Corn Uí Mhuirí aristrocrats St Brendan’s end defiant Kenmare odyssey
Jamie Moynihan of St Brendan's in possession in the quarter-final win over Tralee CBS. Photo: Domnick Walsh
St Brendan's College Killarney quelled the fierce battling qualities of Corn Uí Mhuirí debutants PS Inbhear Sceine Kenmare in this all-Kerry semi-final played at a wintry Mallow on Saturday afternoon
The 24-time winners were pushed all the way but their reward is a final meeting with the all-conquering Mercy Mounthawk side in two weeks' time.
The Sem always appeared to be in control thanks to some outstanding play by Jamie Moynihan at midfield and a solid defence ably led by the imperious Cian Mulcahy from wing back. But Inbhear Sceine just refused to go away thanks to inspirational play by Donnacha O’Sullivan, Jack O’Sullivan and a well organised defence with Jack Sweeney, David O’Connor and David O’Brien outstanding.
The Kenmare just did not have the scoring power of the Sem and this was evident from the stat that saw the winners outscore their opponents 11-2 from play.
The first half was an arm wrestle with the Sem racing 0-4 to 0-1 in front by the end of the opening quarter thanks to points from Joey McCarthy (2), Jamie Moynihan and Oisin Fleming while Jack Tangney had converted an early Kenmare free.
Then the Sem suffered a setback after Fleming scored that point in the 15th minute, when he was shown a black card for tripping a Kenmare defender as he tried to move into open space.
David Grebowiec then made it 0-4 to 0-2 and with Jack O’Sullivan and Donnacha O’Sullivan embarking on surging runs through the middle of the Sem defence, the game was delicately poised. But St Brendan's upped their game without Oisín Fleming and Josh Bowler and two monster points from Jamie Moynihan from distance ensured that Sem kept their noses in front. Tangney, Neal O’Shea and a late Donnacha O’Sullivan free ensured that St Brendan's lead at half time (0-7 to 0-5) was not what their management would be happy with.
But the game swung the Sem’s way after a devastating opening two minutes on resumption. First Jamie Moynihan burst through from the throw-in to kick a superb point and then Josh Bowler set up wing back Cian Mulcahy for a goal. Suddenly it was a six-point game, 1-8 to 0-5, and Kenmare faced an uphill struggle.
Tangney and Donnacha O’Sullivan kept them within range from frees but the Sem, thanks to Bowler and Fleming, moved seven clear.
But Inbhear Sceine in typical fashion refused to throw in the towel and a Tangney free was followed by a Donnacha O’Sullivan goal in the 64th minute, to reduce the deficit to just a goal. But Liam O’Brien scored a late point on the counter attack and Inbhear Sceine’s debut Corn Ui Mhuiri odyssey was over.
J Moynihan (0-4, 1f), C Mulcahy (1-0), O Fleming (0-3), J McCarthy (1f), J Bowler and L O’Brien (0-2 each).
J Tangney (0-6 frees), D O’Sullivan (1-2, 2fs), N O’Shea and D Grebowiec (0-1 each)
K Robak (Dr Crokes); C Fleming (Listry), D Stack (Kilcummin), B Walsh (Killarney Legion); J Rudden (Glenflesk), A Byrne (Dr Crokes), C Mulcahy (do); J Moynihan (Glenflesk), O O’Neill (Spa); T O’Gorman (Fossa), J McCarthy (Spa), M O’Carroll (Dr Crokes), B Kelliher (Dr Crokes), J Bowler (Legion), O Fleming (do).
L O’Brien (Glenflesk) for B Kelliher (51), Z Cronin (Kilcummin) for M O’Carroll (55), A Buckley (Kilcummin) for T O’Gorman (58)
B Fitzsimons (Shamrocks); B O’Callaghan (do), D O’Connor (do), J Sweeney (do); D O’Brien (do), L O’Sullivan (do), R MacGearailt (do); J O’Sullivan (do), M Tangney (do); K O’Sullivan (Kilgarvan), D O’Sullivan (Tuosist), S O’Donoghue (Kilgarvan); N O’Shea (Shamrocks), J Tangney (do), D Grebowiec (do).
L Brown ( Shamrocks) for S O’Donoghue (h/t), M O’Mahony (Templenoe) for D Grebowiec (40), A O’Sullivan (Shamrocks) for N O’Shea (45), M Jones (Shamrocks) for J Sweeney ( 54), R O’Byrne (Templenoe) for D O’Brien (61)
E Walsh (Rathmore)
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