Frewen Cup (Under 16.5 A Football) Semi-Final – Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne 1-13 Tralee CBS 0-11 – Match Report

Frewen Cup Semi-Final:

Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne 1-13 Tralee CBS 0-11

Report By Sylvester Hennessy

PS Chorca Dhuibhne booked a final meeting with their great modern day rivals St Brendan’s Killarney with this hard fought Frewen Cup semi-final win in Fitzgerald Stadium on Tuesday last. They were made to fight all the way by a gallant Tralee CBS team in a game that proved to be very entertaining despite the testing conditions.

With Kerry senior manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice guiding their fortunes the west Kerry students moved the ball with great skill and pace and they made light of the fact that they were playing into a stiff breeze in the opening half.

Sean Quilter scored three early points to give Tralee a good start but once Corcha Dhuibhne settled the scores began to flow. Stiofáin Ó Conchúir was accurate from a close range free. Daire Keane increased the Tralee lead before Ruairi Ó Beaglaíoch and Sean Kennedy exchanged points.

Colm Ó Muircheartaigh had a fine game at wing back and he was ably assisted by Annascaul club mate Gearóid Lyne at centre back. Killian Ó’Failbhe was also dictating the game at centre forward while at the other end of the field Corn Uí Mhuirí star Mikey Kelliher was well held by the Dingle full back line. Corca Dhuibhne got the key score of the half when Aodáin Ó Dibháin goaled but it could have been more but for the brilliance of Daviod Oba who prevented Cathal and Ruairi Ó Beaglaíchg adding two more with two stunning reflex saves. Franz Sauerland, and Killian Ó Failbhe added late points to give the west Kerry lads a deserved 1-7 to 0-6 half-time lead.
Stiofáin Ó Conchuir and Mikey Kelliher tapped over early frees early after the interval before substitute Fergal O’Brien pointed. Tralee played their best football in the third quarter but just could not find the scores to compliment their play.

Devidas Uosis pointed from distance and Corca Dhuibhne continued to hold tough in the face of increased Tralee pressure. Fergal O’Brien and Colm Ó Muircheartaigh exchanged points before Uosis and Stiofáin Ó Conchuir stretched the lead six. In a hectic finish to the game Tralee peppered the Corca Dhuibhne goal in attempt to get the goal that would bring them back into the contest but all they could muster was a Sean Kennedy point.

It was the students from the west who prevailed to make it another all Kerry final against St Brendan’s in a game due to be played next week. The two Kerry Colleges have shared the last 6 Corn Uí Mhuirí titles and the last 3 Hogan Cup titles between them. This east v west battle should be a thriller. While their recent successes will never be forgotten the future looks to be very bright indeed for these two Kerry schools.

PS Chorca Dhuibhne: Eoin Ó Brosnocháin, Colin Ó Muircheartaigh, Conor Ó Flannura, Sean Ó Morain, Padraig Ó Cathaláin, Gearóid Lyne, Colm Ó Muircheartaigh (0-2), Franz Sauerland (0-1), James Aghas, Aodáin Ó Dubháin (1-0), Killian Ó Failbhe (0-2), Devidas Uosis (0-2, 1f), Stiofáin Ó Conchúir (0-3, 3f), Cathal Ó Beaglaíoch, Ruairi Ó Beaglaíoch (0-3, 3f)
Fir ionad Criostóir Ó Catháin, Dylan Ó Geibheannaigh, Breannáin Ó Bric

Tralee CBS: David Oba, Padraig White, Josh O’Keeffe, Graham Hudson, Conor Corrigan, Damien Bourke, Eoghan Carroll, John Walsh, Tadhg Brick, Sean Kennedy (0-2), Sean Quilter (0-4, 2f), Sean Hamilton, Daire Keane (0-1), Mikey Kelliher (0-2, 2f), Conor Myers
Subs used Fergal O’Brien (0-2), Jack Dolan, Daniel O’Rourke

Referee: Tom McCarthy (Desmonds)