Mercy Mounthawk defeated St. Brendan’s Killarney by 2-11 to 0-10 in the 2024/2025 TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí Under 19 A Football Final on Saturday February 8th at Dr. Crokes Killarney.
Mercy Mounthawk claim second ever Corn Uí Mhuirí title with victory over Sem https://t.co/RNOjngbmkk
— Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) February 8, 2025
Ben Murphy inspires Mounthawk to victory in all-Kerry Corn Uí Mhuirí final
Report by Murt Murphy courtesy of the Irish Examiner newspaper
Corn Uí Mhuirí final: Mercy Mounthawk 2-11 St Brendan’s Killarney (The Sem) 0-10
Mercy Mounthawk completed back to back Corn Uí Mhuirí title wins when they beat St Brendan’s College Killarney in an all Kerry final played before a big crowd at the Dr Crokes pitch.
Inspired by Ben Murphy at midfield and Tomás Kennedy up front, their experience and scoring power proved too much for a well-drilled Sem side who would have been much closer if they had taken two first half goals chances plus Joey McCarthy had his spot kick saved by Ruairi Kennedy late on.
Mercy Mounthawk got a serious gut check in the opening half from this St Brendan’s College side but it was evident from early on that the champions possessed superior scoring power. The Sem served notice that they were underdogs in name only when Jamie Moynihan won the throw in and when the ball reached Ben Kelliher he turned and gave his side a twenty five second lead. But that was to be St Brendan’s solitary score from play in the opening half as Mounthawk, mainly through the searing runs of Ben Murphy, punished the Sem for turning over the ball at regular intervals.
Murphy set up Aaron Harty who saw his effort being tipped over the bar by Kasper Robak. Then Mounthawk struck for the only goal of the opening half in the sixth minute. Ben Murphy raced through from inside his own half, right into the St Brendan’s danger zone and when tackled he passed to wing-back Padraig O’Halloran who finished to the net.
Tomás Kennedy added a brace of points from play while Paddy Lane converted a free for a foul on Murphy and suddenly Mounthawk led 1-5 to 0-1 at the end of opening quarter.
St Brendan’s had a goal chance when Ben Kelliher got in but Ruairí Kennedy denied him. Points from two Joey McCarthy frees and another free from Jamie Moynihan saw the Sem close the gap, though Daniel Kirby left Mounthawk 1-6 to 0-4 in front at half-time.
St Brendan’s began the second half with purpose and added two points from Josh Bowler and Mark O’Carroll but Mounthawk more or less ended the game as a contest, when they added 1-3 without reply with Tomás Kennedy scoring a brilliant goal when he rose highest to collect a Paddy Lane centre and finished to the Sem net.
Mounthawk were now within touching distance of the title at 2-9 to 0-6 with a 55th minute penalty for the Sem causing a ripple of doubt but when Kennedy dived to his right to deny Joey McCarthy, it was all over as Mercy Mounthawk posted back-to-back titles with a seven point victory.
Scorers for Mercy Mounthawk: T Kennedy (1-2), P Lane (0-5, 2fs, 1’45), P O’Halloran (1-0), D Kirby, B Murphy, S Corkery and A Harty (0-1 each).
Scorers for St Brendan’s College Killarney: J McCarthy ( 0-5fs), C Mulcahy, J Moynihan ( f), M O’Carroll, B Kelliher, J Bowler and L O’Brien( 0-1 each).
MERCY MOUNTHAWK: R Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys); Breandán Meehan (Kerins O’Rahillys), B Sharp (St Pats/Blennerville), J Fisher (Austin Stacks); P O’Halloran (Austin Stacks), D Sargent (John Mitchels), G Casey (Austin Stacks); D Kirby (Austin Stacks), B Murphy (Austin Stacks); A Tuohy (Austin Stacks), T Kennedy (Kerins O’Rahillys), S Corkery (John Mitchels); C Bastible (Austin Stacks), P Lane, (Austin Stacks), A Harty (Churchill)
Subs: B Doyle (Churchill) for A Harty (h/t), J Hoare (Kerins O’Rahillys) for C Bastible (44), C McGibney (Churchill) for S Corkery (56), O Kerins (Kerins O’Rahillys) for A Tuohy (59), K O’Donoghue (Na Gaeil) for P O’Halloran (63).
ST BRENDAN’S COLLEGE KILLARNEY: K Robak (Dr Crokes); D Bosnan (Spa), D Stack (Kilcummin), C Fleming (Listry); J Rudden (Glenflesk), A Byrne (Dr Crokes), C Mulcahy (Dr Crokes); J Moynihan (Glenflesk), O O’Neill (Spa); T O’Gorman (Spa) J McCarthy (Spa), M O’Carroll (Dr Crokes), B Kelliher (Dr Crokes), J Bowler (Legion), O Fleming (Legion)
Subs: D Brosnan (Spa) for T O’Gorman (36), L O’Brien (Glenflesk) for B Walsh (44), D O’Meara (Fossa) for J Bowler (51), M Kenneally (Fossa) for M O’Carroll ( 52), Z Cronin (Kilcummin) for J Rudden (56)
Referee: D O’Callaghan (Limerick)
Click to view photos from the Corn Uí Mhuirí Final Media Event
Fixture Details
St Brendan’s Killarney v Mercy Mounthawk
Date: Saturday 08.02.2025
Time: 12:00pm
Venue: Dr Crokes Killarney
Referee: Donnacha O’Callaghan (Limerick)
Extra time if necessary, result on the day.
Ticket Information
Tickets for the TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí are now available to purchase below.
Adults – €12
Students / OAPs – €8
Under 12s – Free
Live Streaming
The game will be streamed live on Clubber
🏆 The TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí FINAL 🏆
🏐 @Munsterpps U19A Football Final
🆚 @MounthawkMercy vs @thesemkillarney
📅 Saturday, Feb 8th
🕒 12pm
📍 Dr. Crokes➡️ Watch it LIVE only on https://t.co/8RTIDVIpju 🔗 pic.twitter.com/XBs5wXu41v
— Clubber (@clubber) February 7, 2025
Video Interview with St. Brendan’s Killarney Manager Kieran Herlihy
Video Preview@thesemkillarney Manager Kieran Herlihy speaking ahead of Saturday's TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí Final at 12 noon in Dr. Crokes Killarney.
Tickets available via the link below.
Watch the game Live on @clubber https://t.co/xkBQbFJL7h pic.twitter.com/wmaCGwIljF
— Munster P.P.S. (@Munsterpps) February 7, 2025
Video Interview with Mercy Mounthawk Captain Paddy Lane
Video Preview@GAAMounthawk Captain Paddy Lane speaking ahead of Saturday's TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí Final at 12 noon in Dr. Crokes Killarney.
Tickets available via the link below.
Watch the game Live on @clubber https://t.co/xkBQbFJdhJ pic.twitter.com/YvmpvCP9PC
— Munster P.P.S. (@Munsterpps) February 7, 2025
Souvenir Match Programme
Pick up a copy of the 36 page Souvenir Match Programme for 5 euro.
Click to view photos from the Corn Uí Mhuirí Final Media Event
TUS Corn Uí Mhuirí
Dé Sathairn – Ná caill é!#gaagaeilge@GAAMounthawk @thesemkillarney pic.twitter.com/vsAt2dBtwB— Munster P.P.S. (@Munsterpps) February 7, 2025
Corn Uí Mhuirí (Under 19 A Football) Roll of Honour
More News
2024/2025 TUS Dr. Harty Cup Under 19 A Hurling Final – Thurles CBS 1-13 St. Flannans Ennis 0-13
Thurles CBS defeated St. Flannans Ennis by 1-13 to 0-13 in the TUS Dr. Harty Cup Under 19 A Hurling Final on Saturday February 1st at Mallow.
2024/2025 TUS Corn Thomais Mhic Choilm (Under 19 B Hurling) Final – High School Clonmel 2-19 Scariff Community College 2-7
High School Clonmel defeated Scariff Community College by 2-19 to 2-7 in the 2024/2025 TUS Corn Thomais Mhic Choilm (Under 19 B Hurling) Final on Saturday February 1st at Ballyagran.
2024/2025 TUS Corn Dhonncha Uí Nuanáin (Under 19 B Football) Final – Cashel Community School 1-8 Coláiste na Sceilge 1-5
Cashel Community School defeated Coláiste na Sceilge by 1-8 to 1-5 in the TUS Corn Dhonncha Uí Nuanáin (Under 19 B Football) Final on Saturday February 8th at Ballyagran.