Tarbert Comprehensive after extra-time victory

ALL-IRELAND POST-PRIMARY SCHOOLS SFC ‘C’ FINAL

Tarbert Comprehensive 3-19 St Malachy’s, Castlewellan

4-13

IN the rollercoaster to top all rollercoasters, Tarbert Comprehensive were forced to go from ecstasy to agony, and back to ecstasy again, before finally getting their hands on the Dr Eamonn O’Sullivan Cup following this absolute epic against St Malachy’s from Castlewellan.

This All-Ireland ‘C’ senior football final between the North Kerry school and their Down opponents turned into a game for the ages at Dr Cullen Park in Carlow, with the eventual winners being put through the wringer before sealing an extra-time triumph.

When John Coolahan rattled home Tarbert’s second goal in the 43rd minute, their blistering third quarter burst had been given what appeared to be the coup de gras. From level pegging at the break to an eleven-point cushion, 2-13 to 0-8, the Kingdom representatives were home and dry.

Or so everybody thought. Taidgh O’Hanlon’s green flag for St Malachy’s two minutes later was surely just a consolation score from the clearly rattled Mourne youngsters. Entering the final quarter, they were eight points in arrears and, to all intents and purposes, with no way back.

Unbelievably, however, a tiring Tarbert, probably feeling that the destination of the spoils had been decided, totally lost their control of the contest. Growing in stature, with self-belief renewed, and strengthening, with each passing moment, St Malachy’s were inspired.

Substitute Daire Treanor slotted home a crisp finish in the 50th minute, and the gap was down to six. Then a mix-up in the Tarbert full-back line enabled a blossoming Eoghan Travers hammer the ball to the net from close range, 2-14 to 3-8, entering the closing minutes.

It was now the leaders who were feeling shell-shocked, and it got even worse when the Castlewellan school, amazingly, struck for the fourth goal in 14 minutes, through James Savage, in the 59th minute. A pointed mark by Travers soon followed, and, beggaring belief, St Malachy’s had hit the front.

A 12-point swing had virtually taken place in the blink of an eye, cutting Tarbert to the very core, but they refused to die. First half goalscorer Jamie Moloney forced a ‘45’, and outstanding captain Shaun Wren lofted over a superb placed ball to send this exhilarating affair to extra-time, 2-15 to 4-9.

The North Kerry school had dug in, commendably, against the wind in the first half, Moloney’s rebound green flag after Wren’s initial effort had been saved, allowing them to retire at half-time on level terms, 1-5 to 0-8, against an opposition propelled forward by the excellence of Ruairi Madine.

The Kilcoo inside attacker had been a thorn in the side of Tarbert Comprehensive from the outset, slotting over three points from play, and seeing a superb individual goal controversially brought back for a free in, in the 12th minute. John Coolahan had been similarly impressive at the other end.

With David Mulvihill switched onto Madine on