O'Sullivan hails 'legends of Cork' as Leeside stars end 33-year Kennedy Cup drought
Image: Cork Schoolboys League / Twitter
Steven O’Sullivan’s saluted his SFAI Kennedy Cup heroes for becoming “legends of Cork”.
Roy Keane lifted the trophy for the Rebels in 1986 but they had to wait 33 years for their fourth Cup on Friday afternoon by beating Munster rivals Waterford.
Tramore Athletic striker Darragh Lynch pounced at University Limerick in first-half stoppage time to enliven a tense final before he added his second 14 minutes into the second half.
Waterford, themselves with plenty of final heartache since their last triumph in 2003 to overcome, only got going after falling two goals behind but Cork goalkeeper Rory Cullinane maintained his clean sheet by turning Adam Dobbyn’s dipping shot around the post.
Cork might have had a third when Cormac Deane – son of hurling legend Joe – cut in from the left, only to see his chip denied by the crossbar.
Waterford were regarded as favourites for the trophy, having managed to keep hold of their best players in the build-up to the tournament. The FAI’s efforts to avoid panels being decimated by poaching from national leagues by delaying the start of their season until next month didn’t work for most counties, including Cork. Their pleas to Cork City and Cobh Ramblers to allow players to see out their schoolboy careers at the Kennedy Cup were rejected.
“Everybody wrote us off because we lost so many players to Cork and Cobh but every kid dreams of winning the Kennedy Cup,” added O’Sullivan. “It’s the biggest tournament in Irish schoolboy football and these lads have become legends of Cork for years to come.” Despite the sense of occasion created by a large crowd from both counties, the first half rarely rose above a cagey affair. Neither goalkeeper was tested until the Rebels hit the front on the stroke of the whistle.
Eoin Looney’s six goals had him jointly in the lead for the tournament’s Golden Boot but he turned provider by sending in a cross that Lynch anticipated by nipping in ahead of the stranded Henry Kirby to nod home.
Cork possessed the ability and confidence to use the lead as their springboard and when Deane was tripped on the edge of the box, free-kick specialist Jamie Horgan took aim. Kirby could only spill his low curler around the wall into the space Lynch attacked to convert from close range.
Steven O’Sullivan’s side managed to curb the influence of Waterford’s dangerman Muhammad Oladiti in midfield, seeing out the contest with Cullinane tested just the once.
Also in action on the last of five consecutive days of action were the DDSL, who beat fellow losing semi-finalist Wexford 3-1 to claim third.
Carlow beat Limerick 2-1 in extra-time to lift the Bowl while Midlands scooped the Bowl by prevailing 3-1 against Donegal. There were joyous scenes for Clare by the end of their 2-1 triumph over Limerick Desmond in the Shield decider, with North East Counties coming out tops 3-1 in the Trophy final against Lisburn Castlereagh.
R Cullinane; M Kiernan, R O’Herlihy, L McDonnell, J Horgan; M Dowling, C Deane, D O’Connell, R Dineen; E Looney, D Lynch.
L Linehan, S Murtagh, B Fitzgerald, C Healy, A O’Mahony, E Horgan, S O’Sullivan, L Cregan, A Lee.
H Kirby; R Walsh, O Hallahan, A Dobbyn, P Quann; G Mitchell, M Oladiti, N O’Brien, F Hughes; L McCarthy, B Keohan.
A Mills, A Chapman, P Kiely, C Crotty, G O’Shea, E Mullally, E Breen.
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