Gaelcholáiste tipped for Munster ‘C’ title

MUNSTER U-19 ‘C’ FC (CORN SHEÁIN UÍ MHURCHÚ) FINAL

Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí v Colaiste Ide agus Iosef, Abbeyfeale Saturday, February 22 3.45pm, venue TBC

ABBEYFEALE compete in the Kerry colleges competitions and won their first ever trophy in Kerry, the Dunloe Shield, in 2018. A lot of those same players will be hoping to go for Munster glory on this occasion. They got a walkover from Youghal in the opening round but them got a good challenge from Coláiste Choilm Ballincollig, winning by 3-13 to 1-10. Goals proved crucial in the quarter-final against Ennistymon with a 4-9 to 2-10 victory.

Kanturk in the semi-final definitely looked very much like the end of the road, with Abbeyfeale down by 2-4 to 0-1 early on and trailing by eight points at half-time. It takes character as much as football to come back from that and Abbeyfeale showed character in spades to dig out a 1-15 to 2-11 win. Star 2018 Kerry minor and current Kerry U-20 Paul Walsh at full forward is undeniably the headline act but Abbeyfeale don’t over-rely on any single player.

Walsh’s Brosna team-mate Conor Lane and Duagh’s Ted Moloney for an excellent midfield, with Donnacha Maher and Sean Kilbride dangerous raiding forward from half back. Up front Walsh may be talismanic, but Abbeyfeale club Fr. Caseys provide real threats in the likes of Olan Quigley, Dylan Quirke, and Eoin O’Connell.

Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí saw off Bantry with a very comfortable 6-15 to 1-5 win in their first game. They got a real test in the quarter-final against Rice College Ennis, winning out by 1-14 to 2-8. The semi-final against Douglas CS was another tough outing. This was pulsating football, with goals by Jeaic de Burca and Dominic Ó Fionnegáin helping them into a one point lead at half-time and a great strike by Tomás Ó hAiniféin helping to close out a 3-9 to 3-6 win.

Gaelcholáiste, the reigning O’Connor Cup champions (they beat Colaiste na Sceilge by 2-11 to 0-10 last December), have shooting stars like Muiris and Seán Ó Connaill and Sean Ó Chonchúir and will likely go in as narrow favourites for this one.