CLONAKILTY CC 0-17

COLÁISTE CHOILM 0-11

NOEL HORGAN REPORTS

A FIRST-EVER Simcox Cup (Cork colleges senior football) success for Clonakilty Community College, and a performance befitting their achievement in the final against Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig at Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

Having lost two finals in recent years, it was third time lucky for the West Cork school on Friday night.

Never headed at any stage, they finished the first half 0-10 to 0-3 to the good, not least because of the input from full-forward Sean Whelton and goalkeeper Rory Twohig.

Whelton posted three two-pointers, one from a free, before the break, while Twohig proved equal to two goal attempts during the opening quarter, denying Coláiste Choilm’s Danny Miskella and Kevin O’Leary in turn.

Backed by a stiff wind on the turnover, Coláiste Choilm soon showed they were equipped to provide a searching test of Clonaklity’s credentials, trimming the deficit to four points inside 37 minutes.

The Kilmeen contingent celebrate. Front from left, Ruairi O'Sullivan, Rory Twohig and Tadhg O'Brien. Back from left, Marie Dorgan, Jason Murray, Tim Bailey, Oisin Harrington, Olan Murphy, Howard O'Donovan, and Cork GAA CEO Kevin O'Donovan. (Photo: George Hatchell)

The losers were just three adrift, 0-13 to 0-10, after impressive corner-forward Joe Miskella landed a two-pointer entering the last quarter, but that was as good as it got for the Ballincollig students.

After a well-directed delivery by corner-back Oisin Harrington found Tom Whooley in the right corner, the latter popped over an inspirational score in the 49th minute, providing Clonakilty Community College with the boost they required to regain the initiative on the run-in.

The manner in which Clonakilty responded when the pressure came on in the second half was highly commendable, and it clearly pleased team coach Micheál O’Sullivan.

Clonakilty Community College's Tom Whooley on the attack. (Photo: George Hatchell)

‘It was great the way the lads remained composed after Coláiste Choilm came back at us strongly in the second half, but it was an impressive display overall and we’re delighted,’ he said.

Victorious when the teams clashed in the Corn Uí Mhuirí (Munster) recently, Clonakilty were entitled to fancy their chances, but O’Sullivan felt it wouldn’t be easy to get the better of the Coláiste Choilm side for a second time this season.

‘They had a few players unavailable for the Corn Uí Mhuirí tie back, and we had as well, so, while we were quietly confident, we were wary of what they might produce at the same time. Thankfully, our lads delivered in good style,’ said O’Sullivan, who picked out Tom Whooley, along with Rory Twohig and Sean Whelton, for special mention.

Whooley was a constant threat at corner forward for Clonakilty Community College, making his mark initially when playing a return pass to Dylan Harrington, who opened the scoring in the fifth minute.

After Sean Patrick Murphy equalised for Coláiste Choilm, Sean Whelton bagged his first two-pointer from play, pushing Clonakilty in front where they remained until the finish.

Tom Whooley, with two points, and Jason Murray were others to get on the scoresheet for Clonakilty in the first half when Dylan Harrington manned the pivotal slot to good effect in a well-knit defence, and midfielder Mike Collins and wing-forward Jerry O’Leary also stood out.

The victorious Clonakilty Community College team with the Simcox Cup after their victory against Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig at Páirc Uí Chaoimh. (Photo: George Hatchell)

It didn’t take Coláiste Choilm long to make inroads on the deficit when aided by the wind, with Joe Miskella bagging a two-pointer and Danny Miskella converting a free before Dylan Harrington launched a Clonakilty attack resulting in a foul on Shane Whelton, who opened the winners’ second-half account in the 36th minute.

With the Miskella brothers to the fore in attack, and Brian Cronin and Cian O’Connor especially influential at midfield and centre-back respectively, Coláiste Choilm performed most convincingly in the third quarter.

Clonakilty’s disciplined defending meant Coláiste Choilm had to work extremely hard to create openings, however, and Tom Whooley’s two-pointer in the 49th minute underlined the West-Cork side’s greater potency in attack.

Eric Hicks celebrates with fellow Carbery Rangers man, Clonakilty Community College manager Micheál O'Sullivan. (Photo: George Hatchell)

Following good work by Jason Murray and the redoubtable Dylan Harrington, Eric Hicks had registered Clonakilty’s first second-half score from play earlier.

They were five points ahead before corner-back Tim Bailey broke up a promising Coláiste Choilm raid to launch a counter-attack culminating in a foul on Tom Whooley which Sean Whelton converted, making it 0-16 to 0-10 with five minutes of regulation time remaining.

It was obvious Coláiste Choilm needed a goal to have any chance of pulling the game out of the fire at that juncture.

Their best efforts were thwarted by the excellent Rory Twohig, who deflected a shot from Coláiste Choilm substitute over the bar in the 58th minute, and made three more fine saves in stoppage time.

Clonakilty will now set their sights on a Munster title, and Micheál O’Sullivan believes this victory is bound to be a confidence-booster ahead of their next outing in a Corn Uí Mhuirí quarter-final fixture.

Scorers

Clonakilty CC: S Whelton 0-11 (1 2ptf, 2 2pt, 4f); T Whooley 0-3; D Harrington, J Murray, E Hicks 0-1 each.

Coláiste Choilm: J Miskella 0-4 (2 2pt); D Miskella 0-3 (2f); L O’Mahony 0-2; SP Murphy, C Murphy 0-1 each.

Clonakilty CC: R Twohig (Kilmeen); O Harrington (do.), H O’Donovan (do.), T Bailey (do.); C Murphy (Ibane Gaels), D Harrington (Clonakilty), O Murphy (Kilmeen); M Collins (Ibane Gaels), D Harte (Clonakilty); J O’Leary (Ballinascarthy), J Maguire (Castlehaven), J Murray (Kilmeen); T Whooley (Clonakilty), S Whelton (St James), E Hicks(Carbery Rangers).

Subs: J Byerley (Clonakilty) for Hicks (51), C Collins (Ibane Gaels) for Harrington (53), A McCarthy (Ballinascarthy) for Maguire (53), R O’Donovan (Ibane Gaels) for Whelton (61).

Coláiste Choilm: N Tait (Eire Óg); D Sheehan (do.), P Rose (Ballincollig), E O’Donovan (do.); C Herlihy (Inniscarra), C O’Connor (Ballincollig), A Rose (do.); K O’Leary (do.) B Cronin (do.); M Delaney (do.), C Ahern (do.), SP Murphy (Eire Óg); D Miskella (Ballincollig), L O’Mahony (do.), J Miskella (do.).

Subs: R Coakley (Eire Óg) for Delaney (45), C Murphy (do.) for O’Leary (53).

Referee: B Coniry (Crosshaven).