Scoil Pól Kilfinane aiming for All-Ireland glory in Michael Cusack hurling final

AFTER AN outstanding campaign, the Scoil Pól Kilfinane U19 Hurling team have made it to the Masita Post Primary All Ireland ‘C’ final in Tulla, Co Clare on Friday, March 15. There is an exceptional level of talent among this squad coming from 11 different clubs (Blackrock, Garryspillane, Bruff, Castletown-Ballyagran, Charleville, Dromin-Athlacca, Bruree, Kilmallock, Glenroe, Staker Wallace and Effin).

The team will now play Colaister Mhuire of Galway in the final. 

The campaign began way back in September when the team played their first game of the group stages versus Presentation Brothers College, Cork where the boys came out on top in Bishopstown on a score line of 4-19 to 0-07.

The second group game was against St Augustine’s Dungarvan where a super Colin Bresnihan performance and a last ditch equalising point from Owen Barrington allowed the team to snatch a point in a very tight game; 2-18 to 2-18. Despite missing some players on the day, the team persevered to ensure they would go on to top the group. 

The team then progressed to the first knockout round, the team played superbly on the day against Causeway of Kerry and won 1-21 - 0-03 in Rathkeale. The team then faced a fancied Colaiste an Phiarsaigh side from Glanmire in Mallow.

A vital goal from Darren Frewen mid way through the 2nd half gave them the momentum they needed to come out on top in a very tight game which finished with a Scoil Pól victory on a score line of 1-16 to 1-08. 

Scoil Pól then faced St Augustines of Dungarvan in Fethard in the Munster semi final, where a terrific team performance sent them through to the Munster final vs  Glanmire Community College.

The team descended on Fethard once again where Scoil Pol were victorious once more and lifted the Munster trophy. Winning the Munster final was an incredible achievement. Scoil Pól had often made it to this stage in the past and to finally achieve this accolade was a highlight of the season for many of the players.

The team was now in the All Ireland stages of the competition. This was a first for Scoil Pol in this competition. The All Ireland semi final was held in Sean Treacys Kilcommon vs Cistercian College Roscrea. The stand was littered in navy and blue as the supporters were out in full force for the team.

The team were methodical in their approach to the game with every pass, point and puck out hitting its target. Every member of the panel played his part and they lead the whole way through, with the game eventually ending on a score line of  1:18 to 1:09. 

Now the team face Colaiste Mhuire, Ballygar from Galway in the All Ireland final. The school community could not be more proud of their dedication and perseverance throughout the entire season. Staff, students, parents and relatives will be out in full force once again in Tulla to cheer on the team and management, Ed Kiely, Anthony Punch and Peadar McCarthy, who have worked tirelessly with the team all season.

Scoil Pól Panel: Cathal Dennehy (Glenroe), Darragh Cronin (Kilmallock), James Philpot (Blackrock), Oran Crowley (Staker Wallace), John O’Connell (Bruree), Shane Fitzgibbon JC (Dromin-Athlacca), Kevin Hayden (Bruree), Cillian O’Riordan (Effin), Colin Bresnihan (Castletown/Balyagran), Owen Barrigton (Bruree), James O’Sullivan (Garryspillane), Jack Carroll (Blackrock), Darren Frewen (Glenroe), Kristian O’Gorman JC (Charleville), Daithi Dennehy (Glenroe), Glynn Mulcahy, (Staker Wallace), Michael Barry (Staker Wallace), Tristan Begley (Charleville), Jojo Fitzgerald (Effin), Adam Frewen (Glenroe), Cathal Kent (Charleville), Evan Lowe (Blackrock), Aaron Lyons (Bruree), Ben Noonan (Bruff), David O'Brien (Bruree), Blake O'Doherty (Blackrock), Sean O'Dwyer (Blackrock), Michael Quaid (Dromin/Athlacca), Niall Ryan (Blackrock), Donnacha Waters (Charleville), Bily Lonergan (Glenroe), Scott Ryan (Glenroe)