Kinsale Community School into Munster football final

Kinsale Community School 3-10 Thurles CBS 1-10 

Kinsale Community School march onto the final of the Munster U17 C Football Schools competition after dispatching Thurles CBS in Kildorrery.

A plucky Thurles outfit had no answer to Kinsale’s instinct for goals as three over the hour, including two from Oscar Ryan, proved the difference.

Kinsale had the perfect start as Oscar Ryan raised the first green flag in the opening minute. Two points from Ollie Buckley had Kinsale leading by 1-2 to 0-1 early on.

Thurles fought their way back into the contest as Kinsale’s indiscipline allowed Thurles land a brace of frees. However, Josh Lordan gave Kinsale breathing space before Conor Campion narrowed the margin.

Cillian Fitzgerald narrowly missed a goal chance as Darragh Winters had the ball over the bar as Kinsale led by 1-4 to 0-4 on 15 minutes With scores hard to come by, a decisive goal on 22 minutes arrived as Sean Hurley fed Ryan and he duly delivered.

Kinsale then had their keeper Ryan Fitzgerald to thank as he produced two outstanding saves in quick succession. As Campion finished the half with a point, they led 2-4 to 0-5 Darragh Dwyer had two early points in the second half, as Kinsale were finding it hard to raise their game again. Ger Murphy settled Kinsale nerves with a fine individual point, but Thurles came right back through Rossiter.

Lewis Kiely then had an important score for Kinsale as they led 2-6 to 0-9 on 45 minutes. They then had a great goal chance as John Quinn fired in an effort only for the Tipp keeper to produce a super save.

Two Buckley points had Kinsale taking control and with their tails up Kieran Carroll finished to the net following a neat pass from Donacha Deasy.    

Two more points from Arron Keane and the impressive Kiely had Kinsale heading for the final before Kieran Rossiter had a late 1-1. 

Kinsale were out the gate though and now face Mitchelstown CBS in the decider.

Scorers for Kinsale: O Ryan 2-0, O Buckley 0-4, K Carroll 1-0, L Kiely 0-2, A Keane, J Lordan, G Murphy, D Winters 0-1 each.

Thurles CBS: R Rossiter 1-2 Campion 0-4 (0-3 f), D Dwyer 0-2, D Doyle, C Donnelly 0-1 each.

KINSALE COMMUNITY SCHOOL (all Kinsale bar where noted): R Fitzgerald (Courceys); D Treacy, D Forde, S O’Sullivan; C Fitzgerald, A Keane, L O’Regan (St Finbarr’s); O Ryan, S Hurley; D Winters (Courceys), O Buckley, J Quinn (Tracton); J Lehane (do), G Murphy, A McCarthy (Tracton).

Subs: L Kiely, K Carroll, D Deasy (Ballinhassig), D Murphy (Valley Rovers).

THURLES CBS: J Rykala; J Patterson, R Maher, C Kennedy; D Dwyer, E Kenneady, D Hickey; S Griffin, D Barry; Z O'Keeffe, D Doyle, C Campion; P Ryan, C Donnelly, D Flynn.

Subs: K Rossiter, E Hickey Referee: D O'Farrell.