This article is from page 68 of the 2011-01-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 68 JPG
St Flannan’s College 4-13 – St Colman’s 2-10 at Dr Mannix Park, Charleville
A DESERVED victory masked by a flattering nine point winning scoreline as St Flannan’s pulled through this tricky assignment on Wednesday.
Occasionally inspiring but unable to maintain that level of concentration throughout, the Ennis school were undoubtedly the more balanced side but just as easily could have been outdone by a relentless St Colman’s side led by the impressive Michael Spillane.
Only a point clear with only minutes remaining, St Flannan’s were on the backfoot and were slow to make changes but received a fortunate yet timely boost when Conor O’Gorman’s effort for a point from 45 metres on the left wing dropped over goalkeeper Darragh O’Callaghan’s head into the net. With that, St Colman’s heads dropped and a rejuvenated St Flannan’s added a further 1-2 to ease up to victory.
A tough game was always on the cards between two of the most suc- cessful schools in the competition, with the Cork supporters in particular bringing an extra audible dimension to proceedings. They were soon silenced by a blistering start by St Flannan’s who hit the first four points of the game through Martin O’Leary, Peter Duggan and Conor O’Gorman (2) and indeed were 1-4 to 0-2 clear by the ninth minute.
Tony Kelly had a shot saved early on but they finally made the breakthrough when the inspirational Conor O’Gorman’s pass inside was gathered well by Jack Browne who turned his man and roofed his shot over goalkeeper O’Callaghan.
The referee’s laboured approach wasn’t doing either team any favours but St Flannan’s simply overcame such adversity to push six clear through a Peter Duggan free in the 13th minute.
The Ennis school took their foot off the pedal though and instead of killing off the game, they allowed St Colman’s back into a game that seemed beyond them in the early stages.
St Flannan’s would only score one further point in the remaining 17 minutes of the half while the Cork side simply grew in confidence through the Spillane brothers.
Full-forward Gerard Hogan almost stole in for a goal before Colm Spillane pointed and in the final minutes of the half, Michael Spillane added a further 1-1 to slash the deficit to only two.
The goal was a well crafted move, stemming from a Kieran Morrisson high ball that was won by Gerard Hogan who in turn played a clever crossfield pass for the onrushing Michael Spillane to finish to the net at the far post.
St Flannan’s freefall continued after the break when Michael Spillane eluded man-marker Seadna Morey once more to score his second goal in the 33rd minute followed immediately by a Bryan Carroll point to push St Colman’s 2-5 to 1-6 clear for the first time.
The fault-lines in the full-back line were widening but with no alterations forthcoming, St Flannan’s were aided by the leadership of Conor O’Gorman and the growing influence of Tony Kelly who both got on the scoreboard to score three points in a five minute spell to reclaim a slender lead.
This blow for blow pattern continued until the 47th minute when Shane O’Donnell put his head down and weaved his way through the St Colman’s defence to score an eyecatching opportunist goal. A minute later, Tony Kelly converted a free to extend St Flannan’s advantage to four, much to the relief of the St Flannan’s faithful.
Far from lying down however, Michael Spillane hit back with three successive points and in truth, the game could have swung either way at that stage.
In the end however, St Flannan’s were saved by that O’Gorman goal while the subsequent nine point victory shouldn’t be taken at face value as they will need a vast improvement if they are to trouble either Árdscoil Rís or Thurles CBS in the semi-final on Sunday, February 6.
St Flannan’s College
Eoin Enright (Kilmaley), Conor O’Loughlin (Crusheen), Noel Purcell (Sixmilebridge), Seadna Morey (Sixmilebridge), Enda Boyce (Cratloe), Stephen O’Halloran (Clarecastle), Gearoid O’Connell (Ballyea),Tony Kelly (Ballyea) (0-3 1f), Jarleth Colleran (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Cathal Doohan (Ballyea), Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil) (0-1), Conor O’Gorman (Clarecastle) (1-4), Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg) (2-1), Peter Duggan (Clooney/Quin) (0-4 1f), Jack Browne (Ballyea) (10)
Sub
Alan O’Neill (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield) for Doohan (56 mins)
St Colman’s
Darragh O’Callaghan (Watergrasshill), WilliamWalsh (St Catherine’s), Cian O’Leary (Castlelyons), ColmBarry (Castlelyons), Pa Roche (St Catherine’s), Darragh O’Carroll (Fermoy), Bryan Carroll (Castlelyons) (0-1), Eoin Maye (Castlelyons), Nathan Byrne (Kilworth), Michael Pyne (Fermoy), ColmSpillane (Castlelyons) (0-1), Kieran Morrisson (Fermoy) (0-1), Michael Spillane (Castlelyons) Capt. (2-7 2f 3’65’s), Gerard Hogan (Watergrasshill), Jason Mannix (Bride Rovers)
Subs
Daniel Mangan (St Catherine’s) for Hogan (47 mins), Kevin O’Neill (Watergrasshill) for Maye (55 mins), Michael Wade (Kilworth) for Pyne (56 mins)
Man of the Match
Michael Spillane (St Colman’s)
Referee
Fergal Horgan (Tipperary)