Frewen Cup final disappointment for Clonakilty against St Brendan's

St Brendan's College Killarney 2-13 Clonakilty CC 0-11

St Brendan's had too much football nouse for a gallant Clonakilty CC side as the Sem regained the Frewen Cup in Mallow.

Clonakilty CC have never won the Frewen Cup having campaigned for years in the Vocational sector. While they were in the contest until midway through the second half when they trailed 0-11- 0-9 but St Brendans always looked more dangerous up front with Ben Kelliher (1-6) and Dylan O’Meara (1-2) proving too much for the Clon defence.

Brendan's started brightly kicking two early points from Kelliher and O’Meara and while Clonakilty enjoyed lots of possession, they were being thwarted by some good defending. In fact, they failed to get at posts off until the 15th minute when Jack Byerley kicked a fine point.

But the Sem had been moving well up front points from Liam O’Brien and O’Meara saw them lead 0-4 to 0-1 at the end of the opening quarter. The Sem also created two goal chances in the second quarter as Clonakilty thundered into to contest with Conrad Murphy, Jack Byerly, Jamie Collins and Eric Hicks playing crucial roles. 

They landed three unanswered points in the second quarter with Jamie Collins scoring two and Jack Byerly converting a free to cut the gap to a point.

It was nip and tuck until half time but St Brendan's led 0-7 to 0-6 at the interval. Crokes were denied a goal just before the break when O’Meara’s shot was scooped away by keeper Ruairi O’Sullivan.

Brendan's raced four clear thanks to a brace of points each from Kelliher and Liam O’Brien but Clonakilty got three back, two from the excellent Collins.

The game was decided in the 45th minute when O’Meara finished a great move to the net. And then in the 59th minute, Kelliher secured the win with a classy finish.

Scorers for St Brendan's College: B Kelliher 1-6 (0-3 f), D O’Meara 1-2, L O’Brien 0-3, M O’Carroll, F Doyle 0-1 each.

Clonakilty CC: J Collins 0-7 (0-1 m, 0-1 f), J Byerly 0-3 (0-2 f), R O’Donovan 0-1.

St BRENDAN’S COLLEGE: J Murphy (Killarney Legion); B O’Connor (do), A Cremin (Firies), D McCarthy (Listry); J Nash (Dr Crokes), Z Cronin (Kilcummin), C Clifford (Dr Crokes); C Stack ( Kilcummin), M O’Carroll (Dr Crokes); F Blackwell (Killarney Legion), B Kelliher (Dr Crokes), J Henderson (Firies); L O’Brien (Glenflesk), D O’Meara (Fossa), F Doyle (do).

Subs: J Kelly (Glenflesk) for J Henderson (20), J Culloty (Killarney Legion) for F Doyle (50), I Vickers (Firies) for F Blackwell (56), JJ O’Donoghue (Spa) for D O’Meara (60).

CLONAKILTY CC: J O’Leary (Owen Gaels); E Whelton (St James), A McCarthy (Owen Gaels), C Collins (Ibane Gaels); M Collins (do), H O’Donovan (Kilmeen), J O’Leary (Owen Gaels); C Murphy (Ibane Gaels), E Nolan (Clonakilty); E Hicks (Carbery Rangers), J Byerley (Clonakilty), R O’Donovan (Ibane Gaels); R Twohig (Kilmeen), T Whooley (Clonakilty), J Collins (Ibane Gaels).

Subs: F McCarthy (Owen Gaels) for R O’Donovan (55), E Deiseach (Clonakilty) for R Twohig (57).

Referee: J O’Halloran (Limerick).