Flannan’s footballers fall at final hurdle in Frewen Cup

Michael O’Connor witnessed a powerful show of tackling and shooting from Kerry side Mercy Mounthawk Tralee who defeated the Ennis school 3-11 to 0-7

A POWERFUL show of football tackling and impressive forward play led by Paddy Lane and Odhran Ferris ensured Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee defeated St Flannan’s College in the Frewen Cup.

The Munster post Primary schools U16A Frewen Cup final was played in the perfectly appointed Feenagh in Limerick on Friday afternoon.

The winners accounted for St Brendan’s, Killarney, in their semi final whilst the Ennis college overcame Croom. 12 of the Ennis school’s starters were going for the Munster double having won the Dean Ryan before Christmas.

Flannans played against the strong wind in the first half but were unsettled by the near senior standard tackling offered up by the Kerry side.

It forced numerous errors by a diligent Clare school side and closed off any avenue for goal chances throughout the game.

Only for the heroics of goalkeeper Cian Howard who pulled off three superb saves the Ennis school might have been looking at a near 20-point defeat.

Paddy Lane kicked off the scoring spree in the second minute and added a second minutes later before the impressive midfielder Odhran Ferris and Lane again sent Mercy Mounthawk four clear after seven minutes.

Two minutes passed before Ferris who is a grandson of Martin Ferris had his second score and it was apparent that Flannan’s were already on the back foot with no apparent scoring threat to counter the powerful tackling of the entire Kerry school.

Noah Townsend made it six for Mercy Mounthawk before finally St Flannan’s lost their maiden tag on the scoresheet as team captain Darren Keane sent over a 14th minute free.

The sheer fleet footedness of the Kerry school was proving too much for St Flannan’s who were simply struggling to keep in touch with their opponents.

The half back and midfield sector of the Mercy Mounthawk side created moves and broke down all St Flannan’s attacks of note.

The 20th minute witnessed the first goal of the game when a long delivery got to Lane and he beat two before planting past Howard.

Five minutes later the second goal again went to Lane as he jigged past three St Flannan’s defenders and expertly tucked the ball away in the corner.

Two more scores came from Daniel Kirby and Mercy team captain Niall Collins before half time as St Flannan’s faced into a 13 point deficit, (2-8) to (0-1) for the second half.

What more could Flannans do except hope for a scoring spree early in the second half to make inroads into Mounthawk’s lead and give some hope for the remainder of the game.

Substitute for Mercy Mounthawk Jack Murphy however struck first in the second half before James Hegarty sent over the bar from distance for St Flannan’s second score in the 35th minute.

A truly stunning five man right up the middle of the field ended with Obinna Izehi finishing to the Flannans net for the final goal of the game.

Twenty more minutes action was enjoyed but really the game was controlled by the winners as Howard saved well from Ferris and Collins.

Darren Keane (four frees) and Hegarty with a second point rounded off the Flannan’s scoring as Mercy Mounthawk a school in existence just over a decade captured the Frewen Cup in devastating and clinical style.

MERCY MOUNTHAWK: Michael Tansey (Austin Stacks), Gary O Riordan (Ardfert), Oisin McGibney (Churchill), Ben Sharp (St Pats), Oran Murphy (Churchill), Daniel Kirby (Austin Stacks)(0-1), Ben Murphy (Austin Stacks), Odhran Ferris (Ardfert) (0-3), Bobby Byrne (John Mitchels), Noah Townsend (Ballymacelligot) (0-1), Niall Collins (Capt) (Ballymacelligot) (0-1), Sean Corkery (John Mitchels), Paddy Lane (Austin Stacks) (2-3), Obinna Izehi (John Mitchels)(1-1), Tomas Kennedy (Austin Stacks). Subs: Jack Murphy (Austin Stacks)(0-1) for Izehi, Iheszi for Kennedy Micheal Savage (Ballymacelligot) for Lane, Thomas Sheehy (St Pats) for Izehi, Jack Hoare (Kerin O Rahillys) for Sean Corkery

ST FLANNAN’S: Cian Howard (Eire-og, Ennis), Sam Scanlon (Clooney/Quin), Cormac Maher (St Josephs D/B), Gearoid Barry (Ennistymon), Rhian Sheridan (Clarecastle), Paddy Nagle (St Josephs D/B), Mark O Connor (St Josephs D/B), James Hegarty (Ennistymon)(0-2), Fred Hegarty (Ennistymon), Jack Mescall (Ennistymon), Darren Keane (Lissycasey) (0-5), Luke Aherne (Clarecastle), Kieran McDonnell (Clondegad), Oisin Whelan (Clarecastle), Colin Meaney (Clondegad) Subs: Conor Griffin (Clarecastle) for McDonnell, Robbie Markham (Clondegad) for Barry, Luke Minogue (Clondegad) for Hegarty, Luca Cleary (Eire-og) for Mescall, Ronan Kilroy (Banner) for Aherne.

Referee: John O Halloran (Limerick)