Corn Thomáis Mhic Cholaim (Under 19 B Hurling) Semi-Final – St Francis Rochestown 2-12 Charleville CBS 1-11 – Match Report

St. Francis Rochestown through to Munster final

St Francis Rochestown 2-12 Charleville CBS 1–11

Report by Paddy Ryan

St. Francis College Rochestown are through to the Munster Senior B HC final for the first time following their close but deserved win over Charleville CBS at Mourneabby on Saturday.

Exchanges were close all through in a game played in heavy conditions. Goals at vital stages for ‘Roco’ proved decisive in the end. The winners had the aid of the cross wind in the first half. Charleville were first to score through Paddy O’Donovan. David O’Riordan followed with a free. Rochestown had their opening score in the 6th minute by impressive Conor Russell (free). Both sides exchanged a pointed free with Adam Hennessy working well for Alan Connolly who pointed. In the 24th minute Conor Griffin was denied a goal by a great save by Jack McCarthy. At the other end Alan Connolly worked well for Sean Andrews who was denied by the Rathluirc keeper Conor Reynolds. David O’Riordan and Conor Russell exchanged frees with Charleville holding a slender 0-7 to 0-6 interval lead.

Charleville had the aid of the wind in the second half. Rochestown moved Conor Russell to wing forward with Alan Connolly going to the edge of the square. Paul O’Sullivan landed a fine point. Alan Connolly replied with two pointed frees that levelled at 0-8 each. From here on the winners gained the upper hand. Points by Alan Connolly, Adam Hennessy and Sean Andrews opened up a 3 point lead 0-11 to 0-8. David O’Riordan pointed a free. The first goal came in the 47th minute when a free by Cian McCarthy was finished to the net by Alan Connolly. Charleville replied with a Cormac O’Brien pointed free.

The winners had their second goal in the 53rd minute by Conor Russell 2-11 to 0-10. Charleville CBS tried very hard in the closing moments. Kieran O’Sullivan goaled from a long range free. Cormac O’Brien with a point left just a goal between the sides. Charleville came close to a goal in the 59th minute but quick reaction by Jack McCarthy denied David O’Riordan. In injury time Piaras O’Halloran sealed the win with a point to secure a final meeting with Hamilton High School.

Scorers for St. Francis Rochestown: Conor Russell 1-5 (0-5 frees), Alan Connolly 1-4 (0-2 frees), Sean Andrews 0-1, Piarais O’Halloran 0-1, Aidan Hennessy 0-1

Charleville CBS: David O’Riordan 0-7 (0-6 frees), Kieran O’Sullivan (1-0 free), Cormac O’Brien 0-2 (0-1 free), Paddy O’Donovan 0-1, Paul O’Sullivan 0-1

ST FRANCIS ROCHESTOWN: Jack McCarthy (St. Finbarr’s); Kevin McSweeney (Douglas), Dylan Murphy (do), Sean Brady (Ballygarvan); Joe O’Connell (Douglas), Cian McCarthy (Blackrock), Brian O’Neill (Douglas) (Capt); Stephen Fenton (Ballygarvan), Paul O’Riordan (Tracton); Alan Connolly (Blackrock), Piaras O’Halloran (Ballygarvan), Adam Hennessy (Blackrock); Sean Andrews (Shamrocks), Conor Russell (Douglas), Alan O’Hare (do).
Subs: Aaron Sheedy (Douglas) for Alan O’Hare, Cormac Dowd (Ballygarvan) for Sean Andrews, Ray O’Halloran (Ballygarvan) for Paul O’Riordan.

CHARLEVILLE CBS: Conor Reynolds (Charleville); Adam Barrett (Ballyhea), Paraic O’Shea (Granard Gaels). Fergal O’Connor (Effin); Sam Williams (Bruree), Luke Morrissey (Shandrum), Kieran O’Sullivan (do); Jack Twomey (do), Ben Herlihy (Castletown-Ballyagran); Frankie Herr (Effin), Cormac O’Brien (Shandrum), Paul O’Sullivan (do); Conor Griffin (do), David O’Riordan (Castletown-Ballyagran), Padfdy O’Donovan (Effin)
Subs: Sam Cronnolly (Bruree) for Sam Williams, Ronan Geary (Shandrum) for Conor Griffin.

Referee: Diarmuid Kirwan (Éire Óg)