The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
STATE OF PLAY Munster Junior Football
MUNSTER U15 A FOOTBALL (CORN AN BHRATHAIR TAFT) Winner: Tralee CBS Runner-Up: St Brendan’s College
THE final was played as a curtain-raiser to the Kerry County Championship Final between East Kerry and Dr. Crokes – the moving of the Club Championships to the month of April left a gap that gave a great opportunity to young footballers from both schools to demonstrate their skills. Tralee CBS were the better side from the off, especially in attack. Togor Silong (0-2) controlled dominated midfield while Colm Browne, Damien Hogan and
Darragh Cunnane all got through for goals. The star of the show was, unquestionably, goalkeeper Seán Collins, who saved two penalties during the game. The Sem also left two other chances behind them and by the time that Jack Fogarty did raise a green flag for them, it was aready too late, with Tralee taking the title on a 3-9 to 1-8 scoreline.
MUNSTER U15 D FOOTBALL (CORN EAMONN UÍ DONNCHU) Winner: Coláiste na Sceilge Runner-Up: Coláiste Cholmáin Fermoy
NA Sceilge made a fantastic start straight out of the blocks and led by 2-3 to 0-1. Fermoy dominated the second quarter, but a Jack Clifford in midfield always kept the Kerry side in it and a Fionn Egan penalty had Coláiste na Sceilge in front by 3-6 to 0-5 at the break. An undaunted Fermoy proved their mettle by cutting the gap and increasing the tension in a thrilling second half, but Coláiste an Sceilge were full value for a 3-8 to 1-11 win and a Munster title.
MUNSTER U15 E FOOTBALL (CORN EAMAINN UÍ MHAIRTÍN) Winner: CBS Dungarvan Runner-Up: St. Michaels Listowel
THE likes of Robert Heffernan, Eoin Dowling, and Darragh O’Keeffe played their hearts out in a gripping encounter. It was 0-8 to 1-5 at the break, but Dungarvan opened up a four point deficit. Listowel brought that back down to just one but a second Dungarvan goal opened it again and time just ran out for St. Michaels.
MUNSTER U19 E HURLING Winner: Tralee CBS Runner-Up: Mercy Mounthawk
THREE Tralee-based schools all made it to the semi-finals. Tralee CBS got past Coláiste Mhuire Cobh comfortably, but Mercy Mounthawk were made to work hard before getting past Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí on a 2-13 to 1-10 scoreline.
In the final, Darragh Reen and free-taker Darragh O’Donoghue gave the Green an early lead, but their keeper Devon Burns had to make two great saves as Sean Brosnan and Darragh Courtney made it 0-8 apiece at the break. Goals from Denis Nolan and Declan O’Donoghue gave the Green a big lead but Mounthawk whittled that down. Aodhán McKenna’s goal gave the Green breathing space despite a late Mounthawk goal for Jack Sheehan.
MUNSTER U-16 A FOOTBALL (CORN UÍ FHRUINNIGH) Winner: St. Brendans Runner-Up: Tralee CBS
TRALEE CBS knocked out understrength derby rivals Mercy Mounthawk while St. Brendans saw off a young IS Killorglin side in their quarter-finals. In the semi-final, the Sem were surprisingly comfortable against the 2018 Taft Cup champions Rochestown, while the Green found HS
Clonmel a much tougher nut to crack but won out by five points in the end.
By the time the final was played, the Sem had already lost both the Taft and Corn Uí Mhuirí Finals to their oldest rivals and were in no mood to lose another one. It showed. Liam Randles scored a brilliant goal early on and, although Josh Lynch cancelled that out, the Sem led by 1-11 to 1-2 at the break. Despite the best efforts of the excellent Conor Horan and Maurice O’Connell, the Sem had two many aces like Killian O’Sullivan, Cian Foley, and Cian McMahon (0-6).
Having beaten Claregalway, they now await St. Pats of Navan in the All Ireland Paul McGirr Final whenever normal service resumes.
MUNSTER U16.5 B FOOTBALL (CORN LIAM UÍ HUIGINN) Incomplete
COLÁISTE na Sceilge are into a semi-final, while SP Sliabh Luachra will play Coláiste Cholmáin Fermoy in the quarter-final.