Skipper’s return inspires Flannans to All-Ireland title

St Flannans2-15 St Kierans2-12

In a game that only came to life in the last quarter, the Dr Harty Cup champions deserved their success, if only for the way they hung on when Kierans were at their very best.

The game marked the return to duty of Flannans captain James McInerney, who hadn't played with his school since before Christmas due to a hamstring injury. While not as fit as he would have liked, he made a significant contribution to his side's exciting victory.

Colin Ryan and Bernard Gaffney figured prominently. Ryan's contribution was immense. Apart from scoring seven of his side's points tally from placed balls, he gave Flannans a grip in midfield.

Gaffney finished the game with a goal and three points, all from play, and his last point, in injury time, was a magnificent effort on the run.

Kierans had a number of outstanding players Maurice Nolan's free-taking was as good as Ryan's, while the Hogan brothers, Richie and Patrick, did the bulk of their scoring.

Flannans lined out with McInerney at midfield and got off to the best possible start with three points on the trot, two of them Colin Ryan frees.

It was all Flannans early on, and that was reflected on the scoreboard after seven minutes when Bernard Gaffney touched home a goal after the sliotar came back off the upright.

The cheering had hardly died down when Kierans struck for their opening goal, and like Gaffney's effort, it had an element of good fortune.

Patrick Hogan drove a long-range free deep into the Flannans square and when goalkeeper Patrick Kelly failed to clear, Richie Hogan pounced.

While the game lacked any real sparkle, the closeness of the scores held the spectators' interest and the sides were level at the end of the opening quarter after Maurice Nolan pointed two frees in a row.

It was nip and tuck through the next quarter as points were exchanged, but after Flannans hit three wides in a row, Kierans rocked the Munster champions with a second goal.

Patrick Hogan chased a ball going wide, kept it in play, rounded two defenders and shot low to the net to help his side to an interval lead of 2-5 to 1-7.

The game lacked sparkle in the third quarter but there were some outstanding performances, notably from Kierans' Nolan and TJ Reid, and Seamus Hickey for Flannans.

It needed something special to finally ignite this final, and it came in the 47th minute when Colm Madden sent Niall Killeen away with a perfect pass and the Flannans youngster sent a powerful shot to the net.

Finally, a game that had laid dormant sprang to life and from there to the finish followers were treated to a rousing contest.

Three times in the closing minutes the sides were level before Flannans keeper Patrick Kelly denied Donnacha Fitzpatrick a certain goal.

As the tension mounted, Flannans made the switch which proved decisive. McInerney, hampered by his hamstring injury, swapped places with Bernard Gaffney. In his new role the Flannans captain won a free, which Ryan, pointed and scored one himself and they finished in style with a superb point by Gaffney on the run to give the Ennis college their first title in five years and their 13th in all.

Scorers: St Flannans: C. Ryan 0-7 (0-5 frees, 0-2 65); B. Gaffney 1-3; N. Killeen 1-0; G. Arthur, J. McInerney (0-1 free) 0-2 each; D. O'Halloran 0-1.

St Kierans: M. Nolan 0-5 (0-4 frees); R. Hogan 1-3 (0-2 frees); P. Hogan 1-1 (0-1 free); TJ Reid 0-2; JJ Farrell 0-1.

ST KIERANS: N. Cleere; E. O'Shea, S. Campion, J. Dowling; J. Dermody, N. Prendergast, J. Lawlor; P. Hogan, TJ Reid; M. Walsh, M. Nolan, M. Walsh; R. Hogan, JJ O'Neill, S. Brennan.

Subs: N. Tennyson for Dermody; D. Fitzpatrick for M. Walsh.

ST FLANNANS: P. Kelly; C. O'Doherty, J. Moloney, M. O'Donnell; C. Neylon, S. Hickey, G. Hannigan; D. O'Halloran, C. Ryan; N. Killeen, J. Neylon, C. Madden; G. Arthur, B. Gaffney, C. Tierney.

Subs: C. Tierney for Killeen; I. Colleran for Neylon; G. Lyons for O'Halloran.

Referee: N. Cosgrove (Tipperary).