SAINT Flannan’s Junior footballers will try to hold up their end of the bargain and complete a unique double tomorrow when they travel to Feenagh in county Limerick.
The Ennis school will compete in the Frewen Cup (U16.5 Munster A football) final after their hurlers lifted the Dean Ryan Cup last November.
Kinvara’s John Connole manages the side along with Paul Geraghty (Oranmore/Maree) and Colm Dillon (Doonbeg).
He admits that beating Tralee’s Mercy Mounthawk, who are appearing in their first Frewen Cup final, would be an exceptional achievement for this talented crop of players.
“It wouldn’t be something that we are focusing on but it would obviously be nice to do a double. We would have a good crossover of players and it would be a unique achievement for the school. We are just looking to get over the line. The Dean Ryan is in the bag so it’s up to us to do our part.”
St. Flannan’s have lifted this trophy twice, the last time coming back in 2009. Since then, they have lost out at the final hurdle in 2010, 2011, 2016, 2018 and 2019.
Meanwhile, the U15A footballers reached the Corn an Bhráthair Choilm Taft final this year having lifted the trophy in 2014 and ’17.
Despite their pedigree on the hurling front with 22 Harty Cups to their name, Connole feels that football is continuing to flourish within the school.
“The football and hurling dovetail nicely. We have got to finals in both codes and one benefits from the other. The skills learned in one can be applied to the other. The majority of players that we would have play for dual clubs and have been dual players all their life.”
“With the football there’s been a lot of work done with different groups and I feel we aren’t out of place in an A final.”
With Éire Óg, Clooney/Quin, St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield, Ennistymon, Clarecastle, Lissycasey, Clondegad and The Banner all represented on the panel, Connole feels this group have big futures ahead of them regardless of the result.
“I was involved in 2009 when we had the likes of Tony Kelly and Paul Flanagan on the panel. This group have the talent to match those guys and most of all they have a willingness to work hard.
I’m sure you will hear a lot more about a fair few of these lads in the future.”