A report from Tralee CBS on the Munster U18½ Corn Uí Mhuirí Group Game 3 in Rathmore on Wednesday…
Tralee CBS 1-10
Colaiste Cholim 0-4
Tralee CBS advanced the quarter-final of the Corn Uí Mhuirí with an accomplished display in Rathmore in which they led from start to finish and conceded only one point in the second half.
From the outset, The Green looked in the mood and had racked up 1-3 inside the first ten minutes without reply from the Cork side.
The outstanding Michael Kelliher netted on five, following a turnover in the Ballincollig defence and with the physical Joseph O’Connor and flying Tomas O’Connor dominant in midfield, three additional points were added from big full forward Gearoid Fitzgerald, Kelliher again and the roving David Fitzmaurice to put the Tralee side into the ascendency.
Continued below…
Kerry All-Ireland medallist Kieran Dwyer was having an imperious game at centre back and he, aided by the flying John Walsh at wing back, was putting the Cork boys on the back foot throughout the first half.
A brilliant double save from Shane Foley on 20 minutes kept the scoreline favourable and points were traded for the remainder of the half – two frees, one from Eoin Greaney – to put the Tralee boys in a commanding 1-7 to 0-3 at the break.
The second half was a turgid affair with sporadic violence breaking out throughout as referee Mike Hickey, the solitary official, struggled to keep a lid on it.
Continued below…
The Green full back line of the tenacious Brandon Patterson, the energetic Tommy Lynch and the tight marking Jack Myers held firm throughout and a further concession of only point is testament to this.
Churchill trio Austin Clifford, Sean Donnellan and substitute Jason Mortimer were instrumental in keeping the gap at least six throughout the half.
Michael Hoare was brought in late on and points apiece from Walsh and Tomas O’Connor and a pointed free from Tom Hoare sufficed for an impressive ten point win.
The Green advance then to the quarter-final in top place by virtue of a superior score difference over Rochestown College who also finished on five points.
Interestingly, this results in the only possible opponent for The Green in the quarter finals in January being a Kerry team with Intermediate School Killorglin, Mercy Mounthawk and Pobail Scoil Corca Dhuibhne all finishing second in their respective groups.
Team
1 Shane Foley (Keirns ORahillys)
2 Brandon Patterson (Austin Stacks)
3 Tommy Lynch (St Pats, Blennerville)
4 Jack Myers (John Mitchels)
5 John Walsh (Knocknagoshel) (0-2)
6 Kieran Dwyer(St Pats, Blennerville)
7 Austin Clifford (Churchill)
8 Tomas O’Connor (Ballymac) (0-1)
9 Joseph O’Connor (Austin Stacks)
10 Sean Donnellan (Churchill)
11 Tom Hoare (Keirns ORahillys)(0-2, 1f)
12 David Fitzmaurice (Austin Stacks)(0-1)
13 Eoin Greaney (St Pats, Blennerville)(0-1)
14 Gearoid Fitzgerald (Austin Stacks)(0-1)
15 Michael Kelliher (John Mitchels)(1-2, 2f)
Subs Used
Jason Mortimer (Churchill) 40mins
Michael Hoare (Ballymac) 52mins
Subs not Used
Aaron Roche (Keirns ORahillys)
Josh OKeeffe (Ballymac)
David Couchman (Austin Stacks)
Michael Scanlon (Castlegregory)
Cillian ORiordan (St Pats, Blennerville)
Dylan Burns (Na Gaeil)
Sean Hamilton (Churchill)