First Munster title for Castletroy

Castletroy 3-10 DLS Macroom 3-5 (aet)

The Mid Cork school hit the woodwork five times with scores at their mercy and they were made to pay by a well drilled Castletroy team appearing in their first provincial final. It appeared to be going according to the script when this highly rated Castletroy side scorched into a 2-5 to 0-1 lead after 20 minutes, thanks to goals by Brian Kelly and Dara Connolly.

The Limerick side were a joy to watch in that opening sequence. Rock solid in defence where centre back Gary O’Toole was superb, they threatened to completely over-run the Cork school. However, the potential of the DLS forward line was seen in the 20th minute when Shane Pierce’s effort came back off the crossbar when a goal looked on.

After finally weathering the Castletroy onslaught, principally due to outstanding defending by Richard McSweeney, Rory Buckley and Stephen O’Rourke, the Macroom side took over for the remaining minutes of the half. They finally breached the Castletroy defence when Con Dunne fisted a goal from Kieran Desmond’s cross, and it was all to play for at the break as the Limerick side went in 2-5 to 1-3 in front. Macroom continued to dictate matters on the change-over and when Stephen Murphy billowed the net for his side’s second goal, it was game on.

It got better for Macroom when substitute Dillon Bradfield slipped home a third goal, and from a position of being 10 points in arrears, the Cork side were now just a point adrift. Only a superb save by goalkeeper Dara Frawley denied Macroom the lead when he somehow managed to deflect Ian Wiseman’s pile driver over the bar for the equalising score and with both sides failing to score for the remaining 10 minutes, extra time was needed. The outstanding Enna Kennedy edged Castletroy in front with a point in the opening period before Ralph Parkes took a shot by Gavin Cronin off the line to prevent Macroom going in front.

Castletroy continued to live on their nerves in the second period before Dara Connolly eased the pressure, and they hung on for a victory that they just about deserved.

Scorers for Castletroy: D. Connolly 2-1; E. Connolly 0-4 (0-2 frees); B. Kelly 1-1; D. Byrne 0-2; C. Joyce, R. Kelly 0-1 each.

DLS Macroom: C. Dunne 1-1; S. Murphy, D. Bradfield 1-0 each; I. Wiseman 0-2; G. Cronin, S. Pierce 0-1 each.

CASTLETROY: D. Frawley; D. Richardson, J. McDermott, R. Parkes; M. Foley, G. O’Toole, G. O’Hanlon; E. Kennedy, R. O’Mahony; C. Joyce, D. Connolly, R. Kelly; B. Kelly, D. Byrne, C. Moran. Sub. C. Woods for Byrne.

DLS MACROOM: M. Ambrose; R. McSweeney, R. Buckley, S. O’Rourke; I. Lehane, G. O’Riordan, D. Murphy; K. Desmond, J. O’Leary; S. Pierce, C. Dunne, S. Murphy; G. Cronin, I. Wiseman, D. O’Riordan.

Subs. D. Bradfield for O’Riordan; B. Cronin for Lehane.

Referee: J. O’Mahony (Kanturk).