County title for Rice College

Rice College 2-16   Scariff Community College 1-8

For most of this intriguing final, the two best first-year teams in the county battled hard for title rights. Indeed, the talent on display in Cusack Park from both schools just had to be admired in a closely contested final, refereed by Sean McMahon.

From the onset, Rice College established an early lead with points from Matthew Davenport, Cathal Ruane and Oisín Cahill, before Cahill scored the game’s first goal. The ever-present Ian Kerins was a constant menace at corner-forward. The goal sparked life into Scariff as they responded well towards the latter end of the first half with Tomás Hogan and Conor Apsel starting to dominate proceedings in midfield. However, two well-taken points from Eoin Fitzgerald and determined play from Conor Tierney (later replaced by Cillian Roughan) left Rice College with a lead of 1-7 to 1-4 at half-time.

The second half saw an exhibition of long-distance free-taking from Rice College captain Alan Culligan, who had a superb game throughout. Another point from the impressive Cathal Ruane and a fine individual goal from Colin Haugh completed the scoring for the Ennis school.

The Rice College half-back line of Conor Kearns, Cian McInerney and Conor Devitt were instrumental in preventing Scariff from gaining any momentum in the second half with some determined defensive displays. Eoin McMahon, full-back, flanked by Eoghan Perill and Liam McMahon played a huge part in reducing Scariff’s scoring chances throughout the match. Goalkeeper Eamonn Foudy’s ball distribution and alertness assisted midfield all through the match.

Rice College, managed by Pat Devitt, Martin Brooks and Martin Ronan, ran out eventual winners on a scoreline of 2-16 to 1-8.

Rice College: Eamonn Foudy (Inagh-Kilnamona); Liam McMahon (Éire Óg), Eoin McMahon (Ruan), Eoghan Perill (Doora-Barefield); Conor Devitt (Kilmaley), Cian McInerney (Inagh-Kilnamona), Conor Kearns (Doora-Barefield); Alan Culligan (Clooney-Quin), Colin Haugh (Ruan); Conor Tierney (Doora-Barefield), Cathal Ruane (Doora-Barefield), Eoin Fitzgerald (Inagh-Kilamona); Matthew Davenport (Inagh-Kilnamona), Oisin Cahill (Kilmaley), Ian Kerins (Inagh-Kilnamona).
Subs: Cillian Roughan (Inagh-Kilnamona), Niall O’Brien (Doora-Barefield), Paul Martin (Éire Óg), Eoghan O’Sullivan (Doora-Barefield), Rory Brennan (Éire Óg), Gary Stack (Éire Óg), Colm McGrath (Éire Óg), Morgan Garry (Ballyea), Conor Sheehy (Clooney-Quin), William O’Connor (Éire Óg), Harry McCarthy (Clooney-Quin).
Scariff CC: JC McMahon (Broadford); Aidan McMahon (Killanena), Oran Treacy (Bodyke), Cathal Doyle (Bodyke); Paul Burke (Whitegate), Cian Minogue (Bodyke), Shane Broderick (Killanena); Thomas Hogan (Whitegate), Ciarán Keenan (Whitegate); Fergus Madden (Scariff), Conor Aspel (Whitegate), Kevin O’Connor (Killanena); Peter Flower (Bodyke), David O’Brien (Killanena), Michael Hynes (Whitegate).
Subs: James Carey (Whitegate) for Flower; Liam O’Donnell (Bodyke) for Burke.