Tralee CBS end 13-year wait to reclaim Corn Uí Mhuirí title

CORN UÍ MHUIRÍ FINAL

Tralee CBS 4-15

St. Brendans, Killarney 1-15

TRALEE are a long time knocking hard on the door, but last Saturday they broke through it with consummate ease.

This was a master-class in football, hunger matched by abundant skill. Old rivals the Sem, a great team in their own right, simply couldn’t live with them on the day. The Green had a powerful wind at their back in the first half and took full advantage, pressing hard on Sem kick-outs and ensuring that the early game was played on their terms.

Conor Horan split the posts for the opening score and Seán Quilter followed up with a stunning effort from long range. St Brendans kick-outs were hanging in the air, giving Tralee the chance to attack them, and they were simply faster and sharper onto the breaking ball.

The outstanding Fergal O’Brien opened his account to make it 0-3 to 0-0. In the tenth minute Seán Quilter opted for a quick free to Jordan Kissane instead of popping it over; his quick thinking paid off in spades as Kissane rattled the net with a brilliant finish. Quilter sent over a free to make it 1-4 to 0-0, and the Sem were reeling on the ropes.

The Sem have been under the cosh more than once in this campaign, though, and they dug out the perfect response. Dylan O’Callaghan, a constant threat, won the ball and fed it to Jason Kerins in the danger area. He was fouled, but Emmet O’Shea’s clinical penalty extracted full retribution. 1-4 to 1-0, game on!

Cian Purcell and Fergal O’Brien notched well-executed scores but William Shine cleverly claimed and converted an advance mark. Jordan Kissane and Ryan O’Grady exchanged scores. Fergal O’Brien kicked a brilliant free but Ryan O’Grady replied in kind. O’Brien pointed and then won a ‘45’ superbly drilled over by the outstanding

Devon Burns. 1-10 to 1-3, a manageable deficit for the Sem considering that strong wind.

Then Tralee struck for a hammer-blow. Seán

Quilter rose high to a long ball and, with his back to goal, neatly knocked it to

Conor Hayes, who drove an unstoppable shot to the net. Perfect team-work, duly rewarded. Emmet O’Shea did pull a point back for the

Sem, but their hopes looked dead and buried as the half-time whistle sounded.

Half-time Tralee CBS 2-10 St Brendans 1-4. The Sem had the wind in the third quarter, and they owned so much of the pitch that they could have applied for planning permission. They simply drove in waves, powered especially by Michael Lenihan’s tour de force in midfield despite Seán Quilter coming out to bolster Tralee.

Emmet O’Shea hit the post but his next effort curled inside it. William Shine pointed and then won a free converted by O’Shea. Pádraic Looney swung over a beauty. 2-10 to 1-8, this was a oneway whirlwind.

Ryan O’Grady deftly fired over. Mark Cooper drove up the field and split the posts. Just a goal between them now. Emmet O’Shea pointed another free and Ryan O’Grady deftly swung over. 2-10 to 1-12.

Tralee badly needed to get some grip on the game, but they had a very special rabbit to pull out of their magic hat. Seán Kennedy had been one of the best juvenile players in Kerry before taking up a soccer contract with Sunderland. His introduction on the three quarter mark was his first competitive action for the Green, but within minutes he had taken the game by the scruff of the neck and turned the tide.

That allowed Quilter to go back in and once Tralee’s inside line could get their hands on the ball, they were razor-sharp. Conor Hayes expanded the lead back to two points. Seán Quilter won a penalty but Eoin Moynihan made a super save.

Quilter pointed off the rebound and a minute later Conor Hayes weaved his way though after a great team move and slotted home. Quilter added a point and Tralee’s lead was as intimidating as ever, 3-13 to 1-12.

Devon Burns denied Ryan O’Grady with a brilliant save. Emmet O’Shea did pick off a free but the response was a killer blow as Conor Hayes dived forward to fist Fergal O’Brien’s deflected strike into the net, an instinctive poacher’s goal that combined reflex with lightning skill.

ST BRENDANS: Eoin Moynihan, Ruairí Doyle, Mark Cooper (01), Neil O’Shea, Tom Doyle, Terry Sparling, Evan Looney, Eoghan O’Sullivan, Michael Lenihan, Jason Kerins, Ryan O’Grady (0-6, 2f, 1’45), Pádraic Looney (0-1), William Shine (0-2, 1 mark), Dylan O’Callaghan, Emmet O’Shea (1-5, 1 pen, 4f) Subs: Harry Buckley for E O’Sullivan, 55, Cian O’Leary for R Doyle, 57, Fionn Holohan for E Looney, 57, Philip O’Leary for P Looney, 61,

TRALEE CBS: Devon Burns (0-1, 1’45), Niall Fitzmaurice, Luke Chester, Ruairí O’Sullivan, Padraig White, Armin Heinrich, Eoghan Carroll, Joe Lenihan, Conor Horan, Fergal O’Brien (0-3, 1f), Darragh Reen, Jordan Kissane (1-3), Cian Purcell (0-1), Seán Quilter (0-5, 2f), Conor Hayes (3-2) Subs: Seán Kennedy for R O’Sullivan, 46, Dylan Moriarty for A Heinrich, 58, Conor Myers for C Purcell, 61

REFEREE: Jonathan Griffin (Glenbeigh / Glencar)