O'Sullivan double sends Tralee CBS into all-Kerry Frewen Cup final

Tralee CBS will play St Brendan's Killarney in an all-Kerry Frewen Cup final

Tralee CBS beat Hamilton High School Bandon in the Frewen Cup semi-final at Dr Crokes Park in Killarney. Pic: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

Frewen Cup semi-final: Tralee CBS 3-11 HHS Bandon 1-7

Tralee CBS, thanks to a two-goal salvo from second half substitute Calvin O’Sullivan, proved too strong for a Hamilton High School Bandon side in the Munster Colleges Frewen Cup semi-final played in brilliant sunshine in Dr Crokes Park.

O’Sullivan, now on the books of Cork City, was playing his first football game with the school this year. His introduction and goals ensured there was no way back for the Hammies.

The Cork school were dominant at midfield, where Paul Deacy and Ewen Hourigan won 16 of 26 kickouts, but lacked the scoring power up front, with the notable exception of Conail Hurley. Tralee CBS punished their opponents early on and during the second half.

The Hammies did enjoy a purple patch during the second quarter but they failed to convert their dominance into scores.

Andy Costello, who was on Harty Cup duty with a number of his teammates during the week, converted an early free after Jason Gaynor was taken down en route to goal. Gaynor was the playmaker, despite playing 60 minutes of Harty Cup on Wednesday. He set up Joseph Field for a well worked point.

Bandon, despite Deacy fetching some great ball, could not get beyond the halfway line, and Costello added another point while Danny Brick also got in on the act.

The Hammies finally got going and their best player Hurley struck for a well taken goal in the 14th minute, with Matty Coffey providing the assist. Crowley leveled the contest from a free at the end of the opening quarter.

Bandon took over with Deacy and Hourigan imperious at midfield but they kicked four wides in the second quarter and only managed two points, one from Hurley and one from Jack Allen. Costello converted another free before Adrian O’Connor landed a massive two-pointer to give Tralee a 0-7 to 1-3 half-time lead.

But Costello landed a monster two-pointer from the throw-in, and then Jason Gaynor sent Ronan O’Callaghan Harrington through, with the latter smashing an unstoppable shot to the Hammies' net.

Sam Molumphy replied with a point, but with Stephen Harty, Eoin Tansley, Tadhg Diggin, Jack Corridon and livewire Gaynor now on top for the Green, Bandon were just hanging on.

Then the Green introduced their trump card in the 43rd minute, when O’Sullivan announced his arrival with a rocket to the Bandon net and four minutes later, he repeated the feat with a goal of sublime quality.

Tralee CBS were now well clear and though Bandon never gave up, they could never get the goal they required.

Meanwhile, St Brendan’s Killarney continued their quest for a three-in-a-row in the competition with a five-star 30-point demolition job (5-23 to 1-5) on an outclassed St Flannan’s of Ennis in the other Frewen Cup semi-final on the 4G surface at Mick Neville Park in Rathkeale.

With Kerry minor star Darragh Keane totting up 1-8 in the first half, and Max Moynihan adding a second goal, David Clifford’s charges were already home and dry by the break, leading by 17 points (2-15 to 1-1). The tigerish Stephen O’Neill raised the St Flannan’s green flag.

On the resumption, two further Sem goals in the opening five minutes – Keane setting up Cian Hegarty, and Moynihan bundling home a Keane long-range free – saw St Brendan’s move even further clear by the three-quarter mark (4-19 to 1-3).

O’Neill and Robert Pelzar, who kicked a nice two-pointer, kept plugging away for the Ennis school, but St Brendan’s were in cruise control, able to replace key figures like Keane, Moynihan, Hegarty and midfielder Luke Clancy by the 45th minute.

Attacking wing-backs Conor Moynihan and Paddy Nash also impressed for the holders, each notching a brace from play, with Eanna Hennigan slotting home goal number five in the 50th minute. St Brendan’s will be expecting a much tougher test in the all-Kerry final. 

Scorers for Tralee CBS: A Costello (0-7, tp, 3fs), C O’Sullivan (2-0), R O’Callaghan Harrington (1-0), A O’Connor (0-2, tp), J Field and D Brick (0-1 each).

Scorers for HHS Bandon: C Hurley (1-5, 2fs), J Allen and S Molumphy (0-1 each).

TRALEE CBS: S O’Connell (Na Gaeil); S Barrett (Ardfert), E Tansley (Na Gaeil), D Cullinane (John Mitchels); D Ahern (Austin Stacks), S Harty (Ardfert), T Diggin (Ardfert); A O’Connor (Ballymac), J Corridon (Ardfert); J Field (Na Gaeil), A Costello (Ardfert), E Quirke (Ballymac); R O’Callaghan Harrington (John Mitchels), D Brick (Causeway), J Gaynor (Ardfert).

Subs: C O’Sullivan (John Mitchels) for D Brick (43), E Carmody (John Mitchels) for R O’Callaghan Harrington (48), B Pierce (Kerins O’Rahillys) for S Barrett (52), C Fitzgerald (Kerins O’Rahillys) for J Field (54), D Diggins (Na Gaeil) for E Quirke (54).

HHS BANDON: C Curtin (Valley Rovers); R Murphy (Bandon), C Murphy (Ahan Gaels), P O’Sullivan (Bandon); S Molumphy (Valley Rovers), R Crowley (Bandon), T O’Mahony (Bandon); P Deacy (Argideen Rangers), E Hourigan (Bandon); A White (Valley Rovers), O Madden (Kilbrittain), M Coffey (Clonakilty); C Hurley (Bandon), J Allen (Newcestown), D McSweeney (Newcestown).

Subs: S Casey (Valley Rovers) for A White (45), S Evans (Newcestown) for R Murphy (47), A Bemelmans (Valley Rovers) for M Coffey (52), J Ryan (Valley Rovers) for S Molumphy (53).

Referee: E Horan (Glenflesk).

Scorers for St Brendan’s: D Keane 1-8 (1tpf, 0-2fs), M Moynihan 2-2, E Hennigan 1-4, C Hegarty 1-3 (0-1f). C Moynihan, P Nash 0-2 each, E Bennett, M Mosco 0-1 each.

Scorers for St Flannan’s: S O’Neill 1-1, R Pelzar 0-2(tp), J Ryan, A Cleary (f) 0-1 each.

Referee: K O’Brien (Limerick).