Tralee CBS gain revenge on rivals St Brendan's to win Dunloe Cup title

The Green edge Killarney rivals in Colleges decider, reversing the defeat in the provincial championship

SILVERWARE: Tralee CBS celebrate a comprehensive seven-point win over St Brendan's of Killarney in the Dunlue Cup final

Kerry Colleges U17.5 SAFC (Dunloe Cup) final: Tralee CBS 1-13 St Brendans College Killarney 1-6

Following two heartbreaking All-Ireland final defeats, Tralee CBS finally have some silverware in hand after they defeated fierce rivals St Brendans College of Killarney in the Dunloe Cup Final (U17A) on Wednesday.

The Green, who played with a gale force wind in the opening half, were always on top against the David Clifford coached Sem side who handed the Green a beating in the Frewen Cup semi-final before Christmas, before going on to win the Munster competition outright.

The Killarney side were missing three key players in Cian Stack, Samuel Scroope and James Murphy though Murphy’s replacement in goal, Jonah Casey, was probably his sides man of the match, pulling at least five stunning saves.

The Green were dominant for most of the opening quarter, thanks to some outstanding play by midfielder Jack Collins and Tom Lenihan who moved out from full-forward and tormented the Sem rearguard. 

Danny Kingston converted an early free for Tralee CBS to set them on their way and points from Collins and Lenihan quickly followed.

Conditions were difficult often forcing turnovers in Tralee's favour. Philip McEneaney contributed a two pointer, followed by a brace from Jack Collins and The Green found themselves 0-7 to 0-1 in front by 10th minute.

Tralee CBS captain Eoin Mangan holding the trophy. Pic: Adrienne McLoughlin

In 13th minute a turnover by St Brendan’s saw Danny Kingston race through and force a superb save from keeper Jack Casey but the rebound fell fortunately for Tralee's Danny Lane who was not tracked and finished to an empty net.

The Sem hit a purple partch midway through the first period with Conor Lynch and Cillian O’Donoghue driving them forward. Lynch kicked a point and then when the Tralee keeper dropped a Jake Coffey attempt on goal, Cillian O’Donoghue drilled the ball low to net. Game on.

It was now 1-7 to 1-2 with five minutes left on the clock, but the Sem allowed The Green back into the game and the Tralee lads added points from Kingston and a two pointer from Man of the Match Tom Lenihan, to put some distance between the teams at half-time. (1-10 to 1-2).

Brendan's Jack Culloty and Cian Hegarty kicked points to reduce the deficit to six and suddenly it looked as if the Sem might make a game of it. 

However, too many turnovers and too many carry’s in traffic against a Tralee side with ten players inside the arc was never going to work. On the break, keeper Jonah Casey saved them three times from conceding goals.

Nothing was happening up front for St Brendan’s who only added two more points from Keane and Mark Looney. 

Tralee CBS added three of their own late on to confirm superiority. It was fitting that the player who has lost two All-Ireland Finals in just over a week, Mikey Corridon should put the cherry on the cake, when he kicked the last point of the contest.

Scorers for Tralee CBS: J Collins (0-4). D Lane (1-0), T Lenihan (1tp) and D Kingston (1f) (0-3 each), P McEneaney (0-2, tp), M Corridon (0-1). 

Scorers for St Brendans College: C O’Donoghue (1-0), D Keane (0-2, 1f), C Lynch, J Culloty, C Hegarty and M Looney (0-1 each).

TRALEE CBS: B O’Sullivan (Na Gaeil); E Mangan (Austin Stacks), D McMahon (Ballymac), R Kirby (Ardfert); D O’Callaghan (Na Gaeil), E Tansley (Na Gaeil), G Deasy (Churchill); A Molloy (John Mitchels), J Collins (Ballymac); J Gaynor (Ardfert), D Kingston (Na Gaeil), P McEneaney (Na Gaeil); D Lane (Austin Stacks), T Lenihan (Churchill), M Corridon (Ardfert).

Subs: C O’Sullivan (John Mitchels) for J Gaynor (50), D Cull (John Mitchels) for R Kirby (59).

SEM: J Casey (Spa); T O’Donoghue (Spa), C Clifford (Dr Crokes), T Kelly (Dr Crokes); D Stack (Spa), C Lynch (Dr Crokes), C Finnegan (Kilcummin); J Coffey (Legion), D Cronin (Firies); M Looney (Legion), C O’Donoghue (Listry), R Guerin; C Hegarty (Legion), J Culloty (Legion), D Keane (Kilcummin).

Subs: J O’Connor (Kilcummin) for D O’Callaghan (27), E Heneghan (Dr Crokes) for D Cronin (43), R O’Brien (Kilcummin) for C Finnegan (inj 53), M Moriarty (Spa) for C Hegarty (55).

Referee: C O Dhúbhda (An Ghaeltacht).