Michael O’Connor reports from Tipp town as Ennistymon CBS defeat Dungarvan CBS 3-13 to 1-5 in the Munster Schools C final

IN the last four months St Flannans have won the Dean Ryan, St Joseph’s Tulla the Harty Cup and now Ennistymon CBS are the latest to announce their hunger for titles with a superb performance in the Munster C football final in Tipperary town on Saturday afternoon.

Meeting the Rouine clan in Tipperary town before the game one automatically knew that some Ennistymon side was in action. Joint Captain Brendy Rouine was unfortunately side-lined with a hamstring issue and this scared and galvinised the school side not to use excuses but bring home the silverware.

Ennistymon took to the field running against the breeze, yet it did not appear to matter as they ran with great gusto against a Dungarvan side that were struggling to cope with the raiding Ennistymon defenders and wing forwards. Corofin’s Marc O Loughlin was first to shoot but was wide of the target. Eanna Rouine made no mistake with his effort to kickstart the scoring two minutes later. Sean Condon and Eoin O Callaghan set up Rian Walsh for Dungarvan’s opening score that went over the bar as a real goal opportunity was on the cards for the Waterford school.

Mark Kelleher with an outstanding score quickly followed by a high lobbing effort from midfielder Shane Woods after nine minutes saw the winners go two clear. Diarmuid Fahy who was consistently the best forward on view for the winners and Joshua operated a two-man full forward line with success.

Fahy acted as chance creator for Kelleher who struck for a well finished goal in the 13th minute as now Dungarvan were only inches away from a heavy defeat based on the evidence after the first quarter. Kelleher once again pointed a minute later when set up by Marc O Loughlin and when Diarmuid Fahy added his own score Dungarvan were on the ropes requiring some form of lifeline.

Shane Woods and Fahy set up Marc O Loughlin but his one on one with Aaron Quinn saw a rising shot float over bar and now the winners were eight clear. Cillian Ryan hit over his sides second score in the 22nd minute.

A minute later a speculative long effort from Peter Cummins bounced on the astroturf square that was present in both goalmouths and bounced into the roof of John Nea’s net.

The lead was now down to four points but not for long as the last score of the first half was finished to the net by Diarmuid Fahy as Ennistymon CBS held a seven-point interval lead, (2-6) to (1-2) and the wind at their marks for the second half.

The Dungarvan malaise in front of the Ennistymon CBS goal went on uncorrected in the second half as they kicked three wides in the first five minutes of the new half and each effort was scorable.

Sean Rynne who was a dual county minor in 2021 kickstarted the new half for the winners quickly added to by a smartly executed effort from Sean Conneally. Brian McNamara raiding from the wing saw his goal effort turned out by Aaron Quinn.

Scores from Fahy and Rynne stretched the North Clare school’s advantage to 11 points by the end of the third quarter as it was now simply a matter of how big the win would finish up.

A hat trick of frees by Dungarvan courtesy of Tom O Connell (2) and Peter Cummins by the 52nd minute saw the Ennistymon lead cut to still an eminently comfortable eight points.

The final ounce of Dungarvan resistance was snatched from their soul when Niall Hogan goaled from close range for the champions elect. The final five minutes was played out in celebratory mode by the Ennistymon squad and supporters alike as Sean Rynne (2) and Brian McNamara rounded off a 14-point win and created Munster football champions for all in green and white.

The champions were led well by the exceptional Marc O Loughlin, Joshua Guyler, Brian McNamara, Sean Rynne, the consistent Diarmuid Fahy, Mark Kelleher, Eanna Rouine and Sean Conneally.

Dungarvan were robbed of the services of Joe Booth but on the day, it would have required more than one to overcome a supremely drilled and managed Ennistymon CBS squad.

At the final whistle Jason Daffy and Michael Clohessy bearhugged each other and roared that’s the first now let’s get number two. The Ennistymon CBS machine moves on with intent to Mallow for the munster hurling final next weekend. Clare’s schools GAA is not to be trifled with this year.

ENNISTYMON CBS: John Nea (Clann Lir), James Cullinan (Inagh/Kilnamona), Marc O Loughlin (Corofin) (0-1), Dara Rouine (Ennistymon), Liam Cotter (Ennistymon), Joshua Guyler (Inagh/Kilnamona), Brian McNamara (Ennistymon) (0-1), Shane Woods (Inagh/Kilnamona) (0-1), Sean Rynne (Inagh/Kilnamona) (0-4), Niall Hogan (Ennistymon) (1-0), Diarmuid Fahy (Ennistymon) (1-2), Mark Kelleher (Ennistymon) (1-2), Eanna Rouine (Ennistymon)(0-1) Joshua O Brien (Corofin), Sean Conneally (Ennistymon) (0-1). Subs: Joshua Vaughan (Ennistymon) for O Brien, Paudie Conisidine (Ennistymon) for Conneally, MacDara O Keeffe (Ennistymon) for Hogan, Tom Hanrahan (Liscannor) for E Rouine.

DUNGARVAN CBS: Aaron Quinn, Tom Dukes, Darragh Walsh, Alan Curran, David Butler, Niall Browne, Eoin O Callaghan, Billy O Connell, Eoin McGrath, Sean Condon, Tom O Connell, Seanie Flavin, Cillian Ryan, Peter Cummins, Rian Walsh. Subs: Joe Booth for Dukes, Domhnall O Faolain for Butler,

Referee: Richard O Connor (Tipperary)