St Brendan’s secure Kerry U21 football honours for first time in 18 years

Gearoid White scored 0-2 for the winners. Pic: Dan Sheridan

Kerry U21 football final: St Brendan’s Board 2-15 Mid Kerry 2-13 

St Brendan's won their first Kerry U21 football title in 18 years in Fitzgerald Stadium on Tuesday when Hugh Lenihan and Conor McGibney scored insurance points to get them over the line against Mid Kerry.

The losing side's efforts deserved far better on the night. 

Kerry U20 star Gearoid Evans kept his intercounty teammate Gearoid White to a solitary two-pointer on the night as Mid Kerry fought to the bitter end.

With the aid of the breeze, Mid Kerry made the better start as the first score of the game was their goal in the fifth minute through Dara Hogan.

Mid Kerry added a further two points to lead by 1-2 to 0-0 after 10 minutes.

Iit was the 12th minute before St Brendan's got on the scoreboard through Odhran Ferris and it looked like they had work to do coming towards the first water-break in trailing by 1-5 to 0-2.

They got a boost before that short stoppage though, when a combination of Ferris and substitute Peter Doyle from Na Gaeil combined for Jake Hoare to force in a goal that left just three points between the sides. 

Mid Kerry managed only one two-pointer with the breeze, a free from Dara Hogan in the 24th minute, as St Brendan's had a very encouraging finish to the first half. 

Peter Doyle had come in after 11 minutes for the injured Harry Wallace and played a key role. 

Although it looked like he would take on a point after receiving a pass from Eoin O’Flaherty, he changed his mind and went for goal, and he beat Darragh Foley. 

That green flag brought his side back into the contest as Mid Kerry’s lead was cut to 1-8 to 2-4 after 26 minutes.

Nick Lacey’s second point then saw the protagonists retire level at half-time, 2-5 to 1-8.

Although the outstanding Eoin O’Flaherty put St Brendan's ahead for the first time when the second-half resumed, Kevin Coffey’s goal put Mid Kerry back in front as they held a lead of 2-11 to 2-9 at the second-half water break. 

Consecutive two-pointers from Nick Lacey and Gearóid White gave St Brendan's the lead again, and although Dara Hogan and Darragh O’Connor brought Mid Kerry level, late Lenihan and McGibney points were enough to see St Brendan’s victorious.

Scorers for St Brendan's: N Lacey (0-4, 1tp), P Doyle and J Hoare (1-0), G White (1tp), O Ferris, H Lenihan and E O’Flaherty (0-2 each), C McKenna, G O’Riordan and C McGibney (0-1) each. 

Scorers for Mid Kerry: D O’Connor (0-5, 1tpf), K Coffey and D Hogan (1-1), P Costello (0-2), M Byrne, L Evans, F Griffin and B Mangan (0-1 each).

ST BRENDAN'S: O O’Halloran (Ardfert); B Sharp (St Pats/Blennerville), O McGibney (Churchill), B Pierce (Kerins O’Rahillys); E O’Flaherty (Ardfert), J Foley (Kerins O’Rahillys), C McGibney (Churchill); C McKenna (do), H Lenihan (do); H Wallace (Ardfert), O Ferris (Ardfert), J Hoare (Kerins O’Rahillys); G White (John Mitchels), D Cunnane (John Mitchels), N Lacey (Kerins O’Rahillys).

Subs: P Doyle (Na Gaeil) for H Wallace (Inj, 11), G O’Riordan (Ardfert) for J Hoare (35), D Sargeant (John Mitchels) for O McGibney (48), L Óg O’Connor (Ardfert) for J Foley (56).

MID KERRY: D Foley (Beaufort); A Dinham (Milltown/Castlemaine), M Lynch (do), M Byrne (Keel); J Coffey (Beaufort), L Evans (Keel), G Evans (do); F O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar), F Griffin (Keel); K Coffey (Beaufort), K O’Sullivan (Glenbeigh/Glencar), O Spring (Milltown/Castlemaine); D O’Connor (Beaufort), D Hogan (Milltown/Castlemaine), P Costello (Keel). 

Subs: B Mangan (Keel) for K O’Sullivan (H/T), F Kennedy (Beaufort) for F Griffin (48), C Griffin (Milltown/Castlemaine) for O Spring (56). 

REFEREE: B Fleming (Currow).