Clonakilty Community College bowed out of the Corn Ui Mhuiri with their heads held high in Knocknagree on Saturday afternoon.
Clonakilty CC 0-6
PS Chorca Dhuibhne 0-12
BY KIERAN McCARTHY
CLONAKILTY Community College bowed out of the Corn Uí Mhuirí with their heads held high in Knocknagree on Saturday afternoon.
While the final scoreline doesn’t do justice to the efforts of the West Cork school, Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne – reigning Munster and All-Ireland champions – were the better side in this semi-final and finished very strongly to seal their provincial final place against Rochestown, who surprised St Brendan’s College in the other last-four clash.
Early scores from Sean McEvoy (Clon’s only score from play) and Darren Santry saw Clonakilty CC lead 0-2 to 0-0 after seven minutes and while they ended up trailing 0-5 to 0-4 by the break, they had their chances to be in front at half time.
Instead, Chorca Dhuibhne had their noses in front thanks to scores from excellent midfielder Seán Ó Gairbhi (2), Máirtín Ó Gormáin, Conchúir Ó Géibheannaigh and Seamus Ó Muircheartaigh.
Frees from David Lowney and Santry completed Clonakilty’s first half scoring, as they really asked questions of PS Chorca Dhuibhne, with Dylan Scannell a real danger in attack, while the midfield pairing of Mark White and Sean Ryan were also prominent.
The Kerry school always led in the second half but even after scores from Conchúir Ó Géibheannaigh (free) and Seamus Ó Muircheartaigh pushed them 0-7 to 0-4 clear, back came Clon with two Santry frees to leave it a one-point game entering the final quarter.
Try as they might, Clonakilty CC couldn’t work the openings they needed to shock the champions and it was Chorca Dhuibhne that finished on top, rattling off five late points to confirm their place in the Corn Uí Mhuirí final. Ó Muircheartaigh, Liam Ó Brosnacháin, PJ MacLáimh, Ó Géibheannaigh and Seán Ó Gairbhi were all on target.
See Thursday’s Southern Star for a detailed match report, reaction and analysis.
