Injury-time penalty heartbreak for St Flannan’s

Rochestown, Cork 2-10 St Flannan’s 1-12

ST Flannan’s College suffered a heartbreaking one-point defeat in the opening round of the Corn Uí Mhuirí (Munster Colleges Senior Football Championship) at Charleville on Wednesday.
Making their defeat all the more disappointing is the fact they lined out without two of their leading players, Tony Kelly and Jack Browne from Ballyea, who were withdrawn from the team by their club ahead of Saturday’s minor hurling semi-final in which Ballyea will play Clarecastle.
Two other members of the Ballyea minor team, Tadhg Lynch who, like Kelly, plays his club football with Clondegad and Martin O’Leary, who plays football with Kilmihil with whom Browne also plays football, choose not to obey the club directive and played with the college team in this outing. It is understood the instruction to the players came from the Ballyea minor management team.
Early points from captain, Conor Cleary and Barry Lynch helped Flannan’s to a 0-4 to 0-1 lead but Rochestown hit back to level at 0-6 to 1-3, before Cleary got his fourth point of the half, to leave St Flannan’s in front at the break, 0-7 to 1-3.
The Cork side had the better of the early exchanges in the second half and went into a two-point lead before a superb double save by Killian Normoyle inspired Flannan’s. Martin O’Leary hit top form and scored 1-2 in a couple of minutes, helping Flannan’s to go three clear, 1-9 to 1-6.
With the game in the final minute, St Flannan’s were 1-12 to 1-10 in front when Rochestown were awarded a penalty, which they converted, to earn a somewhat fortunate win.
In addition to Kelly and Browne, St Flannan’s were also without the injured Stephen Murphy and Shane O’Donnell (Éire Óg) and Conor Clancy (Clarecastle).
The St Flannan’s team is managed by Donal Vaughan (Clarecastle) and Benny Duggan (Clondegad), assisted by Ballyea clubman Gary Brennan, who captained Clondegad to the intermediate football title last week.

St Flannan’s: Killian Normoyle (Lissycasey); Conor Dolan (Éire Óg), Gearóid Ryan (Clarecastle), Rohan Raftery (Michael Cusack’s); Tadhg Lynch (Clondegad), Aidan McGuane (Kilmaley), Stephen Ward (Clarecastle); Ciarán MacMathúna (Éire Óg), Sean Corry (Éire Óg); Conor Cleary (Miltown, capt), Barry Lynch (Lissycasey), Darragh Kerin (Doora-Barefield); Eimhin Courtney (Éire Óg), Martin O’Leary (Kilmihil), David Conroy (Doora-Barefield).
Subs: David Neylon (Éire Óg) for Raftery).

Killorgin 0-10 West Clare Colleges 0-5

WEST Clare Colleges were beaten by five points in their opening Corn Uí Mhuirí game in Glin on Wednesday. They will now play St Flannan’s College in their next game on Wednesday, November 9.
Gavin Melican scored the Clare side’s first-half point from play. In what was a physical contest, points from Joe Downes and Tadhg Lillis put West Clare Colleges 0-3 to 0-2 up early in the second half.
However, Killorgin were soon 0-5 to 0-3 up before substitute Liam Madigan pointed a free for the West Clare team.
Madigan also kicked his side’s last score from a free on an afternoon when the West Clare College’s backs played some good football.

West Clare Colleges: Eamon O’Dea; Padraig Lynch, Fergal Pyne, Robert Ryan; Conor McNeilus, Sean Garry, James Burke; Joe Downes, Stephen Maguire; Cian O’Mahony, Cian Murray, Henry Lillis; Gearóid O’Brien, Conor Egan, Gavin Melican.
Subs used: Tadhg Lillis, Liam Madigan, Conor Downes, Colin Lynch and Conor Murray.

Impressive scoring by Rice College

Rice College 1-17 Kilmallock 1-5

RICE College progressed to the next round of the Corn Iognaid Rís (U-16 ½ Munster Colleges Hurling Championship) when they accounted for Kilmallock at Na Piarsaigh earlier this week.
An impressive forward display helped the Ennis college to their win on a day when Ritchie Hennessy excelled at midfield, while Paddy O’Malley, both at full and centre-forward, Conor Finnucane and Shane McInerney did well.
Overall, the forwards caused a lot of problems for their opponents despite the difficult underfoot conditions and a final tally of 1-17 confirms this. In the next round, the Ennis side will play Pallaskenry.

Rice  College: Conor Hartigan (Ballyea); Michael Lyons (Ruan), Shane McInerney (Inagh-Kilnamona), Colm Rice (Ruan); Conor O’Brien (Doora-Barefield), Conor Finnucane (Lissycasey), Fionn O’Carroll (Doora-Barefield); Nicki Twumasai (Éire Óg), Ritchie Hennessy (Clooney/Quin,0-3); Liam Lynch (Éire Óg), Michael O’Malley (Kilmaley, 0-4), Evan McNamara (Inagh-Kilnamona, 0-2); Colm Fitzgerald (Doora-Barefield, 0-1), Paddy O’Malley (Éire Óg, 1-5), Lee Brady (Ballyea, 0-3).
Subs: Eanna Barry (Clooney-Quin), Cillian Brennan (Ballyea) and Conor Grogan (Clooney/Quin).

Harty Cup
IT’S back to Harty Cup action next Wednesday and St Flannan’s, fresh from their first-round win over a fancied Thurles CBS, will play St Colman’s from Cork at Charleville.
St Caimin’s play Coláiste na nDéise and must win to remain in contention, having lost their first-round tie.
Ard Scoil Rís will come up against Coláiste Chríost Rí.