Sem rally to see off St Flannans

CORN UÍ MHUIRÍ QUARTER-FINAL St Brendans 0-14 St Flannans 1-10

CLARE Under 20 Mark McInerney set up Killian O’Connor for a Flannans goal with the very first attack.

Emmet O’Shea pulled back a free and Ryabn O’Grady picked off a free but Dara Nagle (f) and Conor Hegarty made it 1-2 to 0-2. The excellent Harry Buckley pointed for the Sem, but Flannans made it 1-8 to 0-3, Mark McInerney (0-3, 1f), Diarmuid Cahill (two) and Dara Nagle (a free) on target.

In fact, it could have been much worse, with Flannas leaving good chances behind them. A hard-working Dylan O’Callaghan did have the final score of the half, but the Sem trailed by 1-8 to 0-4 at their campaign looked done and dusted.

The second half was a complete turnaround. The Sem had the wind, and more importantly a tricky sun, at their backs. They also showed their hunger and experience, off-loading the ball much faster instead of charging into tackles against a physically strong Flannans outfit.

William Shine and Harry Buckley quickly trimmed the gap. Flannans Diarmuid Cahill had two lacklustre efforts well saved before Padraic Looney made it 1-8 to 0-7. The Sem had four wides on the trot but totally dominated midfield, with Jason Kerins making a huge difference.

Eoghan O’Sullivan’s super kick left just a goal between them and Ryan O’Grady (3, 2f) soon nullified that. The outstanding McInerney won and converted a free to nudge his side back in front, their first score of the half, but it didn’t turn the tide.

Emmet O’Shea (f) equalised and Ryan

O’Grady (2, 1f) sent two more arrows straight over the bar. McInerney did manage to pull one back. With Flannans’ last attack, Cian Galvin was lining up an equaliser, but Mark Cooper dived full length to block that last trace of danger and the Sem were through in dramatic circumstances.

ST BRENDANS: Eoin Moynihan, Ruairi Doyle, Mark Cooper, Neil O’Shea, Thomas Holohan, Evan Looney, Cian O’Leary, Eoghan O’Sullivan (0-1), Padraic Looney (0-1), Tom Doyle, Ryan O’Grady (0-6, 3f), Harry Buckley (0-2), William Shine (0-1), Dylan O’Callaghan (0-1), Emmet O’Shea (0-2, 2f) Subs: Jason Kerins for C O’Leary, 22, Terry Sparling for T Holohan, 25, Philip O’Leary for H Buckley, 60