Coachford College well on top but lucky to hold out
Coachford College 1-11 Rockwell College 3-4
Report by Paddy Ryan
Coachford College are through to their first ever Munster Senior B FC final. On Friday in Youghal they overcame a strong Rockwell side. Rockwell aided by the breeze in the first half were quick to take the lead with a goal by Conor O’Brien following a long delivery from midfield. Ryan O’Sullivan followed with a point. Coachford opened their account in the 6th minute when impressive David Thompson pointed. Good play out of defence led to a fine point by St John Forde.
Paul Ring cut through the centre but was denied by a good save by Rockwell keeper Luke Quinlan. Coachford missed a few good chances. They impressed at midfield where John Cooper and Conor Smith did well. As the half went on Rockwell found scores hard to secure. Mark Heffernan pointed in the 21st minute being his sides last score of this half. Conal Kennedy had a long range free go wide off the post. Good play for Coachford by Denis Murphy led to a John Cooper point. Cooper followed with a second point in the 25th minute. In the closing moments Coachford closed the gap to the minimum when Cormac O’Driscoll and Eoin Maher worked well on the flank for David Thompson to kick a neat point that left just a single point between the at the break 1-3 to 0-5.
The winners dominated the third quarter. On top at midfield their attack in regular supply took some good scores. Rockwell conceded a number of frees that were punished by David Thompson. In the 32nd minute Coachford took the lead when Conor Smith and Aodan Healy worked a good movement that led to the inrushing Smith finding the net. Rockwell had a good attack broken up by Eoin O’Connell that resulted in Tadhg Bradley being fouled and Thompson opened up a 3 point lead 1-6 to 1- 3. The winners went further ahead when Paul Ring, Aodan Healy and John Copper all worked well for David Thompson who kicked over. In the 4lst minute a foul on John Cooper led to another pointed free by Thompson.
Entering the final quarter the Mid Cork side were 1-9 to 1-3 clear and were coasting. Rockwell never gave up Jack Harney was impressive at centre back and they created a few good chances. Accuracy let them down badly having missed three scoring chances from good play along with a ’45. Rockwell had their first score of the second half in the 5lst minute when Jake Flannery worked well for Chris Egan who pointed. Coachford substitute Billy Barrett scored two very good points after good play by Paul Ring and Eoin Lehane as they led 1-11 to 1- 4 after 58 minutes. In the dying moments Rockwell had a punched goal by Conor McKenna after a good delivery by Killian Lane. Deep in injury time they had another goal by Jake Flannery that left just a point between the sides. The final whistle followed and Coachford College were through to meet Mitchelstown CBS in the final on February 4.
Scorers for Coachford College : David Thompson 0-6 (0-4f) Conor Smith 1-0, John Cooper 0-2, Billy Barett 0-2, St. John Forde 0-1.
Rockwell College : Conor O’Brien 1-0, Jake Flannery 1-0, Conor McKenna 1-0, Ryan O’Sullivan 0-2, Mark Heffernan 0-1, Chris Egan 0-1.
COACHFORD COLLEGE : Luke O’Connor (Aghabullogue) Shane Tarrant (do) Eoin O’Connell (Canovee) Eoin Lehane (do) St. John Forde (Donoughmore) Paul Ring (Aghabullogue) Denis Murphy (Canovee) John Cooper (Eire Og) Conor Smith (Aghabullogue) Aodh Twomey (Aghinagh) Aodan Healy (Aghabullogue) Eoin Maher (Dripsey) David Thompson (Aghabullogue) Cormac O’Driscoll (Canovee) Tadhg Bradley (Aghabullogue)
Subs : Billy Barrett (Donoughmore) for Cormac O’Driscoll, Dean O’Sullivan (Dripsey) for Denis Murphy.
ROCKWELL COLLEGE : Luke Quinlan (Cashel King Cormacks) Jack Houlihan (Moyle Rovers) Stephen Grogan (Cahir) Alex Ryan (Golden-Kilfeacle) Sam Slattery (Templeogue) Jack Harney (Moyle Rovers) Conor McKenna (Cahir) Conal Kennedy (Clonmel Commercials) Jake Flannery (Galtee Rovers) Mark Heffernan (Killenaule) Ryan O’Sullivan (Cashel King Cormacks) Sean Cotter (Moyle Rovers) Conor O’Brien (Cahir) Chris Egan (Kilbeggan Shamrock’s) Conor Lonergan (Ballylooby-Castlegrace)
Subs : Tadhg Broderick (John Mitchel’s) for Ryan O’Sullivan, Killian Lane (Ballylanders) for Conor Kennedy (black card)
Referee : Jim Daly (Youghal)
By Jonathan Cullen Sat 21st Jan
