Needing to take at least a point from this final round group tie to make absolute certain of progression, the Sem did much more than that. They went and inflicted a first defeat on already advanced Mallow.

By consequence of this five-point victory, the Killarney students leapfrog Mallow at the top of Group 3 and secure direct passage to the quarter-finals.

Patrician Academy must now wait to see if they bag the one quarter-final ticket that will be drawn among the five second-placed teams. If not, they’ll have a preliminary quarter-final to contend with this side of the Christmas break.

Despite the wind at their back in the opening half, the top-tier newcomers never led. They found themselves three behind as early as the fourth minute. They spent the afternoon chasing St Brendan’s and never managed to catch them.

They did enjoy the majority possession share in that opening half. What frustrated them was their own poor decision-making in the opposition half and too many percentage passes to the inside line that did not stick. They also met and could not find a way through a strong Sem defensive set that was patient and unbending.

Mallow's turnover count was through the roof in the opening period, St Brendan’s then so effective in immediately switching to the counter.

At the end of those counter-attacking bursts was Alex Hennigan. By the ninth minute, the full-forward had kicked a mark and two frees, one of which he won himself.

Hennigan’s fourth of eight and a white flag from midfielder Jack O’Sullivan moved the back-to-back champions 0-6 to 0-2 in front on 25 minutes. And this, not forgetting, into the wind.

Alan O’Connell and Ben O’Shea (both frees) brought Mallow within two, 0-6 to 0-4, at the break. The consensus, though, was that they needed to be turning around in front, not behind.

To their credit, they further closed the gap after the restart. Alan O’Connell (free) and Dylan O’Connell points, either side of a Hennigan free, had the margin reduced to the minimum.

And how close Mallow came to sneaking in front during this spell, Ben O’Shea’s palmed effort over the head of ‘keeper Shay O’Meara trickling just wide.

That was as close as this fixture got. Between the 38th minute and hour mark, Mallow managed only one score. Their organised opponents, by contrast, reeled off six.

The Sem’s approach of sit, strip, and strike forward time and again delivered sweeping white flags. Keelan O’Shea, Jamie Moynihan, and Oisín Fleming all slotted points as their advantage stretched out to 0-13 to 0-7.

The Round 2 draw with St Flannan’s has proven a blip. The Sem drive on.

Scorers for St Brendan’s College, Killarney: A Hennigan (0-8, 0-5 frees, 0-1 mark); K O’Shea, J Moynihan, J O’Sullivan, O Fleming, P O’Donoghue (0-1 each).

Scorers for Patrician Academy Mallow: B O’Shea (0-4, 0-3 frees); A O’Connell (0-2, 0-2 frees); P Britton, D O’Connell (0-1 each).

St Brendan’s College: S O’Meara (Dr Crokes); E O’Neill (Spa), D Stack (Kilcummin), L Daly (Kilcummin); L O’Neill (Spa), K O’Shea (Kilcummin), A Byrne (Dr Crokes); J Moynihan (Glenflesk), J O’Sullivan (Dr Crokes); O Fleming (Legion), C Cronin (Glenflesk), T O’Gorman (Fossa); P O’Donoghue (Listry), A Hennigan (Dr Crokes), J Bowler (Legion).

Subs: B O’Connor (Glenflesk) for O’Neill (20 mins, inj); R Harnett (Dr Crokes) for O’Donoghue (50); J McCarthy (Spa) for Bowler (58); P Foley (Dr Crokes) for Byrne, J Kelleher (Kilgarvan) for O’Gorman (both 61).

Patrician Academy Mallow: DJ O’Riordan (Kilshannig); B Noonan (Mallow), N Burke (Clyda Rovers), D O’Connor (Mallow); E Walsh (Mallow), G Daly (Mallow), P Britton (Mallow); A Kelly (Clyda Rovers), B O’Connor (Kilshannig); L Buckley (Mallow), B O’Shea (Mallow), L Walsh (Mallow); D O’Connell (Kilshannig), C Geary (KIlshannig), A O’Connell (Kilshannig).

Subs: B Murphy (Mallow) for B O’Connor (42, inj); A Murphy (Mallow) for A O’Connell (48); C Ruby (Kilshannig) for Geary (59).

Referee: D Hickey.