglas) for C McAuliffe (19, inj), C McCarthy (Douglas) for D Lynch, R O’Grady (St Michael’s) for J Dollard Young (both 42), L Mackesy (St Michael’s) for S Whyte (46), R Sheehy (Nemo Rangers) for R Denn (50).

MOUNT ST MICHAEL ROSSCARBERY: C Campbell (Carbery Rangers); J Coakley (Clann na nGael), C Ó Donnabháin (Carbery Rangers), F Winkleman (St James'); D O'Brien (St James'), S Murphy (Carbery Rangers), M McCarthy (Carbery Rangers); M Kinsella (Kilmacabea), O O'Donovan (Kilmacabea); K Duffy (Carbery Rangers), C O'Loughlin (St James'), J McCarthy (Kilmacabea); J O'Donovan (Kilmacabea), L O'Neill (Carbery Rangers), K Fitzpatrick (Carbery Rangers).

Subs: I Crowley (Carbery Rangers) for C Ó Donnabháin (23, inj), L Crowley (Carbery Rangers) for K Fitzpatrick (48), S McMahon (Carbery Rangers) for D O’Brien (51).

Referee: Brian Coniry (Crosshaven).