St Brendan’s put first name on trophy

ST BRENDAN’S CS, Birr were the convincing inaugural winners of the All-Ireland Community and& Comprehensive Schools U-17½ hurling championship title after they overwhelmed Blackwater CS of Waterford at Nowlan Park, Kilkenny yesterday.

St Brendan’s captain Eoin Hayes accepted the Brother Denis Minehane Cup from the Cork native who transferred to Birr in 1961.

Brother Denis was a very influential figure in Offaly’s rise to hurling prominence during the 1980’s, a decade where the Faithful won All-Ireland senior and minor titles, and in 1986 St Brendan’s secured their only All-Ireland Colleges’ SHC crown.

Sean T O’Connor bagged the first of his two goals in the 15th minute, which helped to give his side a 1-5 to 0-4 cushion.

The accuracy of Blackwater’s skilful Stephen Bennett, assisted by Peter O’Keeffe and Killian O’Sullivan, saw the deficit reduced to two points on two occasions.

However, a fine Chris Guilfoyle point followed by Kevin Dunne’s excellent goal, executed with soccer-like skills after he’d lost his hurley, ensured that breeze-aided St Brendan’s enjoyed a commanding 2-8 to 0-8 interval advantage.

Blackwater struggled to ignite during the concluding half.

They moved centre back Shane Roche forward to bolster their attack and even his two great points weren’t enough to lift their flagging challenge.

O’Connor’s opportunistic second goal in the 42nd minute made it 3-10 to 0-9.

The fourth goal was rifled home by Darragh Cleary after a clever move that involved O’Connor, Paddy Mullins and Dunne.

Scorers for St Brendan’s CS: ST O’Connor (2-1), K Dunne, D Cleary (1-1) each, P Mullins (0-3), C Mulrooney, C Guilfoyle (0-2) each, E Nolan (0-1 free).

Scorers for Blackwater: S Bennett (0-7, 0-4 frees), P O’Keeffe, S Roche (0-2 each), K O’Sullivan (0-1).

ST BRENDAN’S CS, BIRR: K O’Connor; N Bergin, B Connors, C Hogan; C Walsh, E Hayes, E Pilkington; C Fitzgerald, C Mulrooney; E Nolan, C Guilfoyle, P Mullins; ST O’Connor, K Dunne, D Cleary.

Subs: S O’Connor for Hogan (18 mins), J Molloy for ST O’Connor (58), C Doughan for Pilkington inj. (63).

BLACKWATER CS, LISMORE: S Barry; J Ring, M Fitzgerald, J Hannon; D O’Brien, S Roche, J Barron; P Coleman, C Murray; D Murphy, C Leamy, K Casey; S Bennett (, K O’Sullivan, P O’Keeffe.

Subs: C Roche for Murphy (half time), K Bennett for Coleman (42), M Kearney for Murray (42), S Bennett for O’Keeffe (63).

Referee: Eamon Mansfield