Moulden and Halbert on song as Glanmire take title

Glanmire Community School 1-15 Coláiste An Spioraid Naoimh 1-7

And much of the credit must go to team mentors Donal O’Sullivan and Seán McGrath, who made some astute tactical switches midway through the first half when Spioraid Naoimh were in the ascendancy.

Credit also to referee Seán Collins, who had a terrific match, enabling the game to flow freely throughout.

Certainly, however, Spioraid Naoimh looked the part in the opening quarter with Mark Power and Ross O’Dwyer in control at midfield and wing-back Robert Buie also on top of his game. But some poor finishing had them ahead by just a point, 0-3 to 0-2, after the opening quarter, two points coming from the excellent Ricky Kenny and the other from Anthony Seymour with Eamon McEvoy and the outstanding Daniel Moulden replying for Glanmire.

It got better for Spioraid Naoimh though 18 minutes into the contest when Kenny was up-ended by goalkeeper Brian McHugh and the Nemo player coolly slotted home the penalty. Jamie O’Sullivan followed with a point, but just when it was looking good for the city side those astute Glanmire switches came into play and it became a different game.

Centre-forward John Halbert moved to midfield and proceeded to give a man-of-the-match performance. Paul Horan switched to centre-forward from centre-back and midfielder Fergal O’Reilly filled the pivotal berth. It opened up new avenues for Glanmire and they were back in the game just before the break, when a terrific long ball from McEvoy put Dean Grainger in and he fired home a cracking goal to leave his side trailing by just a point at the break, 1-4 to 1-3.

Some performance from a fired up Glanmire in the second half, holding Spioraid Naoimh to just three points as they tore yawning gaps in the Bishopstown defence.

Halbert was behind most of the work, finishing with four points. Moulden was lethal, his tally coming to six, with Power scoring Spioraid Naoimh’s lone point in the third quarter, as Glanmire Community College surged into a 1-11 to 1-5 lead.

In fairness to Spioraid Naoimh, they battled away gamely and, after goalkeeper Matt Collins made a great save from Horan, Ross O’Dwyer cannoned a shot off the Glanmire cross-bar for the second time in the match.

But the match belonged to Glenville youngster Halbert and local boy Moulden, Spioraid Naoimh unable to cope with their power and panache as they marched triumphantly to Munster glory.

Scorers for Glanmire CC: D. Moulden 0-6 (0-1 free), J. Halbert 0-4, D. Grainger 1-1, E. McEvoy, P. Horan, F. O’Reilly, B. Kirby 0-1 each

CSN: R. Kenny 1-3, A. Seymour, J. O’Sullivan, M. Power, S. Flood 0-1 each.

GLANMIRE C.C: B. McHugh; A. Tobin, A. O’Connell, B. Ó Murchú, E. Young, P. Horan, M. Clifford, D. Moulden, F. O’Reilly, D. Grainger, J. Halbert, E. McEvoy, C. O’Sullivan, B. Kirby, L. Murphy.

CSN: M. Collins; C. Luttrell, R. Slattery, O. Byrne, D. Horgan, A. O’Neill, R. Buie, M. Power, R. O’Dwyer, C. Jones, R. Kenny, D. Maher, S. Rock, A. Seymour, J. O’Sullivan.

Referee: S. Collins (Carrigaline)