St Brendan's Killarney double up with Kerry colleges football title

St Brendan's' Jack Culloty, grandson of Johnny Culloty, and Tom Lenihan for the Green both finished with 0-5 but the most impressive player for the Sem was Kilcummin midfielder Cian Stack. 

The St Brendan's Killarney celebrate victory in the Kerry Colleges Russell Cup (U15A) final in Tralee. Pic: Adrienne McLaughlin

Russell Cup (Kerry U15 AFC final): St Brendan's Killarney 2-10 Tralee CBS 0-10

ST Brendans College Killarney made it a U15 PPS county and provincial double for the season with another victory over their Tralee CBS rivals in Wednesday's Russell Cup final.

This final wasn’t the usual free flowing contest one associates with college’s finals at this age grade nor was it as exciting as the Munster Taft Cup final meeting between the schools last November. A tricky cross wind made life difficult for the players and there were lots of handling errors in the first half.

In mitigation the Green were missing a couple of key players especially Danny Kingston, but nothing should take away from the St Brendans win.

The Sem had the first major goal chance in the 15th minute when Roan Guerin bore down on goal. He transferred the ball to Daniel Cronin whose shot was foot-blocked for a penalty, and though Green goalkeeper Darragh O’Connor got a glove to Guerin’s penalty strike, the goal put the Sem 1-1 to 0-2 in front. Churchill’s Tom Lenihan (2) and Stephen Shanahan put the Green back ahead with three unanswered scores as the Sem needed a point from Samuel Scroope before the break to go in level at 1-2 to 0-5.

Paul Barden, Chairman Kerry Schools GAA, presented the Russell Cup to St. Brendans Killarney captain, Samuel Scroope. Pic: Adrienne McLaughlin

The Sem made a brighter opening to the second half , scoring the first three points. The score that effectively ended the contest came in the 49th minute though when Daragh Keane gave a magnificent pass to the inrushing Samuel Scroope who found the net to make it 2-8 to 0-7.

St Brendan's' Jack Culloty, grandson of Johnny Culloty, and Lenihan for the Green, both finished with 0-5 but the most impressive player for the Sem was their midfielder Cian Stack. 

St Brendan's scorers: J Culloty (0-5, 3fs), S Scroope (1-1), R Guerin (1-0 pen), I Vickers (0-2), R Vickers and D Keane (0-1 each).

Tralee CBS scorers: T Lenihan (0-5, 2fs), E Tansley, S Shanahan, D O’Callaghan, D Lane and J Doyle (0-1 each).

ST BRENDAN'S: J Murphy (Legion); R Downing (Spa), R O’Brien (Legion), T O’Donoghue (Spa); M Looney (Legion), C Clifford (Dr Crokes), C Lynch (Dr Crokes); C Stack (Kilcummin), R Guerin (Glenflesk; D Stack (Spa), S Scroope (Legion), I Vickers (Firies; D Keane (Kilcummin, D Cronin (Firies), J Culloty (Legion).

Subs: R Vickers (Firies) for D Cronin. K Kelly (Dr Crokes) for D Stack (both 50), C O’Leary (Spa) for C Lynch (Inj, 59).

TRALEE CBS: D O’Connor (John Mitchels); J Brosnan (Ballymacelligott), R Kirby (Ardfert), C Dunne (Kerins O’Rahillys); S Shanahan (St Senans), J Casey (Austin Stacks), D McMahon (Ballymacelligott); A Molloy (John Mitchels), J Collins (Ballymacelligott); D O’Callaghan (Na Gaeil), T Lenihan (Churchill), G Deasy (Churchill); D Lane (Austin Stacks), M Corridan (Ardfert), E Tansley (Na Gaeil).

Subs: L H O’Meara (John Mitchels) for D O’Callaghan, L Donovan (Ardfert) for D Lane (both 42), J Doyle (Annascaul) for A Molloy (50), J Delaney (Austin Stacks) for C Dunne (55).

Referee: E Horan (Glenflesk)