St Brendans ease past Clonakilty

St Brendans College 2-11 Clonakilty College 0-8

A LOT closer than the Group Stage meeting between the sides prior to Christmas but Gary McGrath was happy with how his side came through the examination in Cill Na Martra last Saturday.

“Clonakilty had a very effective gameplan that took time for us to break down and adapt to, but we were happy with the lads in how they coped in general. Our goals were well time in coming just before half-time as well as just after in giving us control on the scoreboard,” the St Brendans manager said.

All-Ireland Minor captain Paul O’Shea added to his reputation by scoring both St Brendans goals as McGrath was very happy with their defence not giving their opponents any real opportunity at goal in a nine-point win. O’Shea’s first goal gave them a 1-5 to 0-4 lead as Patrick D’Arcy did the work in the build-up to his second. The Sem were able to pick off the scores after to keep their opposition well at bay as McGrath looks forward to another meeting with Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne in the decider.

“I think both of us have made it there on merit, I have said it before that what Corcha Dhuibhne have achieved for a school their size is amazing. We will be the underdogs going into it, a new position for us for sure but we look forward to preparing for three weeks’ time now.” ST BRENDAN’S COLLEGE: Marc Kelliher; Peter O’Sullivan, Terry Sparling, Mark Cooper; Evan Smith (0-1), Gary Vaughan, Ruairí Doyle; Michael Lenihan, Darragh Lyne (0-1); Eoghan O’Sullivan (0-1), Paul O’Shea (2-0), Emmet Finnan (0-1), Ryan O’Grady (0-4, 2f), Emmet O’Shea (0-2), Patrick D’Arcy (0-1). Subs: Evan Looney for Smith, Darragh Donohoe for Finnan, Dara Fleming for Emmet O’Shea, Harry Potts for O’Sullivan, Cian O’Leary for Sparling.