Five-goal St Nick's overpower Donoughmore to claim Cork U21BFC title

St Nick's made amends for losing the same final last year.

The St Nick's celebrate their win in the U21 'B' football championship final at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh. Picture: Dan Linehan

Cork U21 B FC final: St Nick’s 5-8 (5-0-8) Donoughmore 0-12 (0-0-12)

Twelve months on from a bruising defeat in this same decider, St Nick’s returned to the U21 B Football Championship final with a point to prove – and they delivered it emphatically.

A five-goal haul, including two penalties and a blistering first-half spell, saw them pull clear of Donoughmore and finish the year with deserved silverware at Páirc Uí Chaoimh’s 4G on Sunday.

The Muskerry side settled first, Gavin O’Sullivan opening the scoring, but their advantage lasted barely a minute.

Nick’s struck decisively when Kieran Kelleher, set free by Michael Tadhg Brosnan, eventually found a way through at the third attempt to raise the opening green flag, beginning a run of 1-3 unanswered.

When Scott Barrett fashioned a response after 11 minutes, Nick’s were soon through again. Kelleher created the chance, O’Leary struck the post, and the same man was quickest to the rebound, finishing soccer-style to make it 2-3 to 0-2.

When Donoughmore landed their next point in the 13th minute, Nick’s again hit back with a major – this one from the penalty spot – which Conor McCarthy slotted home, pushing Nick’s 10 points clear.

Jack O’Sullivan’s free proved Nick’s only placed point of the game, but the three goals were the difference at the break after three Donoughmore points, 3-6 to 0-6.

Any hopes of a second-half revival from Donoughmore were dealt a heavy blow early on. Kelleher burst through on goal and was hauled down by goalkeeper Stephen McSweeney, earning a black card and conceding a second penalty.

With sub Daniel Honohan brought on to deputise between the posts during the sin-bin, McCarthy again showed composure from the spot, leaving it 4-6 to 0-6 after 38 minutes.

Donoughmore battled on and briefly hovered within 12 points, tempers fraying as yellow cards accumulated and Nick’s Rory McLaughlin saw black.

But even with the numerical disadvantage, Nick’s had one more punch to land, Kelleher and McCarthy working it to Rhys Dunne, and he put it past McSweeney to put the result beyond doubt in the 53rd minute.

Donoughmore tagged on the closing scores, but the contest had long since escaped them. St Nick’s were unstoppable.

Scorers for St Nick’s: C McCarthy 2-4 (2-0 pen), K Kelleher, E O’Leary 1-1 each, R Dunne 1-0, J O’Sullivan (f), MT Brosnan 0-1 each.

Scorers for Donoughmore: G O’Sullivan 0-5 (0-3 f, 0-1 45), D McDonnell (0-2 f), S Barrett 0-3 each, J McCarthy 0-1.

ST NICK’S: R Cronin; F O’Driscoll, B Heffernan, M Gayfor; D Wall, E Varian, Z Lynch; Jake Brosnan, Josh Brosnan; C McCarthy, E O’Leary, R Dunne; MT Brosnan, J O’Sullivan, K Kelleher.

Subs: J Murphy for Kelleher, E O’Sullivan for O’Leary (both 53), O O’Connell for O’Driscoll, E Murphy for MT Brosnan (both 57), C Connolly for J O’Sullivan (59).

DONOUGHMORE: S McSweeney; R McLaughlin, T Murphy, F Honohan; R Honohan, C Buckley, J Murphy; K O’Connell, L O’Sullivan; D Lawton, G O’Sullivan, D O’Connell; S Barrett, D McDonnell, D Holland.

Subs: J McCarthy for L O’Sullivan (16), B O’Sullivan for Buckley (26), P Murphy for Lawton (HT), D Honohan for O’Connell (37), DJ Foley for J Murphy (53).

Referee: C McCarthy (Carbery Rangers)