A team of talented young sportsmen from hill and valley flew the flag for their highly pedigreed sporting college, St. Patrick’s Boys’ Secondary by winning a second Munster Colleges Football title in a couple of months.
Friday April 24th turned out to be a historic day for the teachers and students of St. Patrick’s Secondary School, Castleisland when they claimed their second Munster Colleges football title this year by winning the U-16 ½ Bobby Buckley Cup having won the U15 ½ Munster Colleges title earlier in the year.
St. Patrick’s Secondary School 3 – 9 Mitchelstown CBS 3 -7
A superb second half display by the boys from St. Patrick’s was required to bring the second colleges title to Castleisland. The Islanders were 2-4 to 1-3 down at half time and the Mitchelstown full-forward C O’Mahony was giving a masterclass. He had goaled twice in the opening half and only for a very timely block by St. Patrick’s Jack Daly he would have got a third. At half time it looked like it was going to be the Cork side’s day.
Showed Composure
The St. Patrick’s boys came out in the second half and showed composure and a fighting spirit that was to be the key to a pulsating second half. Sean and Eddie Horan played inspirational football and with Shane O’Donoghue at centre back giving a superb display. Eddie Horan moved to mid field with Kieran O’Donoghue and the ship was now steady. Shane O’Donoghue came from centre-back and scored a crucial goal in the 35th minute followed by well taken point by Sean Horan. Adam Donoghue and Josh Kerin played key defensive roles in the fight back. Mitchelstown would not give in and in the 42nd minute the excellent full forward O’Mahony struck again with a goal to give the Cork boys a one point lead.
Three-Point Cushion
With 20 minutes left on the clock the Kerry boys would not give in and scored five points without reply and a well taken Sean Horan goal gave them a three point cushion in the closing minutes. Mitchelstown had some chances to pull back but excellent defensive play saw the St. Patrick’s boys hold on for a historic Munster title.
This victory is just reward for this team and their coaches John O’Sullivan, Patrick McCarthy and John Forrest. They have given huge commitment to training during the year outside school hours and during holidays. Their fighting spirit and individual commitment to the team proved to be the cornerstone of their success.
The Munster Champions
The team: Jason Cronin, Cordal; Sean Brosnan, Currow; Jack Daly, Capt. Currow; Josh Kerin, Scartaglen, Adam Donoghue; Castleisland Desmonds, Shane O’Donoghue, Firies; David Shanahan, Castleisland Desmonds; Darragh O’Connell, Knocknagoshel; Patrick O’Connor, Cordal; Luke Fitzgerald, Currow; Kieran O’Donoghue, Cordal; Sean Horan, Scartaglin; Eddie Horan, Scartaglin; Shay Walsh, Scartaglin; Stephen Murphy, Castleisland Desmonds; Adam Manley, Currow.
