Corn Ui Mhuiri Under 18.5 A Football Group B – De La Salle College Macroom 2-14 Colaiste Chriost Ri 0-14 – Match Report

Corn Ui Mhuiri Under 18.5 A Football Group B

De La Salle College Macroom 2-14 Colaiste Chriost Ri 0-14

Report by Ed Donnelly

De La Salle College Macroom qualified for the Quarter-Finals of the 2017/2018 Corn Ui Mhuiri Under 18.5 A Football competition following a six-point victory over favourites Colaiste Chriost Ri on Wednesday at Ballincollig GAA grounds.

---

Click to view photos from the game

---

Coming in to this contest, Colaiste Chriost Ri were on top of the table with four points but a DLS Macroom victory would ensure their qualification for the knockout stages so it was all to play for in this encounter. Played in wet conditions, Macroom won the toss and proceeded to dominate the opening stages. Liam Twohig opened the scoring for De La Salle in the fourth minute before Mark Cronin equalised with a pointed free a minute later. The De La Salle Macroom side were playing a more direct style of football early on and created three goal chances in the opening quarter, all courtesy of Jack Kelleher. It was a case of third time lucky for Macroom after Kelleher’s fifth minute shot hit the crossbar and he elected to take a point when through in the ninth minute, the De La Salle corner-forward made no mistake in the 13th minute when he hit the back of the net. That score put De La Salle Macroom team in front by 1-3 to 0-2 and that four-point lead would remain the gap between the teams for much of the remainder of this game.

Colaiste Chriost Ri were getting some joy in the corner-forward positions and while they posed no goal threat, two points each from play by Daniel Lucey and Cillian Myers Murray ensured that their side kept in touch and by the interval, the deficit was three points, 1-6 to 0-6.

The second half was a very even contest and as the sides traded point for point. On six separate occasions, De La Salle Macroom stretched their lead out to four points only for Colaiste Chriost Ri to get the next score. Daniel Lucey in particular was playing well for Chriost Ri, adding three further points from play. Macroom were keeping their noses in front thanks to three pointed frees by Jack Kelleher and two from play by Greg Fitton.

With two minutes of normal time remaining, Macroom still led by four points but points by Myers Murray (free) and substitute Wayne Flood left just two points between the sides heading in to injury time. Coláiste ChrÍost Rí piled on the pressure looking for the goal required to salvage this game and perhaps their participation in this competition. However, the De La Salle Macroom defence held firm and in the 62nd minute, Jack Kelleher pointed a free to leave three points between the teams. There was still time for one more play and when a quick Coláiste ChrÍost Rí kickout went wrong, the ball was worked to Jack Kelleher who made no mistake to score a goal and ensure De La Salle Macroom qualified for the knockout stages by virtue of a deserved, if somewhat flattering six-point margin.

Due to the poor weather, Wednesday’s other scheduled game in Group B – Clonakilty Community College versus Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig was called off and will be rescheduled. With De La Salle Macroom on four points and a score difference of plus 14, they have qualified for the Quarter-Finals. Coláiste ChrÍost Rí are also on four points but if Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig (currently on two points) defeat the bottom side Clonakilty Community College, then it will be Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig who qualify on score difference. A draw or a Clonakility victory in the last game will give a reprieve to Coláiste ChrÍost Rí who will then qualify.

---

Corn Ui Mhuiri Group B Table

Pos.	Team	P	W	L	D	F	A	Pts
1	De La Salle College Macroom	3	2	1	0	54	40	4
2	Colaiste Chriost Ri	3	2	1	0	50	49	4
3	Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig	2	1	1	0	30	27	2
4	Clonakilty Community College	2	0	2	0	25	43	0

---

Scorers for DLS College: J Kelleher (2-7, 0-5 frees), D Foley (0-2, 0-1 free), L Twohig and G Fitton (0-2 each), L Asling (0-1).

Scorers for Coláiste ChrÍost Rí: D Lucey (0-5), C Myers Murray (0-4, 0-1 free), M Cronin (0-2 frees), M Brosnan, J Coogan and W Flood (0-1 each).

DLS College: T Quinn (Clondrohid); C Twomey (Macroom), S O’Riordan (Iveleary), A O’Donovan (Iveleary); L O’Leary (Aghinagh), J O’Mullane (Kilmurry), T Collins (Kilmurry); S Desmond (Clondrohid), J Pickering (Iveleary); J De Lacey (Kilmichael), L Twohig (Aghinagh), C O’Leary (Iveleary); J Kelleher (Canovee), D Foley (Éire Óg), G Fitton (Kilmurry)
Subs: L Asling (Kilmurry) for J De Lacey (36), S McMahon (Macroom) for D Foley (42), L Healy (Kilmurry) for L O’Leary (56), A McCarthy (Kilmichael) for L Twohig (60).

Coláiste ChrÍost Rí: D Newman (St Finbarr’s); S Turner (Nemo Rangers), A McGowan (Nemo Rangers), S Lynch (Valley Rovers); D Byrne (Tracton), E Varian (St Finbarr’s), J O’Brien (St Finbarr’s); L Hannigan (St Finbarr’s), F Cronin (St Michael’s); R Dalton (Nemo Rangers), M Cronin (Nemo Rangers), M Brosnan (Carrigaline); D Lucey (Mayfield), J Coogan (Nemo Rangers), C Myers Murray (St Finbarr’s).
Subs: C Kennefick (Nemo Rangers) for R Dalton (half-time), J O’Brien (Nemo Rangers) for S Lynch (36), L Horgan (Nemo Rangers) for F Cronin (53), W Flood (St Finbarr’s) for J Coogan (59).

Referee: Michael Collins (Clonakilty)