Clinical St Kieran's power past Munget St Paul's to claim Limerick junior 'B' football crown

CLINICAL St Kieran's produced a commanding display to ease past Mungret St Paul's 1-18 to 0-6 in their Woodlands House Hotel County Junior B Football Championship final played in Askeaton on Sunday afternoon.

St Kieran's, appearing in their first county final in the junior 'B' grade, laid the foundation for this impressive success in the opening half after which the West Limerick side held a significant 1-8 to 0-2 advantage. 

The winners, who moved the ball with great purpose, composure and accuracy, led 1-3 to 0-0 after 10 minutes with their goal coming in the ninth minute following a powerful run through the heart of the Mungret St Paul's defence and clinical finish from Jack O'Sullivan.

It might have been different for Mungret St Paul's as they were denied a goal inside the opening minute when St Kieran's goalkeeper Con Enright did superbly to block goalbound efforts from Conor Garvey and Darragh Hogan.

Conor O'Halloran opened Mungret St Paul's account in the 10th minute. However, St Kieran's, bolstered by several players who have impressed at senior level for the club down through the years, hit three points on the spin from Fionn Gleeson, the highly influential Luke Corrigan off a free, and another leading light in their win, the experienced Anthony Molyneaux, again from a placed ball.

The winners boasted a nice blend of youth and experience in their side and it proved a perfect combination in this decider.

Mungret St Paul's captain Muiris Ahern kicked a second score for the city side before half-time. However, St Kieran's were nine points in front at the break when another leading light in their success Jack Ben Harnett kicked his opening score of the contest.

Any hopes Mungret St Paul's may have had of staging a second half comeback all but disappeared when their opponents hit them with a run of four points on the bounce just after the restart from Corrigan with two, including a smashing effort from play as well as scores from Cathal McEnery and Harnett.

With their former inter-county senior player Johnny McCarthy anchoring the defence impressively, St Kieran's were in control.

Brian O'Meara and O'Halloran did add points for Mungret-St Paul's at the three quarter stage, but St Kieran's were never in any danger of losing their grip on the contest.

Points followed from Harnett, Corrigan, free, substitutes Seamus Mangan and Oisin Commane, Man of the Match Donie Nolan and McEnery once again as St Kieran's, who had earlier won the County League title and West divisional championship, closed out a famous win.

SCORERS: St Kieran's: Luke Corrigan 0-5 (0-4 frees), Anthony Molyneaux 0-4 (0-2 frees), Jack Ben Harnett 0-3, Jack O'Sullivan 1-0, Cathal McEnery 0-2, Fionn Gleeson, Donie Nolan, Oisin Ryan, Seamus Mangan, Oisin Commane 0-1 each.  

Mungret St Paul's: Conor O'Halloran 0-3, Brian O'Meara, Noel Kelly (free), Muiris Ahern 0-1 each. 

ST KIERAN'S: Con Enright; Mike Upton, John Doyle, Michael Murphy; James O'Connor (Capt), Johnny McCarthy, Fionn Gleeson; Jack O'Sullivan, Donie Nolan; Cathal McEnery, Jack Ben Harnett, Ray Cahill; Luke Corrigan, Oisin Ryan, Anthony Molyneaux. SUBS: Seamus Mangan for Cahill (injured 24 mins), Ian Mackessy for Upton (37 mins), Shane Fitzgerald for Oisin Ryan (42 mins), Shane Lynch for Doyle (50 mins), Oisin Commane for Gleeson (57 mins).

MUNGRET ST PAUL'S: Eoin O'Hagan, Sean O'Dea, Gearoid Hanrahan, Evan McInerney; Brian Hassett, Brian O'Meara, James Corcoran; Darragh Johnson, Michael Uwatse; Darragh Hogan, Liam Lynch, Muiris Ahern (Capt); Peter Harrington, Conor Garvey, Conor O'Halloran. SUBS: Willie Staunton for Darragh Hogan (half-time), Adam Coffey for Harrington, Sean Gallagher for O'Dea (both 35 mins), Noel Kelly for Garvey (42 mins), Adie Hanley for Johnson (50 mins).

REFEREE: Paul McMahon (South Liberties)