Healy inspires St Brigids to fourth title in a row
It was a victory that didn't look likely in the opening half as Scoil Ruain, putting their semi-final form behind them, led by double scores at the break, 0-10 to 0-5. However, using the wind to great advantage, Loughrea, with Healy leading by example, took over in the second half and there was no denying them their place in the history books.
Scoil Ruain got off to the perfect start when John Holohan cut a line ball from 30 metres over the bar after just a minute, but Loughrea were level a minute later through Frankie Burke before the Tipperary school took a firm grip.
Inspired by goalkeeper Gerry Kennedy and midfielders Michael Heffernan and Jamie McCormack, Keith Holohan took full advantage of some silly frees conceded by the Loughrea defence to knock over three points in a row to lead 0-8 to 0-3 after 20 minutes play. To be fair Loughrea created a couple of goal chances, but Kennedy was in sparkling form.
The defending champions endeavoured to break the Killenaule stranglehold on midfield by bringing out Niall Healy from full forward but it mattered little as Scoil Ruain, with Shane Long outstanding at corner forward and the Tipp minor hit two points which helped his side to an interval lead of 0-10 to 0-5.
St Brigids resumed the second half with Healy back at full-forward, corner-forward Finian Coone out as a third midfielder which succeeded in breaking the Killenaule grip in that area and, in the space of five minutes, the deficit was to just two points.
Niall Healy finally began to show his class and, following a great run, he rattled the Killenaule net for a goal in the 40th minute which put the defending champions in front for the first time.
Scoil Ruain were in dire need of a goal, if they were to have any chance, but their attack could make no impression on a Loughrea defence in which Donal Nevin, Dermot Clarke and Dermot Ryan were outstanding.
It took Killenaule until the 54th minute to open their second-half account, a point by William Coleman, but by then the champions had stretched their lead to two goals with four unanswered points, two of them from Maurice Callanan who took over the free taking duties from Healy.
To their credit Scoil Ruain did mount a late rally but their only reward was a Niall Teehan point.
Scorers St. Brigids: N. Healy 1-4 (0-3 frees); M. Callanan 0-4 (0-2 frees); A. Callanan 0-3; F. Burke, L. Geraghty 0-1 each.
Scoil Ruain: K. Holohan 0-5 (frees); S. Long 0-3; J. Holohan (free), D. Reilly, W. Coleman, N. Teehan 0-1 each.
ST. BRIGIDS: M. Herlihy; S. Burke, D. Nevin, D. Clarke; P. Holland, D. Ryan, L. Geraghty; M. Broderick, D. Reilly; M. Callanan, F. Burke, D. Whyte; F. Coone, N. Healy, A. Callanan.
SCOIL RUAIN: G. Kennedy; J. O'Dwyer, M. McCormack, E. Stokes; K. Krenny, N. Teehan, S. Cahill; M. Heffernan, J. McCormack; M. O'Brien, M. O'Connor, J. Coleman; S. Long, K. Hollohan, J. Holohan.
Subs used, D. Maguire, W. Coleman.
Referee, A. Stapleton (Laois).
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