Flannan’s storm into Munster U15A football final

Eoin Brennan watched St Flannan’s College produce a powerful finish to defeat St Brendan’s College, Killarney 1-12 to 1-7 in the Munster Under 15A Post-Primary Schools Football Championship Semi-Final

CHAMPIONS OF 2017 St Flannan’s produced a storming finish to lower perennial rivals St Brendan’s College on their way to a second consecutive Br. Taft Cup Final in The Bog Garden, Rathkeale on Wednesday afternoon.

Having been edged out of last year’s title by a brace of injury-time Tralee CBS points, the Ennis side proved even more resilient this time around, remarkably outscoring their lofty opponents by 1-11 to 1-1 over the final 35 minutes.

Such a sea-change was difficult to foresee when despite facing into the conditions, the Kerry side seized full control to soar 0-6 to 0-1 clear by the end of the opening quarter.

In essence, St Flannan’s gave their opponents too much space and respect but finally ignited their belief and challenge with a decisive 24th minute goal.

It stemmed from Trevor Moore’s interception of a St Brendan’s kick-out that was quickly played inside for St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield club-mate Graham Ball to find the net.

St Flannan’s were a transformed side after that timely boost, with a brace of Dara Kennedy points levelling the tie by the break.

In truth, they should have even been ahead only for Ball to canon an injury-time shot off the crossbar while a subsequent chance for Leon Talty just flashed agonisingly wide of the left post at 1-3 to 0-6.

Far from ruing those missed opportunities, St Flannan’s appeared a far more confident and aggressive side for the new half, kicking five of the first six points through Ball (2), Kennedy (2) and Luke Vaughan to soar 1-8 to 0-7 clear by the turn of the final quarter.

With Danny Lyne’s inspired switch to sweeper, the versatile Éire Óg player repeatedly frustrated St Brendan’s effort to catch the Clare school on the counter-attack as his innate reading of the game along with his ease on the ball prevented at least two certain goals.

Centre-back Donnacha Mahon also burst forward at every available opportunity, Eoin O’Connor, Trevor Moore and Gavin Fitzgerald made some important interceptions while Dara Kennedy and Graham Ball provided the decisive scores to keep St Flannan’s on the front foot.

In the 49th minute, a long St Brendan’s delivery picked out James Kelly who rounded the goalkeeper but his tap-in was somehow kept out by the legs of Ennistymon defender Fitzgerald.

St Brendan’s did finally grab a lifeline goal in fortuitous circumstances two minutes later to slash the arrears to just the minimum.

However, Lyne’s superb defensive heroics prevented any more leakage as instead, Colm Daly, Leon Talty, Dara Kennedy and Graham Ball responded with the last four points to tee up a final showdown with St Francis Rochestown (Cork) in a fortnight’s time.

St Flannan’s College: Cian McAllister (Clondegad); Sean Meere (Clarecastle), Marc Kennedy (Clondegad), Gavin Fitzgerald (Ennistymon); Kieran Doyle (Éire Óg), Donnacha Mahon (Clooney-Quin), Liam Keane (Lissycasey); Trevor Moore (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Rory Ralph (Clarecastle); Danny Lyne (Éire Óg), Eoin O’Connor (Clondegad), Luke Vaughan (Éire Óg); Dara Kennedy (Clondegad), Leon Talty (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield), Graham Ball (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield). Sub: Colm Daly (St Joseph’s Doora/Barefield for Ralph (28, inj)
Scorers: Graham Ball (1-4); Dara Kennedy (0-5, 3f); Luke Vaughan, Colm Daly, Leon Talty (0-1 each)

Further history was created on Tuesday when St John Bosco Community College in Kildysart garnered their first ever Munster Under 16.5E Hurling Championship victory thanks to a comprehensive 6-6 to 2-14 opening victory over Coláiste Daibheid Cork in Ballyagran.

Up next for Kildysart is a last 16 clash against Waterford side Meanscoil SN An Rinn next Wednesday afternoon, with a high-scoring spectacle expected as the sides shared 13 goals in their opening bouts.

St John Bosco Community College Kildysart: Sean O’Malley; Oisin Vaughan, Adam Hehir, James Casey; Fionn Carrigan, Cian O’Callaghan, Joseph Hehir; Michael Kennedy, Colum Cronin; Donal Carrigan, Evan Casey, Liam Casey; Diarmuid McGuane, Darragh O’Callaghan, Alex Griffin.

Results TUS Munster Post-Primary Schools GAA Championships

Munster Under 16.5D Hurling Championship Round 1
CBS Ennistymon 2-13 Coláiste Dún Iascaigh, Cahir (Tipperary) 2-12

Munster Under 16.5E Hurling Championship Round 1
St John Bosco Community College Kildysart 6-6 Coláiste Daibheid Cork (Cork) 2-14
Coláiste Ide agus Iosef Abbeyfeale (Limerick) 5-16 St Patrick’s Comprehensive Shannon 3-2

Munster Under 15A Football Championship Semi-Finals
St Flannan’s College Ennis 1-12 St Brendan’s College Killarney (Kerry) 1-7
St Francis College Rochestown (Cork) 7-10 Pobalscoil Church Dhuibhne (Kerry) 1-11

Munster Under 15C Football Championship Round 1
Kinsale Community College (Cork) 6-17 CBS Ennistymon 3-8

Munster Under 15D Football Championship
Round 1
Pobail Scoil na Trionide Youghal (Cork) 6-12 Kilrush Community College 3-6
Mary Immaculate Lisdoonvarna W/O from Douglas Community School (Cork)
Round 2
St Joseph’s Spanish Point 3-16 Scoil Pól Kilfinane (Limerick) 1-1

Munster Under 15E Football Championship Round 2
St Michael’s Kilmihil 2-8 St Patrick’s Comprehensive Shannon 2-2
Meanscoil SN An Rinn (Waterford) 4-7 St Joseph’s Kilkee 2-8
St Caimin’s Community School Shannon 2-6 Coláiste na Trocaire Rathkeale (Limerick) 2-4
St John Bosco Community College Kildysart W/O from Coláiste Mhicil Sexton St Limerick (Limerick)
Ennistymon Vocational School W/O from Cobh Community College (Cork)