The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Mercy Mounthawk book Hogan Cup final with measured win over Naas CBS
ALL-IRELAND PPS SFC ‘A’ SEMI-FINAL (HOGAN CUP) Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee 1-15 Naas CBS (Kildare) 1-10
A SCORING blitzkrieg of 1-3 on the trot before the break, coupled with a more controlled and dominant second half performance, were the key factors as Mercy Mounthawk deservedly advanced to the Hogan Cup decider after this cracking semi-final against Naas CBS at Bansha, Co Tipperary.
Four points down, 1-6 to 0-5, to the 2022 All-Ireland post-primary schools senior ‘A’ football champions, entering the last five minutes of the opening half, Aidan O’Shea’s charges were in a spot of bother. Refusing to hit the panic button, their immediate response was emphatic.
Needing something to, belatedly, ignite their challenge, which had been slow-burning from the outset, a dynamic foray up the field from the herculean figure of corner-back Gary O’Riordan, culminating in Paddy Lane lofting over his first point from play, propelled the Tralee side into overdrive.
Lane, hitherto out of sorts and well shackled by diligent Naas corner-back Niall Cramer, then turned provider, setting up Noah Townsend for a composed left-footed finish to the net, after Tomás Kennedy had completed a significant turnover as the Kildare school tried to play out from the back.
In the blink of an eye, the protagonists were on level terms, 1-6 apiece, which would have been a kick in the teeth to Naas CBS. The Corn Ui Mhuirí champions weren’t finished there either, Daniel Kirby and Kennedy (mark) with excellent points before the half-time whistle, 1-8 to 1-6.
With centre-forward Tom Kelly making a hash of a very scorable free, the first half concluded on a demoralising note for the Kildare side. Heading for the dressing-rooms two points in arrears at the Galtee Rovers GAA grounds was a far cry from what their overall superiority early on had signposted.
On top around the middle through Liam O’Connor, and with a phalanx of bodies in defence frustrating Mercy Mounthawk, Naas CBS held a five-point lead, 1-4 to 0-2, by the 17th minute, the latter’s driving run ending up with Ferdia O’Domhnaill crashing the ball home from close range.
Slowly but surely, however, Mercy Mounthawk played themselves into the game, inspired by Ardfert’s O’Riordan, the undisputed man-of-the-match, and with Kirby and Ben Murphy thundering into the picture during that dramatic scoring purple patch, momentum had swung, and swung immeasurably.
Showing more authority and control on the resumption, the eventual winners, with a lot of the sting taken out of Naas CBS by this juncture, switched Lane to a deeper role, and the gifted Austin Stacks tyro was to play an increasingly prominent role thereafter.
Setting out their stall in the third quarter was also crucial for Mercy Mounthawk. Four white flags, courtesy of Lane (3) and a third booming long-range effort from Kirby, compared to a solitary reply by a floundering opposition, now had the Kerry school five to the good by the 46th minute, 1-12 to 1-7.
To be fair to Naas CBS, there was no notion of them throwing in the towel, but whatever chance they had of launching a final quarter fight-back was pretty much ended when star midfielder O’Connor picked up a second yellow card, and was dismissed, in the 49th minute.
When Lane, with a mighty 50-metre free from the ground, launched over the resultant free, and Mercy Mounthawk captain Odhran Ferris quickly added another point from play, the Tralee side were on their way to an historic Hogan Cup final appearance on St Patrick’s weekend at Croke Park.
Two pointed frees from substitute AJ Jordan kept Naas CBS somewhat in contention, 1-14 to 1-10, heading into the closing minutes, but the goal they badly required to potentially save the day just would not arise. O’Riordan, Oisín McGibney and the Murphy brothers stood firm in the late, late assault.
Clearly frustrated at the upcoming outcome, considering the bright start that they had made, frustration got the better of the losers before the end, goalkeeper Charlie Carroll receiving a black card for an unnecessary pull-down in a far from threatening position around the middle.
With the opposition now reduced to 13 for the last few minutes, Mercy Mounthawk put the seal on an, ultimately, extremely impressive victory, Jack Murphy making a charge from deep, and replacement Jake Hoare, intelligently, fisting over his side’s final point.
After winning the Munster title, everything after was considered bonus territory for O’Shea, Kieran Costello, Luke Mulligan, and their developing bunch of players. However, now that there is just one more step to take to complete the fairytale, who’s to say ultimate honours are beyond them?
The countdown begins to Saturday, March 16 against Omagh CBS or St Gerald’s Castlebar. MERCY MOUNTHAWK: Michael Tansley (Austin Stacks); Gary O’Riordan (Ardfert), Oisín McGibney (Churchill), James Fisher (Austin Stacks); Padraig O’Halloran (Austin Stacks), Jack Murphy (Austin Stacks), Ben Murphy (Austin Stacks); Daniel Kirby (Austin Stacks) 0-3, Cian O’Gara (Churchill); Niall Collins (Ballymacelligott), Odhran Ferris (Ardfert) 0-1, Sean Corkery (John Mitchels); Paddy Lane (Austin Stacks) 0-8 (5f), Tomás Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys) 0-2 (1m), Noah Townsend (Austin Stacks) 1-0. Subs: Kian Sheehan (Na Gaeil) for Corkery (46), Jake Hoare (Kerins O’Rahillys) 0-1 for Townsend (46), Oran Murphy (Churchill) for O’Halloran (53), Bobby Byrne (Austin Stacks) for O’Gara (59), Ben Sharp (St Pat’s Blennerville) for McGibney (60).