St Michael's Listowel weather storm to reach O'Sullivan Cup final

St Michael's last won the O'Sullivan Cup in 1974. They will play St Brendan's College, Killarney in the final

St Michael's College, Listowel have reached just their second ever O'Sullivan Cup final. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Kerry Colleges Senior A Football (U19 ½) O’Sullivan Cup semi-final:  St Michael's College Listowel 1-15 Castleisland CC 1-9

St Michael's College Listowel were deserving winners of this well contested Kerry Colleges O’Sullivan Cup Senior A Football semi-final, played in dreadful weather conditions at Na Gaeil pitch, Killeen, but they were given a good gut check by a Castleisland CC team who compete at C grade in Munster.

It will be a historic final, as St Michael's College won their last O’Sullivan Cup back in 1974, with Kerry legend Páidí Ó Sé an inspirational figure, after he migrated from St Brendan's College Killarney. The North Kerry School has only reached one more O’Sullivan Cup Final since that famous win, and that was in the late eighties, when Eamon Breen led the line.

However, based on this performance, they will need to improve defensively when they meet St Brendan’s in the final, that was due to be played next week, but will not be now going ahead.

St Michael's College could still boast two names of former greats with Tim Kennelly's grandson Timmy playing a leading role in the half forward line and Liam Flaherty, son of another Kerry star with the same name, being introduced in the second half.

The wind was a real spoil sport and St Michael's had it to their backs in the opening half but found scoring difficult despite the dominance of Odhran Buckley and Kennelly around the middle and the darting runs of Daithí Laide and Tom Scanlon up front.

But Castleisland CC were resilient with Eoghan Joy and Danny Murphy competing well at midfield while Ryan Walsh Murphy, Cillian Moroney and goalkeeper Jack O’Connor were superb throughout.

St Michael's led 0-3 to 0-1 at the end of scrappy opening quarter, with points from Buckley, Kennelly and Tom Scanlon. The latter should have hit the Castleisland net, but keeper Jack O’Connor made two incredible saves and then the ball rebounded off the crossbar and Scanlon took his point.

Cian Cahill from a free was Castleisland’s sole scorer during the opening 20 minutes, while Scanlon, Kennelly and Darragh O’Sullivan added points as Castleisland were either short or wide with their scoring efforts.

However, Dean O’Donoghue, Cian Cahill and Tadgh McCarthy with two saw Castleisland close the gap but then disaster struck on the stroke of half time, when a high centre into the Castleisland square, was finished to the net by Laide who contested the dropping ball with the keeper.

So St Michael's College led 1-6 to 0-5 at half time and were expected to kick on the second half as they had the elements to their backs.

Odhran Buckley kicked a massive two-pointer within 15 seconds of the restart but Danny Murphy kicked an even better two for Castleisland into the teeth of the wind.

But St Michael's dominated the third quarter with Buckley adding three more points from placed balls while Castleisland could not buy a score. Points from Cian Dowling and Darragh O’Sullivan had St Michael's with one foot in the final as they led 1-13 to 0-7.

But then Connie O’Connor finished to the net for Castleisland and Dean O’Donoghue fisted a point as the Castleisland boys, driven on by Joy, Murphy and substitute James Barry, brought the fight to a tiring St Michael's side but they could only manage a Barry point. Liam Hassett’s side survived some scares under the high ball but they did enough to earn their place in what will be a historic O’Sullivan Cup final.

Scorers for St Michael’s College: O Buckley (0-6, 1tp, 2fs, 1 ’45), T Kennelly (0-4, 1tpf, 2fs), D Laide (1-0), D O’Sullivan and T Scanlon (0-2 each), C Dowling (0-1).

Scorers for Castleisland Community College: C O’Connor (1-0), C Cahill (0-2, 1f), T McCarthy (0-2, 1f), D Murphy (0-2, 1tp), D O’Donoghue (0-2), J Barry (0-1).

ST MICHAEL'S COLLEGE, LISTOWEL: C Moriarty (Listowel Emmets); M O’Sullivan (Finuge), R Sheridan (Duagh), A O’Connell (Listowel Emmets); O McElligott (Listowel Emmets), J Breen (Listowel Emmets), C Dowling (Duagh); O Buckley (Beale), T Doran (St Senans); T Kennelly (Listowel Emmets), E Somers (St Senans), D O’Sullivan (Finuge); D Shine (Listowel Emmets), T Scanlon (Ballyduff), D Laide (Finuge).

Subs: A Barrett (Listowel Emmets) for D Shine (h/t), L Flaherty (Ballydonoghue) for O McElligott (46), M Daly (Listowel Emmets) for D O’Sullivan (49), C O’Sullivan (Finuge) for C Dowling (57).

CASTLEISLAND CC: J O’Connor (Scartaglen); G Joy (Ballymac), C Quirke (Castleisland Desmonds), J Galvin (Firies); R Walsh Murphy (Scartaglen), C Moroney (Cordal), J Nolan (Cordal); D Murphy (Cordal), E Joy (Ballymac); O Griffin (Firies), C Cahill (Cordal), S O’Connor (Cordal); D O’Donoghue (Currow), C O’Connor (Scartaglen), T McCarthy (Cordal).

Subs: J Syrzyn (Castleisland Desmonds) for S O’Connor (23), B McShane (Scartaglen) for J Nolan (45), J Barry (Firies) for C O’Connor (57).

Referee: E Horan (Glenflesk).