St Brendan’s Killarney (Kerry) 4-15
St Benildus College (Dublin) 0-9
Jackie Cahill reports from MacDonagh Park, Nenagh
ST BRENDAN’S REMAIN on course for a first Hogan Cup title since 1992 after another rampant display in this afternoon’s semi-final against Dublin outfit St Benildus.
The famed Killarney nursery scored a 29-point Corn Uí Mhuirí final victory over Clonmel High School and they had 18 points to spare against St Benildus in Nenagh this afternoon, to book a spot in the All-Ireland Colleges senior A football decider at Croke Park on 2 April.
St Brendan’s were runners-up most recently in 2010 and 2008 but they look well set to take over from 2014 and 2015 winners and fellow Kerry outfit Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne as competition winners.
By half-time at MacDonagh Park, St Brendan’s were 3-7 to 0-2 clear of St Benildus, with inside forwards Michael Casey, Evan Cronin and David Shaw bagging the goals.
Casey scored the game’s opening goal in the eleventh minute to finish a flowing move and Cronin struck four minutes later.
Three minutes before the break, Shaw netted from Billy Courtney’s pass and that was the signal for some patrons to head for the exits.
Callum Pearson finally ended the scoring drought for St Benildus with a point and while Andrew Fox added another, the Dubliners were 14 points down at the interval.
St Benildus rallied briefly after the break but any faint hopes of a revival were snuffed out when the ball was turned over in midfield and ‘The Sem’ broke with lightning speed.
The end result was devastating as top scorer Cronin rammed home his second goal from close range.
From there, the game petered out to an inevitable conclusion but St Brendan’s must now wait to learn the identity of their final opponents at GAA HQ.
Summerhill College, Sligo, are Connacht champions and Ulster’s MacRory Cup final takes place on Thursday afternoon, with St Patrick’s Maghera up against St Paul’s Bessbrook.
Scorers for St Brendan’s: Evan Cronin 2-3, David Shaw 1-1, David Clifford 0-4 (1f), Michael Casey 1-0, Dara Moynihan 0-3, Peter McCarthy 0-2, Adam O’Shea & Cathal O’Shea 0-1 each.
Scorers for St Benildus: Sean O’Brien 0-3, Tom Fox 0-2, Callum Pearson, Dan O’Brien, Joseph Rafferty & Andrew Fox 0-1 each.
St Brendan’s
1. David Carroll (Spa)
2. Michael Potts (Dr. Crokes)
3. Chris O’Donoghue (Glenflesk)
4. Cian Gammell (Legion)
6. Dan O’Brien (Glenflesk)
5. David Naughton (Dr Crokes)
7. Niall Donohue (Firies)
8. Lee Donoghue (Glenflesk)
9. Billy Courtney (Dr Crokes)
10. Dara Moynihan (Spa)
11. David Clifford (Fossa)
12. Peter McCarthy (Legion)
13. Evan Cronin (Spa)
14. David Shaw (Dr Crokes)
15. Michael Casey (Dr Crokes)
Subs:
18. David Spillane (Spa) for Donohue (45)
21. Cathal O’Shea (Firies) for Casey (51)
25. Michael Pierce (Legion) for Potts (55)
26. Cian Callaghan (Firies) for Gammell (55)
17. Adam O’Shea (Dr Crokes) for Cronin (55)
19. Finbar Murphy (Legion) for Courtney (56)
St Benildus
1. Adam O’Callaghan (Naomh Olaf)
4. Patrick O’Reilly (Ballinteer St John’s)
3. Luke Doran (Naomh Olaf)
2. Aaron Walsh (Naomh Olaf)
6. David Keogh (Thomas Davis)
5. Aaron Bradshaw (Ballinteer St John’s)
7. Simon O’Reilly (Ballinteer St John’s)
8. Callum Pearson (Kilmacud Crokes)
9. Patrick Flaherty (Kilmacud Crokes)
10. Dan O’Brien (Kilmacud Crokes)
11. Joseph Rafferty (Naomh Olaf)
12. Andrew Fox (Kilmacud Crokes)
23. Sean O’Brien (Naomh Olaf)
14. Tom Fox (Naomh Olaf)
15. Tom Keane (Naomh Olaf)
Subs:
18. Adam Kelly (Kilmacud Crokes) for Walsh (b/c, 13)
24. Cormac McRory (Kilmacud Crokes) for P O’Reilly (60)
Referee: Derek O’Mahoney (Tipperary)
Other results:
Michael Cusack Cup (SHC) final
Roscommon CBS 2-9 SMGS Blarney (Cork) 0-17
Br Edmund Ignatius Rice Cup (SFC) final
St Joseph’s Charlestown (Mayo) 1-13 Gaelcholáiste Reachrann (Dublin) 2-7
Paddy Drummond Cup (SFC) semi-final
St Michael’s (Listowel) 3-6 Gallen CS Ferbane (Offaly) 3-10
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