O'Connell the star turn as Tarbert secure back-to-back Kerry titles

On a new pitch in Firies, a rarity - in a December deluge, a free dropping short bounce high over the crossbar!

Kerry Post Primary Schools Secretary Christy Killeen presents the Moynihan Cup to Tarbert CS captain Liam Hanrahan in Firies.

Kerry Colleges U18BFC final: Tarbert CS 3-12 SPSL Rathmore 2-12.

A strong first half from Tarbert Comprehensive laid the foundations for a hard-earned win in Kerry's PPS U19BFC final in Firies' new pitch which was in superb condition, despite a morning deluge.

Evidence if required? A December free dropping short bounce high over the crossbar as startled Tarbert defenders looked on.

Tarbert CS dominated around the middle third with the diamond of James Kissane, Donal Finucane, Donnadh Daly and Darragh Mullane and they had SPSL Rathmore on the back foot for most of the opening half.

But their match winner was wing forward Tadgh O’Connell - a grandson of Patsy ‘Skin” O’Connell - who was the scorer in chief. O’Connell kicked his side’s first four points in the opening quarter as Tarbert CS raced 0-4 to 0-2 in front with Rathmore replaying with frees from Cathal Casey and Cillian Moynihan. O’Connell and Mullane pushed Tarbert four clear before Tadgh O’Connell was at the end of a flowing Tarbert move involving James Kissane and captain Liam Hanrahan, to finish to the Rathmore net. Minutes later the East Kerry school appeared to get a lifeline when a long range Moynihan free went all the way to the Tarbert net. But the victors responded with a goal of their own with Darragh O’Donoghue finishing a rebound from a Dylan Buckley effort parried by keeper Odrain Carroll.

Tarbert CS's outstanding fullback Dylan Twomey scored a fine point to see his end the opening half 2-9 to 1-3 in front, with Rathmore failing to score from play in the opening half.

But the momentum swung Rathmore’s way just a minute into second half, when Tarbert corner back Fionn Byrne received a second yellow and the extra man saw the East Kerry side battle their way back into the game. But not before O’Connell struck for his second goal.

Moynihan was deadly accurate from frees and he scored three unanswered points with Jack Murphy and Cathal O’Keeffe also kicking points off the bench and once Oisin Healy found the Tarbert net in the 52nd minute, the gap was down to four.

Though Tarbert rallied with a Mullane point, O’Connor and Moynihan with two points closed the gap to just two, before Tarbert countered and won a penalty for a foul on Kealen Lonergan - Tadgh O’Connell took his point to secure back to back Moynihan Cup wins and the last schools title of 2025.

Scorers for Tarbert CS: T O’Connell (2-7, 0-1 pen, 2fs), D O’Donoghue (1-0), D Mullane (0-3), D Twomey and D Finucane (0-1 each).

SPSL Rathmore: C Moynihan (1-6, 1-5f), O Hurley (1-0), C Casey (0-2fs), J Murphy (f), D O’Connor, C O’Keeffe and D Bowler (0-1 each).

TARBERT CS: C O’Donnell (Tarbert); F Byrne (Ballylongford), D Twomey (Listowel Emmets), M Finucane (Tarbert); L Hanrahan (Ballylongford), J Kissane (Moyvane), M Carmody (Tarbert); D Finucane (Tarbert), D Daly (Glin); T O’Connell (Tarbert), D Mullane (Gerald Griffins), K Lonergan (Glin); D Buckley (Tarbert), C Byrne (Ballylongford), D O’Donoghue ( Moyvane).

Subs: D Kennedy (Tarbert) for C Byrne (38), L O’Sullivan (Ballylongford) for D Buckley (47), M Kearney (Moyvane) D O’Donoghue (58).

SPSL RATHMORE: O Carroll (Gneeveguilla); N Thompson (Rathmore), A Thompson (Rathmore), E Buckley (Gneeveguilla); C Fitzgerald (Rathmore), D O’Connor (Rathmore), T J O’Leary (Gneeveguilla); O Healy (Rathmore), D Buckley (Knocknagree); C Casey (Rathmore), D Moynihan (Rathmore), C Dealy (Gneeveguilla); D Bowler (Glenflesk), C Moynihan (Rathmore), H O’Sullivan (Knocknagree).

Subs: J Murphy (Gneeveguilla) for D Buckley (44), C O’Keeffe (Rathmore) for H O’Sullivan (45).

Referee: E Horan (Glenflesk)