Cork SHC Divisional/Colleges semi-final: Imokilly 5-24 Avondhu 0-12 As opening gambits in championship hurling go, Imokilly’s in Fermoy on Sunday evening was as impressive as it gets. They easily dismissed the challenge of Avondhu to qualify for the final of the Divisional/Colleges section of the Co-op Superstores Cork SHC. Muskerry await them in that decider in three weeks, but all evidence points towards the fact that the East Cork barony will once again have a major say in the destination of the Seán Óg Murphy Cup.
Here they were shorn the services of three stars of Cork hurling – Seamus Harnedy, Ciarán Joyce and Diarmuid Healy were all injured – but the truth is that they weren’t missed at all. Another rising star, Jack Leahy hit 0-10, Daire O’Leary lorded proceedings at centre-back, Timmy Wilk kept tabs on Stephen Condon while Shane Hegarty and Bill Cooper controlled the middle of the field. That allowed the likes of Adam Murphy and Mike Kelly to fill their boots.
Avondhu fell five points short last season against Imokilly, and the feeling was that if they were to narrow that gap, they would need to make the most of the wind at their backs in the opening period. However, they didn’t as they had seventeen first half wides, six of which were balls that were overhit and rolled harmlessly over the end line. Colin O’Brien and Liam Cronin were game, but Imokilly had too much quality.
Murphy had 0-3 on the board inside nine minutes, while goals from Darragh .