St Brendan’s District 1-13 Kenmare District 0-13
By Murt Murphy (Taken from www.kerrygaa.ie)
St Brendan’s District recovered from a tardy start to come good in the second half of this Keanes Super Valu Killorglin, County Minor Football Final, to deservedly defeat a fancied Kenmare District side at the Fitzgerald Stadium Killarney on Saturday afternoon.
The victory did not look on in the opening twenty minutes, as Kenmare District raced 0-7 to 0-2 clear with Killian Spillane ( son of Tom) scoring all but one of sides points from full forward, while Kerry minor Brian Crowley scored the other and St Brendan’s were struggling to get any ball to their dangerous attack.
However, an inspired substitution that saw Dara Sheehy come in for St Brendan’s and the switching of tall full-forward Andrew Byrne to play in front of his fullback line had an immediate and telling impact that was to change the course of this final.
St Brendan’s struck for the goal they needed in the 21st minute when Gavin Crowley misjudged a high centre and man of the match Paudie O’Carroll raced through to drill the ball low to the Kenmare net.
Points followed quickly from Cillian Fitzgerald, O’Carroll and Darragh Carmody and suddenly St Brendan’s were a point in front, though Brian Crowley levelled the contest on the stroke of half time as the sides retired level, 1-5 to 0-8.
St Brendan’s assumed complete control of the middle third of the pitch in the second half, with Jack Barry and Kevin Shanahan fielding some great ball while David Moynihan and Daniel Collins defended resolutely.
After Brendan Savage and Brian Crowley swapped early points, Kenmare only managed a single point for the next twenty minutes as Killian Spillane was starved of possession but at the other end O’Carroll (0-2), Cillian Fitzgerald ( 0-3), Darragh Carmody ( 0-1 free) and Jack Barry (0-1) pushed St Brendan’s 1-12 to 0-10 clear and despite a late Kenmare flourish.
St Brendan’s District were crowned champions, with Patrick O’Sullivan Chairman of County Board and Peggy King, widow of the late County Board Chairman Frank, presenting the Cup to Daniel Collins while her grandson Cillian Fitzgerald kicked 0-6 for the winners!
The sponsor Mr Peter Keane presented the man of the match trophy to Paudie O’Carroll ( St Brendan’s) after the final
Scorers:
St Brendan’s District
P O’Carroll 1-3. C Fitzgerald 0-6, D Carmody 0-2 frees, J Barry and B Savage 0-1 each
Kenmare District
K Spillane 0-8 (0-5 frees), B Crowley 0-3, A Spillane and D O’Neill 0-1 each
Teams:
St Brendan’s District
K Hannafin ( Ardfert), F Horgan ( Ardfert), P McMahon ( St Pats), C Moore ( St Pats), D Moynihan ( Na Gaeil), D Collins ( Ardfert), C Kirby ( Ardfert), J Barry ( Na Gaeil), K Shanahan ( Ardfert), P Carroll ( Ardfert), C Fitzgerald ( Churchill), E Courtney ( Ardfert), D Carmody ( Na Gaeil), A Byrne ( St Pats), B Savage ( St Pats)
Subs: D Sheehy (Na Gaeil) for C Moore (20), A Barry (Na Gaeil) for B Savage (58)
Kenmare District
M McCarthy ( Kenmare), P O’Shea ( Kilgarvan), G Crowley ( Templenoe) , R Fitzpatrick( Tousist), J Rice ( Templenoe) , C O’Sullivan( Kenmare) , G Harrington ( Tousist) , A Spillane ( Templenoe) , B Crowley ( Templenoe) , Shane O’Sullivan( Kenmare) , T Harrington ( Tousist) , Stephen O’Sullivan( Tousist) , C Hallissey ( Templenoe) K Spillane, ( Templenoe) D O’Neill ( Templenoe)
Subs: S Harrington (Kenmare) for G Harrington (26), P Clifford (Templenoe) for Stephen O’Sullivan (h/t), A Quinlan (Kenmare) for Shane O’Sullivan (52), Dan Hawker (Tousist) for J Rice (inj) 56.
