Castleisland leave Mounthawk’s three-in-a-row Corn Uí Mhuirí bid in the dust
ALL SET: Mercy Mounthawk's Ruairi Kennedy, with referee Evan Horan and his St Pat's Castleisland counterpart Michael Horan ahead of their Corn Ui Mhuiri clash in Currans.
ALL good things come to an end and Mercy Mounthawk, Tralee's bid for three Corn Ui Mhuiri titles in a row is now out of their hands following defeat by a Killian Dennehy-inspired St Pat's in Currans.
It is not quit the shock it seems - the bulk of the 2024 and 2025 Mounthawk side have moved on, including star names like Paddy Lane, Ben Murphy, Tomas Kennedy and Daniel Kirby. Mounthawk drew with Cashel CS first day out and now have to beat their fiercest rivals Tralee CBS and hope St Pats lose to Cashel CS to give them a chance of staying alive.
They went close to ending Castleisland’s interest here but gifted St Pat's a lifeline when their Kerry minor keeper Rauiri Kennedy made an inexplicable error in the 18th minute in allowing a Liam O’Connor mishit free drop from his hands into his net. From the kickout, Michael Horan collected and fired into the top corner, for a two goal salvo inside a minute.
Mercy Mounthawk were the dominant side for the opening 17 minutes, thanks to some excellent teamwork from David Sargent at centre back, Alex Tuohy and Harry Murphy at midfield and the marauding Aaron Harty on the 40.
The Tralee side raced 1-6 to 0-2 inside 16 minutes with Darragh Lyons scoring a seventh minute goal, while Aaron Harty (two frees), Michael Sommers (free) and points from play from Alex Tuohy and Harry Murphy had St Pat's on the back foot.
Michael Horan had kicked two first quarter points for Pat's but the two goal burst saw St Pats move to within a point and with Killian Dennehy finding his feet at midfield, it was a real contest until the interval with Sommers and Harty adding points from frees for Mounthawk while Gerard Costello with two and Danny Hickey replied, ensuring the sides retired level on 2-5 to 1-8.
Conditions deteriorated in the second half but it was St Pat's who looked the more likely with Killian Dennehy, Michael Horan, Liam O’Connor and Gerard Costello all thundering into the game, as well as centre back Ruairi Brosnan.
Dennehy kicked two points, Liam O’Connor two frees and one from play while Adam Griffin popped up with superb point from wingback.
Aaron Harty’s black card did not help Mounthawk but a Michael Sommers two pointer and a Conor McGibney special saw Mounthawk trail 2-12 to 1-11 as the game approached the hour mark. Then Alex Touhy scrambled a Mounthawk goal to leave the bare minimum between the sides in the 62nd minute. But a Ciaran O’Connell turnover and a Michael Horan insurance point saw St Pats over the line.
L O’Connor (1-3, 1-2fs), M Horan (1-3), G Costello (0-3), K Dennehy (0-2, 1f), D Hickey and A Griffin (0-1 each).
M Sommers (0-5, 3fs, 1tpf), A Tuohy (1-1), D Lyons (1-0), A Harty (0-3fs), H Murphy and C McGibney (0-1 each).
M Hickey(Cordal); P Reidy (Ballymac), S Kelliher (Cordal), N Fitzgerald (Desmonds); A Griffin (Cordal) , R Brosnan (Currow), R O’Connor (Currow) ; T Jones (Cordal), K Dennehy (Cordal); L O’Connor (Desmonds), C Walsh (Desmonds), T Kelliher (Cordal); D Hickey (Desmonds), G Costello (Cordal), M Horan (Scartaglen)..
: J Ryan (Currow) for S Kelliher (48), C O’Connell (Ballymac) for D Hickey (54).
R. Kennedy (Kerins O'Rahillys); E. Crowley (Churchill), K. O'Shea (Firies), S. O'Neill (Kerins O'Rahillys); D. Lyons (Austin Stacks), D. Sargent (John Mitchels), D Hobbert ( Austin Stacks); A. Touhy (Austin Stacks), H. Murphy (Austin Stacks); M. O'Connor (Ballymac), A. Harty (Churchill), C McGibney (Churchill); B Meahan (Kerins O’Rahilly), D Harty (Churchill), M. Sommers (St. Senans).
: B Litchfield (Austin Stacks) for B Meehan (27), S Abdullah (John Mitchels) for D Harty (37), S Abubaker (Na Gaeil) for M O’Connor (43), A. Johnson (Austin Stacks) for D Hobbert (55).
: E Horan (Glenflesk)
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
