The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Castlegregory fall short to impressive Beara
A FULLY deserved success for the Cork school in the Munster Schools U-19 ‘D’ Football final played in the Fitzgerald Stadium last Saturday, and while just seven points seperated the teams at the final whistle, the end result was essentially a foregone conclusion with 37 minutes elapsed by which stage Beara Community School had opened up a 14-point lead.
Credit Castlegregory for producing a scoring flourish in the latter stages of proceedings, but, it merely had the effect of putting a better look on the scoreboard. Both sides enjoyed periods of territorial supremacy in the respective halves, but, it was Beara who were more resourceful and productive at times when they were in the ascendancy, and, it was reflected on the scoreboard, especially in relation to the goals they scored at the beginning of both halves. The first after just four minutes provided them with a significant early boost, and two more within seven minutes of the restart essentially put the game beyond Castlegregory’s reach.
Beara imposed their presence on proceedings right from the outset of the contest, and, kicked successive points inside the opening three minutes of play. Creative and incisive in relation to their build up play Lee Kelly created a goal chance for Ben Sullivan after just four minutes, and the game’s top scorer provided a pretty emphatic finish from close range.
Five points adrift with just as many minutes having elapsed,
Castlegreory were certainly struggling in these early stages to get to grips with the situation. However, with Alain Beajouau providing a lot of stability in their defence, and, being central to some good approach play, they settled and a point from the aforementioned centre half back opened their account in the ninth minute. They still trailed by four points, 1-2 to 0-1, at the end of the first quarter, and while they failed to transfer some good chances into scores, they were well equal in mostly all other facets of play.
After that promising opening period of play Beara’s efficiency in scoring situations was equally below par, and, over elaboration cost them in a clear cut goaling situation in the 16th minute. The input of their impressive goalkeeper Eoin Kennedy, and the industry of midfielder Cian O’Grady kept Castlegregory’s challenge intact, and, facing the elements they were still in a challenging position after twenty minutes of play.
There was enough to suggest at that juncture, being still just four points adrift, that they could mount a strong challenge in the second half with the breeze to their backs. However Beara who hadn’t scored for 18 minutes finished the half strongly and converted three unanswered points to increase their lead to seven points 1-5 0-1 by half time. These scores put a different complexion on the scoreboard, even if Castlegregory would have still retained realistic hopes of salvaging the situation.
Admittedly it was going to be a tough task for them, but they applied all of the early pressure on the resumption of play. However, they needed scores to kickstart their challenge, but, similar to the first half they conceded an early goal when the impressive Ben Sullivan at the end of a defense splitting run provided a neat left footed finish low to the Castlegregory
net. It opened up a ten point lead 2-5 0-1, and, while there was as much as thirty minutes left to play the final outcome had a certain air of inevitability about it. With Joseph O’Shea and Fintan Fenner providing the impetus for Beara with some surging forward runs, and, Darragh O’Sullivan a cornerstone in their defense they consolidated their situation with a third goal from Tomas Murphy in the 37th minute.
Fourteen points seperated the the teams, 3-7 to 0-2 entering the ffinal quarter, and while goals from Seamus Lyne after he had followed up on Cian O’Grady’s initial effort, and, a penalty converted by Cian
O’Grady in added time was due reward for Castlegregory’s wholehearted efforts it came too late to influence the outcome. On route to the final Beara had scored 17 goals in five games. They continued in a similar type vein last Saturday, and it ultimately was a decisive factor in their success. MEAN SCOIL CASTLEGREGORY: Eoin Kennedy, Eoghan Lyne, Stephen Smith Galvin, Alan O’Leary, Conor Greaney, Alain Beaujouau, (0-1), Tadgh O’Connor, Cian O’Grady 1-1 (1-0 pen, 1f), David Costello, Jack Shannon, Adam Costello, (0-1), Daragh O’Corcora, Gearoid O’Flaherty, Seamus Lyne (1-0), Conor O’Leary (0-1). Subs: Dara Crean for D O’Corcora, Fionn Cullinane for C Greaney (all of the players were from the Castlegregory GAA Club)
BEARA COMMUNITY SCHOOL :Ryan Crowley, Shane Power, Alan Elphick, Darragh O’Sullivan, Tiernan O’Sullivan, Joseph O’Shea, Daniel Hanley, Alan O’Sullivan, Fintan Fenner, Steven O’Shea, Charlie O’Sullivan (0-1), Dylan Crowley, Ben Sullivan 2-3 (0-2f), Lee Kelly (0-2), Tomas Murphy (1-2). Subs: Matthew O’Leary for D Crowley, Keith Sullivan for S Power, Sean O’Shea for B Sullivan, Mikey O’Sullivan for T O’Sullivan
REFEREE: John Butler (Tipperary)
MAINMAN
A lot to admire about the scoring input of both Ben Sullivan and Tomas Murphy, but, the leadership provided by Cork’s All Ireland minor medal winner Joseph O’Shea was the key ingredient.
KEY MOMENT
Beara’s second goal, so early in the second half, which really opened up some clear daylight between the sides, and, essentially put paid to any prospect of a comeback from Castlegregory,
TALKING POINT
There is a proposal presently, to dispense with All Ireland competitions for C and D grades in Colleges football. Posing the question, are we now reaching a situation whereby the college and the club are becoming irrelevant in the national fixtures schedule.