Tralee CBS win battle of Kerry schools in Frewen Cup final

Tralee CBS also completed the Dunloe/Frewen Cup double and they will be major players in next year’s Corn Ui Mhuiri.

Ronan Carroll, captain Tralee CBS, celebrates with his teamates after defeating St. Pat's Castleisland in the Frewen Cup u-17 football final in Banteer. Photo: Don MacMonagle

Munster Colleges Frewen Cup (U-17A Football) Final: Tralee CBS 3-16 St Pat’s Castleisland CS 0-9

Tralee CBS were always fancied to beat St Pat’s SS in this year’s Frewen Cup final regardless of where it was played. The availability of the Austin Stack Park came too late to switch the final from sunny Banteer but it mattered little in the final analysis. 

St Pat’s, shorn of their two star players Killian Dennehy and Mike Horan, were always on the back foot were to suffer further heartache when excellent centre back Ruairi Brosnan was forced off after an awkward turn and he looked in considerable distress.

But this is not meant in any way to take from this superb Green side who were not only winning back to back Frewen Cups but were also completing the Dunloe/Frewen Cup double and they will be major players in next year’s Corn Ui Mhuiri.

Tralee CBS dominated the opening quarter thanks to some superb control exerted by Eoin O’Flaherty who moved out to midfield to join Pat Brosnan. The Green's running off the ball was top class.

Pat Brosnan Tralee CBS bursting through Ruairi Brosnan and Ciaran O'Connell St.Pats Castleisland in the Frewen Cup. Photo: Don MacMonagle

They raced 0-6 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter thanks the four points from full forward Ronan Carroll (2f’s) and one each from Tom Quilter and a sublime effort from the precocious Gearoid White.

Conor Cahill had St Pat’s sole reply from a free but it wasn’t that the Castleisland School was playing badly but they were just continually running into contact and being stripped of the ball.

Then in the 16th minute Tralee CBS carved open the St Pats defense as Gearoid White placed Cillian Hurley to finish to the net.

Gerard Costello and Conor Cahill converted a couple of frees each for St Pats were under the cosh before Man of the Match Ronan Carroll finished to the net and it was hard to see how St Pats could snatch the game from the flames in the second half as Tralee CBS retired 2-8 to 0-5 in front.

The second half was just a replica of the first with the Green in complete control with Eoin O’Flaherty, Tadgh O Slatara, the Hurley twins, the brilliant Gearoid White and Ronan Carroll adding scores.

Tralee CBS score a goal. Photo: Don MacMonagle

St Pats never stopped trying but they could not halt the Tralee CBS train as Carroll scored a third goal in the 49th minute as well as a point from play while Gearoid scored two more points that could have been goals but he opted to punch them over the bar. Ryan Hurley and Tom Quilter also added a brace of points as St Pats only managed one managed one point from play in the second half.

Despite the one sided nature of proceedings some of the Green play was breathtaking while St Pat’s would have needed a full squad to make it a contest.

Scorers: Tralee CBS: R Carroll (2-7, 4fs), C Hurley (1-0), G White and T Quilter (0-3 each), R Hurley (0-2), F Ryan (0-1). St Patricks SS: G Costello 0-6 (3fs), C Cahill (0-3 fs) 

Tralee CBS: O Lata (Austin Stacks); S Turner (Ballymacelligott), E Flaherty (Ardfert), B Pierce (Kerins O’Rahillys); E Moriarty ( Ballymac), T Ó Slatara (Churchill), M O’Sullivan (do); P Brosnan (Moyvane), F Ryan (Austin Stacks); C Hurley (St Senans), G White (John Mitchels), T Quilter (Churchill); R Hurley (St Senans), R Carroll (Austin Stacks), S Hickey (Churchill).

Subs: M Enright (St Pats/Blennerville) for B Pierce, N Lacey (Kerins O’Rahillys) for S Hickey (both H/T), J Rochford (Ballyduff) for M O’Sullivan (43), M Quirke (Ballymacelligott) for R Carroll, O Brosnan (John Mitchels) G White (both 54) 

St Pats SS: M Hickey (Cordal); D McCarthy (Currow), S Kelliher (Cordal), P Reidy (Ballymacelligott); J Bell (Knocknagoshel); R Brosnan (do), T Kelliher ( Cordal); C Walsh ( Scartaglin), T Jones (Cordal) ; C O’Connell (Ballymacelligott); D Healy (Currow), D Hickey ( Knocknagoshel) ; C Cahill (Knocknagoshel), G Costello (Cordal), J Ryan (Currow) Subs: R O’Connor (Currow) for P Reidy (18), P Reidy for R Brosnan (inj 29), Sean Barry (Firies) for D McCarthy, Gearoid Healy (Ballymacelligott) for D Hickey (Knocknagoshel), Eugene Deniel (Firies) for C O’Connell (all 56) 

Referee: S Carey (Limerick)