Ryan desperate to get over the line and scratch Tralee's six-year Corn Uí Mhuirí itch

The Kerry minor star wants to add a first Corn Uí Mhuirí crown since 2020 but is adamant his team will not be taking Clonmel for granted 

ONE THAT GOT AWAY: Fionnán Ryan and Tralee CBS saw the 2024 Corn Ui Mhuiri slip through their grasps against Mercy Mounthawk. Pic: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD 

With 16 Corn Uí Mhuirí titles already in the locker, putting them second in the Munster Colleges SFC roll of honour behind great rivals St Brendan’s Killarney, striving for provincial glory is a rite of passage at Tralee CBS.

When joint-captain Fionnán Ryan began his first year education in the ‘Green, the Austin Stacks defender got immediately immersed in footballing ambition as he watched the senior students go on and lift the last of those Munster crowns in 2020.

“When you come in first year, it’s what you look for. You see the teams all up through the years," he said. "When I was in first year, I went and watched the Corn Uí Mhuirí final, and I said that I wanted to be there some day. Thankfully we are here, but we have to get over the line now and actually win it.

“We’re absolutely delighted to be back. There’s a huge tradition in the ‘Green for football, and obviously Corn Uí Mhuirí especially. Losing to Mounthawk (in 2024), and losing last year to the ‘Sem in the quarter-final, it’s really built a hunger in us to push through, and I think that’s showing this year.

“We have progressed through the years, and developed through the years. When you come into first year, it’s about Corn Uí Mhuirí, and coaches know it all the way up along. You’re developing players, and developing teams, to really play together so, that when you get to senior level, you’re ready for it.” 

Coming from a half-time deficit to beat St Brendan’s in this year’s quarter-final was a significant psychological boost to Ryan and his colleagues, and they followed up that display with an impressive triumph over St Francis Rochestown in the semi-final.

“In a way, it was (the perfect draw) because it put to bed last year’s ghosts of losing to the ‘Sem, because that was a very tough loss for all of us. I felt it was perfect for us to get them in the quarter-final, so we could really have a go at them,” he added.

“We were very happy the last day because, as everyone said, we went out against the ‘Sem and we were very lethargic in the first half. Against Rochestown, we focused on really trying to up our hard work, and we did that, so we came away quite happy from the game.

“Without a doubt, we respect Clonmel. They played Clonakilty in the quarter-final, and Clonakilty were one of the favourites. They’ve beaten the ‘Sem, they had beaten top teams in Cork. We aren’t taking Clonmel, by any means, as an easy game. They’ll be coming for us, and they’ll be ready.” 

Ryan was corner-back on the Kerry minor team that lost an All-Ireland semi-final to Derry by a single point in 2024. His ‘Green team-mates Eoin O’Flaherty, Ronan Carroll and Gearóid White also played that day. The latter, and Nick Lacey, lined out in last year’s final heart-break to Tyrone.

“The competition at minor level is so high that when you come to schools football, you don’t actually realise that it’s the same level, so it prepares you for that level. It gives you a lot of experience,” Ryan stressed.

“The lads last year playing in the final against Tyrone, I know they lost, but the lads said it that they gained so much from that game. It was an amazing experience to gain.

“From the very beginning this season, we really felt that if we pushed hard in training, it didn’t matter who you would come up against because, to win, you have to play everybody. You have to beat the best. We found that, whoever we played, we were ready.”