Schools GAA title for PS Chorca Dhuibhne
Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne 1-12 SPSL Rathmore 0-11
HAVING defeated the holders in the semi-final it seemed only right that Pobalscoil Corcha Dhuibhne would go on to win their first O’Sullivan Cup since 2012, bookending a ‘five-in-a-row’ from St Brendans College Killarney.
Scoil Phobail Sliabh Luachra Rathmore were not daunted by their ‘B’ grading in Munster at Fitzgerald Stadium last Friday, however, as they threatened an unlikely comeback from a ninepoint deficit 10 minutes into the second half.
Pobalscoil were entering off the back of a defeat to HHS Bandon in the Corn Uí Mhuirí the previous Tuesday but didn’t initially seem to be carrying any effects from the loss as Colin Ó Muircheartaigh was injured in the opening minute and Rathmore’s Denis O’Connor put over the opening score of the game.
Pobalscoil hit
1-4 without reply, a fine free from a tight angle by former Kerry Minor goalkeeper Deividas Uosis opening their scoring as Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich found the oncoming Cillian Ó Failbhe with a perfect pass for their goal in the 12th minute and a six-point lead.
Seán O’Keeffe got Rathmore’s second point in the 17th minute, but Pobalscoil were strong in defence in keeping their opponents getting any decent scoring chances. Gearóid Ó Leidhinn and Seamus Ó Loinsigh most prominent in this area as Ó Beaglaoich and Anthony Darmody from Rathmore exchanged frees before the break in making it 1-6 to 0-4 at half-time.
Five of the first six points in the second-half went to Pobalscoil as a brace from Dylan Ó Géibheannaigh ensured a lead of 1-11 to 0-5 for Pobalscoil after 40 minutes.
There was no sense of the fightback from Rathmore at this stage, but substitute James Darmody had given the East Kerry school another outlet when introduced as two goal chances for Rathmore demanded that Pobalscoil goalkeeper Gavin Mac Cárthaigh be vigilant, the latter a save from Darmody as the game entered the final 10 minutes.
Dan Murphy and the Darmody brothers made it 1-11 to 0-9 after 53 minutes with Ó Géibheannaigh’s fifth point, a free, Pobalscoil’s first point in 15 minutes as despite late points from O’Keeffe and Anthony Darmody, Rathmore’s fightback ended in a fourpoint loss.
Like Gaelcolaiste Ciarraí in the previous year’s final, SPSL Rathmore proved they deserved their place in Kerry school football’s marquee game for the first time in their history. The experience will be one they hope will stand to them ahead of the Munster ‘B’ semi-final with holders Inbhear Sceine Kenmare in the new year.
Pobalscoil’s defence of their Corn Uí Mhuirí title, meanwhile, will see them face St Flannans of Ennis in the quarter-finals. The effects of the cramming of their fixtures into a tight window due to the weather probably played a factor in their mixed results last week, but winning this competition will give them a boost ahead of the business end of the season in Munster.
PS CORCHA DHUIBHNE:
Gavin Mac Cárthaigh; Conchúir Ó Flannura, Tomas Ó Dubháin, Seamus Ó Loinsigh; Colin Ó Muircheartaigh. Gearóid Ó Leidhinn, Seán Óg Ó Móráin; Seamus Aghás, Conn Ó Riagáin; Criostóir Ó Catháin, Cillian Ó Failbhe (1-1), Deividas Uosis (0-2f); Dylan Ó Géibheannaigh (0-5, 1f), Caoimhín Ó Beaglaoi, Ruaidhrí Ó Beaglaoich (0-3f). Subs: Marc Ó Mainín (0-1) for Colin Ó Muircheartaigh and Colm Ó Muircheartaigh for Ó Mainín.
SPSL RATHMORE: Ian O’Connor; Damien Cronin, Alan Dineen, Patrick Brosnan; Eoghan O’Rahilly, Owen Fitzgerald, Dan Murphy (0-1); Ronan Collins, Sean O’Keeffe (0-2); Paul O’Leary, Anthony Darmody (0-5, 4f), Daniel Fleming; Cathal Ryan, David Dineen (0-1f), Denis O’Connor (0-1). Subs: James Darmody (0-1) for Fleming and Aaron Cronin for O’Rahilly
REFEREE: Tom McCarthy (Castleisland)