Heartache for The Sem with McGirr final reversal

A DISAPPOINTING couple of days for Kerry Post-Primary Football ended with another defeat last Saturday in Bansha, Co Tipperary as St Brendans College, Killarney were piped by Colaiste Mhuire Mullingar in a game where the Killarney School only led once in proceedings. That was a 0-2 to 0-1 lead after 10 minutes but the physical strength of Colaiste Mhuire really started to become a problem for the Sem as the game wore on with Ben McGauran at full-forward a massive presence for the Westmeath School.

Enda Gaffney helped Mullingar to a 0-4 to 0-2 lead after 21 minutes with the woodwork hit by both sides, Colaiste Mhuire hitting the crossbar while earlier Ryan O’Grady nearly snuck in with a speculative effort at the other end, a combination of the post and Mullingar goalkeeper Jack Walsh’s knee keeping it from crossing the line!

The only goal of the game came in the last minute of normal time in the first period, as despite Neil O’Shea best efforts to make a clearance, the ball went back to Colaiste Mhuire with Shane Williams’ low effort looping off Sem goalkeeper Eoin Moynihan’s outstretched leg and into the net for a lead of 1-4 to 0-3. Emmet O’Shea and McGauran exchanged points to make it a 1-5 to 0-4 game at half-time.

Undoubtedly the Sem’s best period of the match was after halftime when four consecutive points had them level on the scoreboard. A brace from Niall McGuillicuddy along with further points for Emmet O’Shea and O’Grady had the match level as it looked like the Sem might push on for the win with such momentum. Mullingar started to gain control of kickouts again however going back in from as Fionn O’Hara and Kevin O’Sullivan along with an effort from Williams had the latter’s first half goal between the sides again at 1-8 to 0-8 after 41 minutes.

The Sem could only get so near to their opponents before Mullingar eked ahead again and that was the pattern the game followed until the end.

Eoin Moynihan had to stop another opportunity at a goal for Mullingar with 13 minutes left. McGuillicuddy’s fifth point was the closest the Sem came to turning the tide at 1-9 to 0-11 after 49 minutes with the rattling of the crossbar three minutes later by the same player a strong indication that it would not be his side’s day.

A ‘45’ for O’Hara and a fifth point for McGauran were the insurance scores for the victors despite McGuillicuddy finishing with six points as it was a second loss in this Final in four years for the Killarney School.

In truth hey could have little complaints about the result on the day as the game was played on Mullingar’s terms for the most part. Team Captain Kieran O’Donoghue, Neil O’Shea and Ruairí Doyle were valiant in defeat for the Sem as McGuillicuddy nearly drove them over the line single-handedly with his scores in the second period.

A disappointing end to a promising campaign for the side during the post-Christmas period but there is still plenty of years for atonement for these players in the higher ranks.

The loss of the 2015 Final led to two Hogan Cup successes for the players involved afterwards and that example should give the Sem encouragement heading into the future. ST Brendans College: Eoin Moynihan (Glenflesk); Cian O’Leary (Killarney Legion), Kieran O’Donoghue (do), Liam Spillane (Spa); Evan Smith (Legion), Neil O’Shea (Dr Crokes), Ruairí Doyle (Fossa); Michael Lenihan (Dr Crokes), Eoghan O’Sullivan (Legion); Darragh Donohoe (Firies, 0-1), Niall McGuillicuddy (Legion, 0-6, 3f), Emmet Finnan (Glenflesk), Ryan O’Grady (Legion, 0-2, 1f), Emmet O’Shea (Fossa, 0-3). Dylan O’Callaghan (Firies, 0-1) Subs: Liam Kelliher (Dr Crokes) for O’Leary

COLAISTE Mhuire: Jack Walsh; Daire Smyth, Mark Flynn, Charlie Drumm; Cian McCourt, Conor Gibney, Adam Treanor; Enda Gaffney (0-2), Fionn O’Hara (0-2, 1’45’); Dean Ennis, Kevin O’Sullivan (0-1), Trevor Keena, Nathan Lynott, Ben McGauran (0-5, 2f), Shane Williams (1-2) Subs: Jamie Coffey for Flynn and Rory Sheahan for Smyth

REFEREE: Sean Lonergan (Tipperary)