The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Three-goal ISK have too much for battling Flannans
FREWEN CUP FINAL (MUNSTER UNDER 16 1/2) Intermediate School Killorglin 3-14 St Flannans College, Ennis 1-9
CLOSER than the final scoreline might suggest, but Intermediate School Killorglin’s hard work against the breeze in the first period paid off in the Mid Kerry School winning a first Frewen Cup since the year 2000 as their mentor Mark Blennerhassett paid tribute to their determination and spirit last Wednesday.
“We really wanted to break Flannans down when they were going forward and the tackling and blocking that the lads put in was immense. We knew as well that if we got the ball in early then we would be able to make hay with our goal chances which we thankfully took.
“The school lost both the Taft and Dunloe Cup Finals in this campaign but we knew that lads were capable of winning here today and it’s a great opportunity to go on now and play in an All-Ireland Semi-Final,” Blennerhassett said.
Team captain Rory O’Connor praised his fellow midfielder Seán Coffey and top scorer Matthew Leslie for their efforts.
“Seán is a great player, one who will progress up the ranks I think, Matthew puts in so much practice too his frees that it pays off when you want it on days like today. We normally play better in the second-half but it was great to put in a good first period today in going in front at half-time.
“We knew Flannans would be tough after seeing them beat the Sem in the semi-final having played the Sem already this year ourselves,” the team captain said.
Intermediate School did find themselves 0-4 to 0-1 behind after the opening 10 minutes last Wednesday, but hit 1-3 without replay to take control on the scoreboard. Rian O’Donovan did not give up on a Darragh McKeefrey ball that was dropping short as he fisted it into the net in the 12th minute for their first goal.
Flannans did draw level through a green flag of their own seven minutes later when corner forward Killian O’Connor was fouled and although Killorglin goalkeeper Cian Knight saved his spot-kick, Cian Galvin put in the rebound for Flannans to level the game up at 1-4 apiece.
O’Connor put the Clare school ahead with a point in the 21st minute, but it was the last time they led as McKeefrey powered in Killorglin’s second goal two minutes later as they took a promising 2-6 to 1-6 lead at half-time.
Although they brought their lead out to six points at the three-quarter mark, Killorglin could never but certain of their win as Flannans kept trying to find a way through the breeze.
A black card for Michael Heneghan in the 50th minute was a sign of growing frustration for Flannans as Matthew Leslie found Callum Moriarty for Killorglin’s third goal a minute later and a lead of 3-11 to 1-8.
Leslie had 0-8 (5f) in total as Coffey was immense in his fielding around the middle. A colourful atmosphere by both sets of supporters added to the occasion as Killorglin now have an All-Ireland campaign for their boys to look forward to in following Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne and St Brendans College in competing in the Paul McGirr Cup.
They face the Leinster Champions on Saturday, March 9 as they have plenty of time to prepare for what should be an interesting experience for a school benefiting from Mid Kerry’s success at Under 16 level recently.
INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL KILLORGLIN: Cian Knight (Glenbeigh/Glencar); Sean Cleary (Laune Rangers), Ethan Coffey (Beaufort), Ivan Crowley (Glenflesk); Eanna Healy (Cromane), Ciaran O’Sullivan (do), Niall Carey (Beaufort); Rory O’Connor (Laune Rangers), Sean O’Brien (Beaufort); Conor Spillane (Milltown/Castlemaine), Matthew Leslie (Laune Rangers, 0-8 5f), Callum Moriarty (do, 1-0); Rian O’Donovan (Glenbeigh/Glencar, 1-2), Darragh McKeefrey (Cromane, 1-2), Eoghan Hassett (Laune Rangers, 0-2) Subs: Matt Reenstierna (Laune Rangers) for Healy, Kieran Dennehy (Beaufort) for O’Donovan and Darragh Blennerhassett (Glenbeigh/ Glencar) for Crowley.
ST FLANNANS COLLEGE: Colm Kearney; Sam Browne, Darragh O’Callaghan, Evan Wall; Dylan Cunningham, Matthew Reidy, Eoin Guilfoyle; Dara Nagle (0-1, 1f) Stephen Casey; Diarmuid Cahill (0-5, 4f), Eoghan Talty (0-1), Michael Heneghan; Jarlath Collins (0-1), Cian Galvin (1-0), K O’Connor (0-1) Subs: Oisín O’Donnell for Browne, Cuan Ó Glasine for Cunningham and John Conneally for Heneghan (Black Card)
REFEREE: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)