Hamilton HS Bandon U17 footballers claim Munster glory after a great win over De La Salle College Macroom

Hamilton High School Bandon claimed the Munster Colleges U17 B Football title on Wednesday night following a deserved 3-14 to 2-7 triumph over De La Salle College Macroom.

The final was played on the fabulous new Midleton 3G pitch. 

It was a very polished performance from the young Hammies to record a ten-point victory. They led by seven points at the interval and kept their opposition at arm's length in the second 30 minutes.

The team had many great performers led on by the likes of Rory Fleming, Alan Long and Olan Kelly.

The Hamilton High School manager Rob Honohan, who was joined on the sideline by Gavin Kelleher, was naturally delighted with how the game panned out on Wednesday night. 

“There’s a great bunch of lads here and it’s brilliant to be winning silverware,” the Bishopstown clubman says.

“When we met up at the start of the campaign, the goal was to win the championship. It was going to be a tough task, but we did it. The players are GAA mad to be honest, really committed and driven. They love playing and it was very easy to manage the team.

“They had lost a hurling semi-final last Friday, so they didn’t want to experience another loss in under a week. They were very driven. I suppose, they had the work done too.

“They have put in a huge effort and they have been rewarded now. We knew we had the ability to go all the way, but we were wary that De La Salle College were going to be tough. The lads though upped the ante and pulled away gradually.” 

Hammies, who defeated a fancied Mercy Mounthawk outfit in the semi-final, would have been favourites to land the title after that win.

They still had to overcome the final hurdle and now they have, the sky's the limit, no doubt.

“We have a nice spread of clubs on the panel and a huge buy-in from everyone with over 40 players on the panel. That just shows the interest. This success will hopefully give the whole school a lift.

“These players will be determined to kick on now and this will stand to them going on to the senior panel and playing in the Corn Uí Mhuirí in the coming years. It’s what the De La Salle College manager John Ryan said to us in the dressing room after the game that this should be a stepping stone for Hammies.

“The players are mad to play and I am sure they will build on this.” Honohan concluded.

Hamilton High School Bandon U17 football panel:

Cormac Moroney (Owen Gaels), Harry Forbes (Ahán Gaels), Adam Browne (Valley Rovers), Daniel Dullea (Bandon), Cathal Murphy (Valley Rovers), Rory Fleming (Ahán Gaels), Russell Crowley (Bandon), Gearóid Donegan (St Oliver Plunkett’s), Paul Deasy (Ibane Gaels), Conor Murphy (Ahán Gaels), Alan Long (Ahán Gaels), Olan Kelly (Newcestown), Donal McSweeney (Newcestown), Conail Hurley (Bandon), Aidan O’Driscoll (Bandon), Charlie Curtin (Valley Rovers), Sam Molumphy (Valley Rovers), Tadhg O’Mahony (Bandon), John Bates (Owen Gaels), JJ Galvin (Ahán Gaels), Patrick Barry (Valley Rovers), Aaron Buttimer (Ahán Gaels), Fionn Murray (Ahán Gaels), Eoin Wilcox (Ibane Gaels), Niall Egan (Kilbrittain), Kevin O’Driscoll (Bandon), Jack Allen (Newcestown), Cillian Harte (Ibane Gaels), Odhrán Madden (Kilbrittain), Seán Platt (Valley Rovers), Cillian Madden (Kilbrittain), Daniel McCarthy (Owen Gaels), Patrick Hennessy (Valley Rovers), Tom Kingston (Bandon), Mike Joe Foley (Ibane Gaels), Nick Daly (Valley Rovers), John Hennessy (Valley Rovers), Ronan Sheehy (Kilbrittain), Brian Kelleher (Kilbrittain), James Henchion (Ibane Gaels), Ruaidhrí Crowley (Courcey Rovers), Donncha O’Mahony (Newcestown), Liam Ryan (Owen Gaels).