Tralee CBS claim Russell Cup title
RUSSELL CUP FINAL
Tralee CBS 1-10 PS Chorca Dhuibhne 0-11 WHILE they couldn’t give the school the ideal end to a perfect week after the Hogan Cup success in Croke Park the previous Saturday, Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne fought admirably until the end of last Friday’s Russell Cup Final in Lewis Road and forced Tralee CBS to dig deep for their eventual win.
In splendid conditions for football, both teams did suffer from wayward shooting at times. However the game was right in the balance until the final whistle.
The Green had been the more fancied of the two teams in advance but it was Pobalscoil who made the better start as wing-forward Deividas Uosis put over two good dead ball efforts, one from a free, the other a ‘45’, to give his school the early advantage. Michael Kelliher got Tralee on the scoreboard in the ninth minute before three minutes later came the first score from play and ultimately the deciding score in the contest.
A hopeful ball found its way to Tralee’s Daniel Goggin who finished smartly past Pobalscoil’s Eoin O Brosnachain from close range for the game’s only goal in the 12th minute.
That finish saw Tralee lead by 1-5 to 0-5 at half-time and when they went 1-8 to 0-6 up early in the second period, they appeared to have a grip on proceedings. Five consecutive points from Pobalscoil changed matters however as Tralee needed their goalkeeper Ciaran Murray to save well from substitute Franz Sauerland in the 41st minute while they needed defender Conor Corrigan to be vigilant with nine minutes left to stop their opponents sneaking in for another goal chance.
When Uosis put over his fifth point of proceedings in the 56th minute the teams were level but the Green just managed to see themselves over the line with a fourth point from Kelliher (their first score in 19 minutes) and a third point from full-forward Jason Mortimer to give them a two point win.
TRALEE CBS: Ciaran Murray, Darragh O’Donoghue, Josh O’Keeffe, Tadhg Brick, Conor Corrigan, Dominick Lyons, Graham Hudson, Gearoid Fitzgerald, Kevin Williams (0-1), Sean Quilter (0-2), Michael Kelliher (0-4, 3f), Joe L Lugandu, Sean Hamilton, Jason Mortimer (0-3), Daniel Goggin (1-0) Sub: John Walsh for Brick
POBALSCOIL CHORCA DHUIBHNE: Eoin Ó Brosnacháin, Colin Ó Muircheartaigh, James Aghás Conor O Flannura, Pádraig Ó Cathalláin, Gearóid Ó Leidhinn, Oscar Dáibhís, Tomás Ó Dubháin, Colm Ó Muircheartaigh, Deividas Uosis (0-5, 2f, 1’45’), Sean Óg Ó Mórain (0-1), Cillian Ó Failbhe (0-1), Ruairí Ó Beaglaoich (0-1), Steven Ó Conchuir, Dylan Ó Géibheannaigh (0-3, 3f) Subs: Franz Sauerland for Ó Flannura, Sean B Ó Beaglaoich for P Ó Cathalláin, Séamus Ó Baoill for Ó Failbhe and Darragh Mac Gearailt for Ó Geibheannaigh
REFEREE: Sean Joy (Laune Rangers)