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A report from Tralee CBS on the Munster Under 18½ Corn Uí Mhuiri Semi-final yesterday in Mallow…
Tralee CBS 1-18
Colaiste Críost Rí 1-18 (AET)
Tralee CBS and Colaiste Críost Rí will have to do it all again as they could not be separated after extra time following an epic semi-final that epitomised everything good about college football.
In a topsy-turvy game, both sides see-sawed through periods of control with the resilience of both sides resulting in the deadlock that will see them lock horns again next Saturday at the same venue.
The Green made one change to their quarter-final side with Michael Scanlon coming in at half back and they raced into an early 0-3 to 0-1 lead with the excellent Tom Hoare with one and the high fielding full forward Gearoid Fitzgerald with two.
Continued below…
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Críost Rí were always dangerous however and with the aid of a slight breeze they kicked some marvellous scores to lead 0-8 to 0-5 at half time, with the outstanding Michael Kelleher and another from Hoare keeping the Green in touch.
Into the second half and two early Críost Rí scores put the margin dangerously at five.
Tommy Lynch, Kieran Dwyer, Brandon Patterson and Jack Myers epitomised the resolve of this Green team however as they continuously stemmed the tide and launched the platform for a remarkable comeback.
Spurred on by the energetic Sean Donnelley, a period of total dominance resulted in 1-7 without reply for a resurgent CBS, with two from Kelleher, and one each from Fitzgerald, Tomas O’Connor, John Walsh, sub Jason Mortimer, Hoare and 1-1 from Scanlon from half back.
Five points up with eight left and a final spot looked assured but Shane Foley was beaten for the only time on 53 minutes and two more points at the death brought the game to extra time.
The Green once again took the ascendancy during the extra period as Joseph O’Connor and Tomas O’Connor got a stranglehold at midfield resulting in four unanswered points with two from Kelleher and one each for Tomas O’Connor and another from Fitzgerald when he shot over with the goal at his mercy.
The Green were once again four up now with ten left in extra time, but Críost Rí rose again and scored four unanswered points to level the game after 80 minutes.
With the St Brendan’s Killarney awaiting in the final, these two sides will go at it again next Saturday.
The Green will know that if they can recreate some of the magical football they produced yesterday they will have their big final day out. Críost Rí, however, will feel likewise.
Team
1 Shane Foley (Kerins O’Rahillys)
2 Brandon Patterson (Austin Stacks)
3 Tommy Lynch (St Pats, Blennerville)
4 Jack Myers (John Mitchels)
5 John Walsh (Knocknagoshel)
6 Kieran Dwyer(St Pats, Blennerville)
7 Michael Scanlon (Castlegregory, 1-1)
8 Tomas OConner (Ballymac, 0-2)
9 Joseph OConner (Austin Stacks)
10 Sean Donnellan (Churchill)
11 Tom Hoare (Kerins O’Rahillys, 0-4)
12 David Fitzmaurice (Austin Stacks)
13 Eoin Greaney (St Pats, Blennerville)
14 Gearoid Fitzgerald (Austin Stacks,0-4)
15 Michael Kelliher (John Mitchels, 0-6 3f)
Subs Used
Jason Mortimer (Churchill) 40mins (0-1)
Aaron Roche (Kerins O’Rahillys) 45mins
Niall OMahoney (Na Gaeil) 45mins
Sean Hamilton (Churchill) 75mins
Subs not Used
Austin Clifford (Churchill)
Josh OKeeffe (Ballymac)
David Couchman (Austin Stacks)
Darragh Regan (Ballymac)
Cillian ORiordan (St Pats, Blennerville)
Dylan Burns (Na Gaeil)
Michael Hoare (Ballymac)
