The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
STATE OF PLAY Munster Senior Football
MUNSTER U-19 A FOOTBALL (CORN UÍ MHUIRÍ) Winner: Tralee CBS Runner-Up: St. Brendans
KERRY have had a near monopoly of the Corn Uí Mhuirí in recent years and it’s no huge surprise to see the cup back inside the county bounds – real credit to our juvenile development system as well as the hard work of the schools. But it’s fair to say that there weren’t too many who would have predicted the eventual winners after the Green lost their first two games in the O’Sullivan Cup.
PS Chorca Dhuibhne had several big names on board, but had very little panel depth. The same is true of Killorglin (who were unlucky to meet both St Brendan’s College and Tralee CBS The Green in their group) and Mounthawk, both of whom really rattled cages but couldn’t make the breakthrough. SP Sliabh Luachra had made the big step up from B to A standard, could they handle this altitude? It turned out that it was a natural environment for them. In fact, they gave the eventual winners their toughest test along the way, a real nail-biter.
Bandon were everybody’s surprise package, racking up big results in group qualifying, but the Green raised a lot of eyebrows by walloping them in the second half. That set-up the all-Kerry semi-final between Tralee and Rathmore, and the Green prevailed in extra-time but had to work hard for it. The Sem, meanwhile, had survived a real scare against
St. Flannans in their quarter-final but looked more comfortable against Rochestown. The Green v the Sem, then, a repeat of the 2017, 2008, and 2007 final (all of which yielded Kerry seniors in due course).
Tralee led by 2-10 to 1-4 at half-time, but St. Brendans rapidly whittled that down to 2-10 to 1-12 and looked like pushing on. The introduction of sub Sean Kennedy helped stem the tide, with Seán Quilter and especially hat-trick hero Conor Hayes rising to the occasion, and a strong finish saw Tralee CBS crowned champions on a 4-15 to 1-15 scoreline.
Brother Murray, an icon of Munster Colleges for whom the Munster Cup is named, taught in Tralee CBS at one stage and would undoubtedly have been pleased to see the seeds he planted yielding a rich harvest – not just for the winners, but for all the participants.
MUNSTER U-19 C FOOTBALL (CORN SHEÁIN UÍ MHURCHÚ) Winner: Coláiste Ide agus Iosef Abbeyfeale Runner-Up: Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí
A THOUGHT has to be spared for PS Inbhearr Sceine, who drew with Rice College on a 5-10 to 3-16 scoreline, only to bow out on penalties (the first time they were used as an eliminator to a Kerry team). St. Michaels Listowel bowed out in the first round. St. Pats Castleisland lost out to St. Joseph’s Ballybunion at that stage, with Ballybunion making it to the quarter-finals before going down to Kanturk, who had also beaten Presentation Milltown along the way.
That left two Kerry schools in the competition at that stage, Coláiste Ide agus Iosef Abbeyfeale (they play in the Kerry competitions and won the Dunloe Shield two years ago) and Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí. Both sides got through tough semi-finals to face each other in the final.
That match was played in a bright and fresh Brosna. Abbeyfeale led early on but Gaelcholáiste reeled them in to lead by 0-5 to 0-4 at the break. Abbeyfeale nudged into the lead in a pulsating second half and the introduced Paul Walsh doubled that advantage. In the end there was a single point between them, 0-10 to 0-9, as Coláiste Íde agus Iosef picked up their first ever Munster title.
MUNSTER U-19 D FOOTBALL (CORN SHEÁIN UÍ MHAOLOMHNAIGH) Winner: Beara NS Runner-Up: Mean Scoil Castlegregory
CASTLEGREGORY don’t have the numbers and don’t have the catchment area, but they have the football and it’s well nurtured by coaches like Aodhan Mac Gearailt, Jonathon Lyne, and Aoileain ni Gearailt.
Unfortunately, a Beara side that had Cork minor Joseph O’Shea in top form at centre back proved too strong in the final. Against the strong wind, Castlegregory actually did well to withstand the first half onslaught and keep the gap to 1-5 to 0-1 at the break, but goals from Ben O’Sullivan and Dylan Crowley on the restart made the task impossible.
Seamus Lyne and Cian O’Grady (penalty) goaled for Castlegregory but Beara won out on a 3-8 to 2-4 scoreline.
MUNSTER U-19 B FOOTBALL (CORN DONNCHA UÍ NUANÁIN) Winner: Patrician Academy, Mallow Runner-Up: Abbey CBS
COLÁISTE na Sceilge bowed out at quarter-final stage to Patrician Mallow by just two points in the quarter-final after a great game, while Causeway Comprehensive lost out to Abbey CBS in the semi-final by a single goal. Patrician Academy claimed the title.