SMI Newcastle West power past Ballincollig to book Munster PPS U19 ‘B’ hurling quarter-final spot

A MAGIC 2025 ended on a high for Scoil Mhuire agus Ide, Newcastle West as they booked a Munster PPS U19 ‘B’ quarter-final date in the new year with an impressive 3-18 to 1-17 victory against Colaiste Choilm Ballincollig on the 4G pitch at Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Wednesday afternoon.

Having won the All-Ireland ‘C’ title nine months ago, the west Limerick school are riding the crest of a wave and this continued against the highly-rated Cork side.

For SMI, they have taken the step up to the ‘B’ grade in their stride.

READ NEXT: Limerick teen to participate in 'Snooker Shootout' live on TNT Sports

“It’s been a tough couple of matches,” acknowledged manager Kevin O’Brien. “We’ve played three schools this year who played Harty Cup last year.

“For SMI Newcastle West to be playing those teams and come out on the right side is massive,” he added.

The fast-paced all-weather playing surface suited a free-scoring SMI team who had Gavin Dorgan, Conor McMahon and Diarmuid Mullally find the back of the net to seal their spot in the last eight.

Despite Fionn Meehan opening the scoring after just 30 seconds, it was the Cork school who settled better in the early exchanges. Ballincollig scored five points in the first six minutes before SMI got to grips with proceedings.

But the west Limerick school quickly shot hit into gear – hitting eight of the next nine points, Gavin Thompson, the energetic Conor Hough and Mullally among the scorers in the first quarter.

Their ascendency was underscored when they got the game’s opening goal – Gavin Dorgan blasting home after initial work from Meehan to make it 1-11 to 0-8 after 21 minutes.

Leading by five (1-13 to 0-11) at the interval, Newcastle West were helped by some errant shooting from Ballincollig in the third quarter.

In a much lower-scoring second period, the win was all but sealed when McMahon kicked home from close range after ‘Collig goalkeeper Kaden Cooney could only parry Dorgan’s goal-bound effort.

After super work from the impressive Hough, Mullally put the icing on the cake blasting home from close range to make it 3-16 to 0-16 with two minutes to play.

An opportunist goal from Colm Sheehan late on for the Cork side won’t dampen the spirits for SMI, who now look forward to the quarter-final draw which also includes Scoil Pol, Kilfinane.

SCORERS: SMI Newcastle West: Gavin Dorgan 1-5; Diarmuid Mullally 1-3; Conor Hough 0-5 (2f); Fionn Meehan 0-3; Conor McMahon 1-0; Gavin Thompson, Jack Collins 0-1 each. Colaiste Choilm Ballincollig: Cian O’Connor 0-9 (7f); Cian Ahern 0-5; Colm Sheehan 1-0; Cathal Murphy (Eire Og), Cathal Murphy (Ballinora), Cormac Murphy 0-1 each.

SMI NEWCASTLE WEST: Darragh Tierney (Newcastle West); David Moloney (Knockaderry), Odhran Kelliher (Killeedy), Jack Horgan (Newcastle West); Liam O’Connor (Monagea), Patrick Cagney (Feohanagh-Castlemahon), Cathal Kiely (Monagea); Eoghan Sheenhan (St Kieran’s), Diarmuid Mullaney (Killeedy); Gavin Dorgan (Monagea), Gavin Thompson (St Kierans), Leon O’Fylnn (Newcastle West); Conor Hough (Monagea), Conor McMahon (St Kieran’s), Fionn Meehan (Feohanagh-Castlemahon). Subs: Jack Collins (Monagea) for Leon O’Fylnn (ht); Shane O’Mahony (St Kieran’s) for Liam O’Connor (51mins); Dylan Browne (Monagea) for Fionn Meehan (56mins)

COLAISTE CHOILM BALLINCOLLIG: Kaden Cooney; Ethan Donovan, Peter Rose, Colm Herlihy; Cormac Murphy, Kevin O’Leary, Jack Costelloe; Alan Heelan, Sean Murphy; Joe Miskella, Cian O’Connor, Cian Ahern; Cathal Murphy (Eire Og), Brian Cronin, Cathal Murphy (Ballinora). Subs: Danny Miskella for Sean Murphy (ht); Micheal O’Donoghue for Cathal Murphy (Ballinora) (42mins); Colm Sheehan for Cathal Murphy (Eire Og) (59mins); Darragh Crowley for Jack Costelloe (60mins).

REFEREE: Brian Barrett (Douglas, Cork).