Ben Murphy inspires Mounthawk to victory in all-Kerry Corn Uí Mhuirí final

Tralee school Mounthawk scored goals early in both halves. 

Dara Stack of St Brendan's College, Killarney in action against Paddy Lane of Mercy Mounthawk during their TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí Under 19A Football Final in Lewis Road, Killarney on Saturday. Photo by Tatyana McGough

Corn Uí Mhuirí final: Mercy Mounthawk 2-11 St Brendan's Killarney (The Sem) 0-10

Mercy Mounthawk completed back to back Corn Uí Mhuirí title wins when they beat St Brendan's College Killarney in an all Kerry final played before a big crowd at the Dr Crokes pitch.

Inspired by Ben Murphy at midfield and Tomás Kennedy up front, their experience and scoring power proved too much for a well-drilled Sem side who would have been much closer if they had taken two first half goals chances plus Joey McCarthy had his spot kick saved by Ruairi Kennedy late on.

Mercy Mounthawk got a serious gut check in the opening half from this St Brendan's College side but it was evident from early on that the champions possessed superior scoring power. The Sem served notice that they were underdogs in name only when Jamie Moynihan won the throw in and when the ball reached Ben Kelliher he turned and gave his side a twenty five second lead. But that was to be St Brendan's solitary score from play in the opening half as Mounthawk, mainly through the searing runs of Ben Murphy, punished the Sem for turning over the ball at regular intervals.

GOAL for @MounthawkMercy! 👏

Tomas Kennedy rises highest in the square and finishes it! Is that the decider in the tie? 🏆https://t.co/QU7uPhpieW 📺 pic.twitter.com/sqoPqGZy8h

— Clubber (@clubber) February 8, 2025

Murphy set up Aaron Harty who saw his effort being tipped over the bar by Kasper Robak. Then Mounthawk struck for the only goal of the opening half in the sixth minute. Ben Murphy raced through from inside his own half, right into the St Brendan's danger zone and when tackled he passed to wing-back Padraig O’Halloran who finished to the net. 

Tomás Kennedy added a brace of points from play while Paddy Lane converted a free for a foul on Murphy and suddenly Mounthawk led 1-5 to 0-1 at the end of opening quarter.

CHAMPIONS: Mercy Mounthawk defended their Corn Uí Mhuirí title with a seven-point victory over The Sem in Killarney. Pic: Mercy Mounthawk / X

St Brendan's had a goal chance when Ben Kelliher got in but Ruairí Kennedy denied him. Points from two Joey McCarthy frees and another free from Jamie Moynihan saw the Sem close the gap, though Daniel Kirby left Mounthawk 1-6 to 0-4 in front at half-time.

St Brendan's began the second half with purpose and added two points from Josh Bowler and Mark O’Carroll but Mounthawk more or less ended the game as a contest, when they added 1-3 without reply with Tomás Kennedy scoring a brilliant goal when he rose highest to collect a Paddy Lane centre and finished to the Sem net.

Mounthawk were now within touching distance of the title at 2-9 to 0-6 with a 55th minute penalty for the Sem causing a ripple of doubt but when Kennedy dived to his right to deny Joey McCarthy, it was all over as Mercy Mounthawk posted back-to-back titles with a seven point victory.

Scorers for Mercy Mounthawk: T Kennedy (1-2), P Lane (0-5, 2fs, 1’45), P O’Halloran (1-0), D Kirby, B Murphy, S Corkery and A Harty (0-1 each).

Scorers for St Brendan's College Killarney: J McCarthy ( 0-5fs), C Mulcahy, J Moynihan ( f), M O’Carroll, B Kelliher, J Bowler and L O’Brien( 0-1 each).

MERCY MOUNTHAWK: R Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys); Breandán Meehan (Kerins O’Rahillys), B Sharp (St Pats/Blennerville), J Fisher (Austin Stacks); P O’Halloran (Austin Stacks), D Sargent (John Mitchels), G Casey (Austin Stacks); D Kirby (Austin Stacks), B Murphy (Austin Stacks); A Tuohy (Austin Stacks), T Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys), S Corkery (John Mitchels); C Bastible (Austin Stacks), P Lane, (Austin Stacks), A Harty (Churchill) 

Subs: B Doyle ( Churchill) for A Harty ( h/t), J Hoare ( Kerins O’Rahillys ) for C Bastible ( 44), C McGibney ( Churchill) for S Corkery( 56), O Kerins ( Kerins O’Rahillys) for A Tuohy ( 59), K O’Donoghue ( Na Gaeil) for P O’Halloran ( 63).

ST BRENDAN'S COLLEGE KILLARNEY: K Robak (Dr Crokes); D Brosnan (Spa), D Stack (Kilcummin), C Fleming (Listry); J Rudden (Glenflesk), A Byrne (Dr Crokes), C Mulcahy (Dr Crokes); J Moynihan ( Glenflesk), O O’Neill ( Spa); T O’Gorman ( Spa) J McCarthy ( Spa), M O’Carroll ( Dr Crokes), B Kelliher ( Dr Crokes), J Bowler ( Legion), O Fleming ( Legion) 

Subs: D Brosnan ( Spa) for T O’Gorman ( 36), L O’Brien ( Glenflesk) for B Walsh ( 44), D O’Meara ( Fossa) for J Bowler ( 51), M Kenneally ( Fossa) for M O’Carroll ( 52), Z Cronin ( Kilcummin) for J Rudden ( 56) 

Referee: D O’Callaghan (Limerick)