ALLIANZ CUMANN NA MBUNSCOL FINALS
Tomás Ó hAinifein
ON Wednesday last in Austin Stack Park four of the Allianz Cumann na mBunscol finals were played in perfect weather conditions and we were treated to a feast of exciting football. Those present witnessed some excellent individual performances of high fielding, excellent blocking and defending and some top of the range goal keeping, goal scoring and point taking. We also witnessed some brilliant team performances topped by the near flawless exhibition given by the excellently coached St. Bridget’s Duagh team in the opening game to the excellent support play and fast movement of the outstanding Scoil Eoin Balloonagh fifteen in the final game of the evening.
6-8 TEACHER FINAL
St. Bridget’s NS Duagh 4-9 Faha NS 1-4
ST. Bridget’s NS Duagh faced Faha NS and having been defeated in the previous two finals of this competition, the Duagh outfit were fired up from the throw-in and were always in control making it third time lucky with a top class performance of free flowing fast attacking football.
They gave their strong contingent of support plenty opportunities to be heard with some excellent scoring, most well worked team scores. Captain Mike Galvin was pulling the strings in midfield and the entire half-forward line of Joe O’Connell, Mikey Kelly and Joseph Maher were to the fore.
Fossa pressed throughout and tried to the very end but came up against an extremely strong Duagh fifteen. Sean O’Brien, Cian Fleming, Fiana Bradley and James Clifford in particular tried their best from start to the final whistle. A special mention goes to the girls on both sides played some outstanding football and at times led the way for their classmates. Duagh ran out convincing winners but no doubt Faha will be back.
DIVISION 4 URBAN FINAL
Scoil Réalt na Maidine, Listowel 4-7
Scoil Náisiúnta an Fhosaid 1-5
IN the Shield final Scoil Réalt na Maidine, Listowel overcame Scoil Náisiúnta an Fhosaidh in a highly entertaining final.
The Listowel boys came out of the traps livelier and in fierce determined mood and notched the opening three goals which set them on the road to victory. Their full-forward Paul Evans was causing the Fossa rearguard all sorts of problems providing two of these goals. Midfielder and captain Patrick Walsh, who was arguably the best player on show, raised the third green flag for his side by the time the short whistle blew.
Fossa were reliant on their sharp-shooter corner-forward Dylan O’Meara who kicked all of their scores in the first half. Listowel led 3-3 to 1-3 at the break.
A clever tactical decision by the Listowel management saw their centre-forward Harry Reidy move back deep to pick up the dangerous O’Meara on the Fossa side. While still a constant threat, it nullified the possession going into him and thus their scores shored up. When the Fossa forwards did breach the Listowel defence the encountered the Listowel cúlbáire Jack Enright who was in fine form bringing off four outstanding saves in the game. He was an inspiring figure for his side stopping Fossa from hitting the net at vital stages in both halves.
The aforementioned Walsh goaled again and Evans ticked over some eye-catching scores as the Scoil Réalt na Maidine Listowel boys went on to take the title on a final score line of 4-7 to 1-5.
DIVISION 2 FINAL
Holy Family Rathmore 3-5 Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn 1-10
A LAST minute point from a free by Shane Daly saw his side Holy Family Rathmore snatch victory in a tremendously exciting encounter against Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn.
Shane Daly and Liam Cuipéir traded early points from frees in the opening minutes to set the tempo for this final. However Holy Family with Pádraig and Conor Moynihan in sparkling form at mid field went on a scoring spree and landed 2-1 without reply. Conor Moynihan and John Hughes landed the goals and Shane Daly converted the point when one of the defenders was adjudged to have handled the ball on the ground. To their credit Gaelscoil Mhic Easmainn finished the half stronger and four well converted free from Liam Cuipéir narrowed the gap to a goal at the break. 2-2 to 0-5.
A pointed free in the opening minutes of the second half saw the East Kerry outfit stretch further in front but this awakened the Gaelscoil squad as they dominated in most sectors and mid way through the half had edged in front with a fine point from Marc ó Loinsigh, a well worked goal which was finished with power to the net by Liam Cuipéir. Abi Nic Conamara supplying the final pass in a move that started from defence through Jeaic ó Cáinte, Hannah Mai Ní Luasaigh and Ruairí ó hAiniféin. A well struck effort from play and converted frees from ace marksman Liam Cuipéir saw Gaelscoil edge four in front with five minutes remaining. Seán Mc Auliffe came forward and struck over an inspirational point.
Knowing that a goal was required the Rathmore boys attacked at every opportunity but Tré Ó Briain denied them with two top quality saves and the Tralee boys seemed to have weathered the storm. However, when a long delivery wasn’t dealt with by the Mhic Easmainn defence Darragh O Keeffe was on hand to score the equalising goal. With time almost up Rathmore were awarded a free which Shane Daly slotted over. As the final whistle sounded there was some confusion as many present thought that the game had ended in a draw but the referee confirmed that the final score was 3-5 to 1-10 in favour of Holy Family Rathmore. IN the last final of the evening Scoil Eoin Balloonagh the defending champions faced Scoil Mhuire Cill Orglan who had defeated St. John’s Kenmare in their semi-final and though they were taking on the hot favourites the Killorglin boys turned in a fine performance and made the Tralee town boys fight until the end to secure victory.
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