Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne break Macroom hearts in high octane Corn Uí Mhuirí clash

It was the Macroom’s first loss in the competition having gone through the group phase unbeaten and lost out on automatic last eight qualification on scoring difference.

But PS Chorca Dhuibhne had ambitions of getting back to the top table themselves. They can thank star centre back Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich and two-year Kerry minor Cian MacGearailt who top scored with 1-5 for being in the hat next Monday evening when the quarter-final draw is made.

It was a high octane contest from start to finish with Dingle doing their best in the opening half to give Macroom every chance of building a big lead as they kicked seven wides to their opponents' two.

PS Chorca Dhuibhne huffed and puffed during the opening five minutes before Diarmuid Ó Séaghdha landed a forty five. But Macroom were motoring well with Sean O’Leary driving forward and his Kilmurry team-mate Denis O’Mullane who leveled the contest. 

Tom Browne and Cian MacGearailt exchanged frees before Macroom moved 0-5 to 0-2 in front by the 22nd minute, thanks an O’Mullane mark, and points from Tom Browne and Colin Kelliher. 

PS Chorca Dhuibhne finally got their radar working and kicked three points in quick succession from Paudie MacGearailt, Padraig Ó Mannin and Diarmuid Ó Séaghdha but a Tom Browne free afforded Macroom a 0-6 to 0-5 half time lead.

But whatever was said to PS Chorca Dhuibhne at half-time appeared to work the oracle as they really upped their game in the second half with early points from Cian MacGearailt and Paudie MacGearailt, to give Dingle a one point lead. But points from Tom Browne and O’Mullane restored Macroom’s slender advantage.

Then in the 36th minute came what should have been a turning point in the game when Aodhna Ó Beaglaoich burst through and was hauled down for a penalty but Cian MacGearailt lifted it over the crossbar.

This appeared to act as inspiration to Macroom who quickly added three points from Browne, O’Mullane and Billy Murphy. They were 0-11 to 0-8 in front with forty three minutes gone.

But Chorca Dhuibhne, with Ó Beaglaoich a colossus, turned a three-point deficit into a three-point lead in six minutes thanks to 1-1 from Cian MacGearailt along with two more points from Paudie MacGearailt and Padraig Ó Mannin.

Chorca Dhuibhne were hanging on grimly as O’Mullane and Browne closed the game late on and then in added time Sean O’Leary was denied a match winning goal by a superb save by Oisin O Dhúbhda and PS Chorca Dhuibhne escaped to victory.

Scorers for Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne: C Mac Gearailt 1-5 (0-2 f, 0-1 45, 0-1 pen), P Mac Gearailt 0-3, D Ó Séaghdha (45), P Ó Mainín (0-2 f) 0-2 each.

De La Salle College Macroom: D O’Mullane 0-6 (0-2 f, 0-1 m), T Browne 0-5 (0-3 f), S O’Leary, B Murphy, C Kelleher 0-1 each.

POBALSCOIL CHORCA DHUIBHNE: O Ó Dhúbhda; J Mac Liam, E Ó Fiannachta, D Ó Laighin; T Ó Cathail, A Ó Beaglaoich, S de Róiste; S Ó Cuinn, N Ó Riain; D Ó Séaghdha, C Mac Gearailt, C Ó Dufaigh; C Ó Cinnéide, P Ó Mainín, P Mac Gearailt.

Subs: C Corduibh for C Ó Dufaigh (21), B de Brún for D Ó Laighin (h-t), C Mac Conmara for T Ó Cathail (59).

DE LA SALLE COLLEGE MACROOM: C Desmond (Kilmurry); S Hennigan (Kilmichael), C Bourke (Macroom), I Wood (Kilmichael); S O’Leary (Kilmurry), O McCarthy (Clondrohid), E Healy (Macroom); M Condon (Macroom), R McKenna (Macroom); S Kelleher-Leavy (Macroom), T Browne (Kilmchael), B Murphy (Macroom); C Kelleher (Macroom), D O’Mullane (Kilmurry), T Sweeney (Iveleary).

Subs: J O’Shea (Macroom) for M Condon, J Kelleher-Leavy (Macroom) for C Kelleher (both 48), J Hourihane (Clondrohid) for B Murphy (50), R O’Shea (Macroom) for S Kelleher-Leavy (55).

Referee: Seamus Mulvihill (Kerry).