Simcox Cup: Excellent Coláiste Choilm sweep aside De La Salle College

Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig: 2-14

De La Salle College Macroom: 2-10

A brilliant team performance from Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig saw them defeat De La Salle College Macroom in the Cork PPS Simcox Cup quarter-final at Kilmurry on Wednesday afternoon.

The Darren Farry-coached outfit were full value for the victory and had they been more clinical, they could have won by more. They had a more spread of scorers and physically, they had an advantage over their opposition. Coláiste Choilm will now meet Hamilton High School Bandon in the last four.

The Ballincollig-based school had some notable performers from the likes of Cillian Power and Cian O’Connor in defence, Darragh Clifford was awesome in midfield, Kevin O’Leary, Cian Ahern and Danny Miskella were decent up front while subs Ben O’Connell and Luke O’Mahony made a difference.

The Coláiste Choilm team before they played De La Salle College. Picture: Larry Cummins

This was a very enjoyable game of football between two committed teams with plenty of bite both on the field and on the sideline, watched by a sizeable crowd.

De La Salle hit the first score through a Denis O’Mullane mark under a minute in but Coláiste Choilm responded with a brilliant team goal after two minutes. Charlie Murphy and Ahern played key roles to set up O’Leary, who made no mistake.

O’Mullane pointed before his side raised a green flag after nine minutes when Tim Sweeney finished low into the net, 1-2 to 1-0.

Coláiste Choilm were a threat every time they went forward and got their second goal after 15 minutes, a close range finish from Miskella after Adam Dodd did great work to set him up.

Charlie Murphy after he missed a goal opportunity in the first half for Coláiste Choilm. Picture: Larry Cummins

O’Mullane tacked on two unanswered points, one from a free, until Coláiste Choilm put together three successive white flags, Miskella (free), Dodd and Clifford, 2-3 to 1-4 with eight minutes to the break.

O’Mullane converted a free for De La Salle to leave just a point in it at half-time, 2-3 to 1-5.

On the resumption, O’Mahony just on the pitch, bisected the posts, a wonderful point with the outside of his boot for the eventual winners.

Coláiste Choilm's Darragh Clifford wins possession in the air against De La Salle College. Picture: Larry Cummins

The sides traded the next four points before De La Salle College nudged ahead thanks to a simply sublime goal scored by the outstanding O’Mullane, 2-7 to 2-6 after 41 minutes.

Coláiste Choilm’s response was brilliant with four quick-fire points. Clifford’s score the highlight, 2-10 to 2-7 with 12 minutes remaining.

An O’Mullane free did reduce the deficit to two points but there would be no denying the Ballincollig school as they kicked four of the last six points.

Scorers for Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig: D Miskella 1-3 (0-2 f), D Clifford 0-4, K O’Leary 1-0, B O’Connell, A Dodd 0-2 each, C O’Connor, C Ahern, L O’Mahony 0-1 each.

De La Salle College Macroom: D O’Mullane 1-7 (0-3 f, 0-1 m), T Sweeney 1-0, C Bourke, M Condon, C Kelleher 0-1 each.

COLÁISTE CHOILM BALLINCOLLIG: N Tate (Ballincollig); C Power (Ballincollig), P Rose (Ballincollig), S O’Callaghan (Éire Óg); C Herlihy (Inniscarra), C O’Connor (Ballincollig), D McCarthy (Éire Óg); D Clifford (Éire Óg), S Murphy (Éire Óg); S Rue O'Sullivan (Ballincollig), K O’Leary (Ballincollig), C Ahern (Ballincollig); D Miskella (Ballincollig), C Murphy (Ballincollig), A Dodd (Canovee).

Subs: B O’Connell (Ballincollig) for S Murphy, L O’Mahony (Ballincollig) for S O’Callaghan (both h-t), B Cronin (Ballincollig) for C Murphy, E Donovan (Ballincollig) for D McCarthy (both 39), N Buckley (Inniscarra) for S Rue O’Sullivan (47).

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

Subs: B Murphy (Macroom) for R McKenna, J O’Shea (Macroom) for J Hourihan (both 48), M Downey (Kilmichael) for E Healy (51), C McCarthy (Kilmichael) for T Browne (61, inj).

Referee: Brian Barrett (Douglas).

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