Two big Kerry wins

VERY nearly a great comeback win for Intermediate School Killorglin in Fitzgerald Stadium last Friday lunchtime but two goals for their opponents Rochestown as well as a saved penalty were the key factors in this Taft Cup Final (Munster U-15½) in Fitzgerald Stadium. Jack Cunningham gave Rochestown the ideal start with a goal inside the opening minute and although Gearóid Hassett responded with a point at the other end, Killorglin would trail by 1-3 to 0-1 after 11 minutes.

They regrouped however with points from Jack O’Sullivan, Conor Spillane and Stephen Palmer bringing them back to trial by three points at the break, 1-7 to 0-7 the score in Rochestown’s favour. Only for two good saves early in the second period by Killorglin goalkeeper Cillian Foley, Rochestown might have pulled away more. However, even when Bryan Hayes put Rochestown 2-9 to 0-9 ahead after 42 minutes, Killorglin did not wilt. A black card for Rochestown’s Ben Murphy gave them some encouragement as they whittled the deficit down to two points with 10 minutes left, 2-10 to 0-14.

The momentum appeared to be with them as O’Sullivan, Hassett and Palmer were amongst those scores, but the closing moments would ultimately go Rochestown’s way. A decision to take a scoreable free short (subsequently cleared) as well as Rochestown goalkeeper Daniel Walsh saving a 55th minute penalty from Jack O’Sullivan were Killorglin’s undoing however. Harry Nevin’s fourth point would prove to be the insurance score for Rochestown in claiming a three-point win.

Killorglin will wonder what might have been had matters gone their way late on but trailing for the whole game eventually caught up with them.

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL KILLORGLIN: Cillian Foley (Laune Rangers); Cian Lyons (Cromane), Eoin Lynch (Laune Rangers), Conall O’Mahony (Firies); Tom Whittleton (Laune Rangers), Ciaran O’Sullivan (do), Killian Spillane (do); Sean Dineen (Fossa), Conor Spillane (Milltown/Castlemaine, 0-2); Charlie Foley (Cromane), Eoghan Hassett (Laune Rangers, 0-3), Darragh O’Grady (do, 0-1); James Horgan (Firies), Jack O’Sullivan (Laune Rangers, 0-5, 5f), Stephen Palmer (Firies, 0-3). Subs: Marc O’Sullivan (Beaufort) for Lyons and Colm O’Shea (Firies) for O’Grady.

ST FRANCIS COLLEGE: Daniel Walsh; David Buckley, Shane Tobin, Barry Kelliher; Fionán Leahy, Ben Murphy, Cian Buckley; Kevin Lyons, Mark Murray (0-1); Jack Cunningham (1-2), Harry Nevin (0-4), Evan O’Connor (0-1); Adrien Thibaut, Bryan Hayes (1-0), William Buckley (0-3, 2f). Subs: Evan Collins for Murphy (black card) and Derry Howard for Hayes

REFEREE: Michael Meade (Limerick)

Jason O’Connor

TWO heavy Kerry victories and a loss for Tralee CBS on their first outing in the campaign were the order of last Wednesday’s Corn Uí Mhuirí action as Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne all but secured their place in the knock-out stages.

A twenty five-point success over De La Salle Macroom in Lewis Road was another big statement as two goals in the space of a minute from Cathal Ó Beaglaoich and Deividas Uosis gave them a 2-8 to 0-2 lead after the first quarter before Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich and Dylan Ó Géibheannaigh found the net to make it a striking 4-12 to 0-2 at half-time.

A James O’Mullane goal was poor consolation for Macroom as Cillian Ó Failbhe scored Pobalscoil’s fifth goal in a 5-17 to 1-4 success that saw Colm Ó Muircheartaigh feature after missing out on the win over Skibbereen.

In Group D, meanwhile, Mercy Mounthawk Tralee put six goals passed an Intermediate School Killorglin side that failed to cope with the difficult conditions in Currans. Mounthawk led by 3-2 to 0-0 after barely seven minutes as Padraig Buckley, Michael O’Gara and Shane McCarthy rattled the net for Mounthawk.

Their lead at half-time was 3-6 to 0-2 and despite Killorglin appearing to have the aid of the elements in the second period, Buckley scored a further two goals and O’Gara scored a second for himself in a 6-13 to 0-9 win as Matthew Leslie was one of the few for Killorglin who stood out in the absence of both Dara Casey and David Mangan.

Keith Suter impressed for Mounthawk who await St Brendan’s match with Clonakilty, which had to be called off after the inclement weather.

That will form part of the scenario for Mounthawk in facing the Killarney School in Round Three. Tralee CBS face a winner-takes-all clash with Colaiste Chriost Rí after they lost to a strong St Francis College Rochestown effort.

The Cork school led by 0-7 to 0-4 at half-time with Tralee’s first score coming after seventeen minutes through Jordan Kissane with goalkeeper Devon Burns needing to make some big saves to keep The Green in with a chance.

Tralee did have some hope of a turnaround trailing by 0-10 to 0-7 on the three-quarter mark but a missed goal chance from Darragh Reen was saved by Rochestown goalkeeper Max Whyte with Conor Russell raising a green flag at the other end in a 1-13 to 0-8 win for the Cork School.

In the B competition holders Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine Kenmare were 2-8 to 0-5 winners over Presentation Milltown in Currans with the other all Kerry quarter-final between Colaiste Na Sceilge and SPSL Rathmore due to take place today (Wednesday).

Causeway Comprehensive School conceded a walkover to St Josephs, Ballybunion in the ‘C’ competition as Castleisland Community School were well beaten in the D Competition by SN Baile Mhuire, 6-13 to 2-2.