Awesome Brogan’s signal intentions

St. Brogan’s, Bandon 2-15 Coachford College 0-10

They enjoyed a crushing victory over Coachford College in the Munster Vocational Schools SFC final under lights at Páirc Uí Rinn last night.

Superbly drilled in the skills of the game, Brogan’s produced a marvellous display and had their Munster title retained long before the final whistle.

Coachford, who defeated Brogan’s in the Cork championship earlier this year, were expected to make a bold bid to topple the champions. But they had no answer to Brogan’s slick football. .

One of the principal differences between the sides was that all but two of Brogans’ scores came from play, while Coachford could only manage three scores, the other six points coming from frees by Timmy Murphy.

Brogan’s played with wind advantage in the opening half but it was Coachford who had the first scoring chance when David O’Sullivan’s effort came back off the upright after a great run.

The champions settled well after the early scare and with Chris O’Donovan and David Lynch giving them a grip at midfield, they were leading 0-6 to 0-2 after 15 minutes,.

Unable to make any worthwhile headway in attack due to the excellence of James O’Donovan, Ger O’Driscoll and Stephen Keohane, Coachford struggled for scores and, at the break, the champions led 0-9 to 0-3, the Mid Cork school failing to score for the last 15 minutes of the half.

With the elements to their back on the change over, Coachford threatened to make a match of it with two quick points from Timmy Murphy and Denis O’Sullivan. However it was only a temporary respite as Brogan’s hit back with a brace of points and, at the end of the third quarter, had stretched their lead to seven points, 0-12 to 0-5.

All credit to Coachford, who continued to press at every opportunity. But Brogan’s, with Kevin Canty now operating to great effect as a third midfielder and Ronan McCarthy sparkling on the wing, struck for their first goal in the 55th minute.

Using his strength to great effect, Canty drove forward from midfield before launching a huge kick goalwards which fell kindly to Pat O’Mahony, who easily found the net.

The remaining minutes were totally dominated by Brogan’s who added a second goal by substitute Odhrain Keane when he fisted Hughie O’Donovan’s cross to the net, and Brogan’s were comfortable winners.

Scorers: St. Brogan’s: P. O’Mahony 1-5; R. McCarthy 0-4; O. Keane 1-0; H. O’Donovan 0-3 (0-2 frees); C. O’Donovan 0-2; S. Keohane 0-1. Coachford: T. Murphy 0-8 (0-7 frees); Denis O’Sullivan, David O’Sullivan 0-1 each.

ST. BROGAN’S: K. Kelly; A. O’Leary, J. O’Donovan, R. Cashman; G. O’Driscoll, S. Keohane, C. O’Leary; C. O’Donovan, D. Lynch; J. Moynihan, P. O’Mahony, R. McCarthy; H. O’Donovan, K. Canty, D. O’Callaghan. Subs. D. Crowley for O’Leary; O. Keane for Moynihan; D. Duggan for O’Leary; F. Keane for Cashman; B. Kelleher for David O’Sullivan.

COACHFORD: K. Hogan; J. O’Callaghan, D. Twomey, C. Crowley; N. O’Regan, O. Healy, M. O’Sullivan; S. O’Mahony, M. Healy; Denis O’Sullivan, D. Foley, T. Murphy; David O’Sullivan, S. Chambers, D. O’Leary; Subs. J. O’Riordan for Healy; P. McAuliffe for Foley; B. Perrott for Chambers.

Referee: M. Collins (Clonakilty).