Frewen Cup Under 16.5 A Football Quarter-Final – St Flannan’s College Ennis 1-11 St Francis College Rochestown 2-6

St Francis Rochestown pipped with late goal

St Flannan’s College Ennis 1-11 St Francis College Rochestown 2-6

Report by Paddy Ryan

A late goal for St Flannan’s gave them a close win over St Francis College Rochestown in the Munster Under 16.5 (A) FC quarter final (Frewen Cup) at Rathkeale on Wednesday.

St Francis had the aid of the very strong wind in the first half. They were quick to get on top with early points by Colin O’Mahony, Liam O’Sullivan and Adam Hennessy. St Francis had their first goal in the 11th minute when Conor Russell and Liam O’Sullivan worked well for Rory Doyle whose effort came back off the crossbar into the path of Brendan Powter who goaled. They had their second goal a minute later when Colin O’Mahony and Conor Russell combined well for Rory Doyle who goaled from close range 2-3 to 0- 0.

The Rochestown side lost the momentum from here on. St. Flannan’s gained supremacy in the half back line where Ikem Ugwueru and Darragh O’Shea exerted a lot of pressure with some good runs through the centre. St. Flannan’s had four points before the break by Philip Talty (2) along with a pointed free each by Eoin Thynne and Gearoid Cahill. At the break St Francis led 2-5 to 0-4.

It was all St. Flannan’s in the second half. The wind and heavy rain increased. Flannan’s cut into the lead with four points on the trot 2-5 to 0-8. The Rochestown side had just one point in this half in the 42nd minute when a kickout by David O’Keeffe found Rory Doyle who combined with Adam Hennessy who placed Conor Russell for a very well taken point. Eoin Thynne kicked two pointed frees with Gearoid Cahill with a free cutting the lead to the minimum in the 56th minute 2-6 to 0-11.

In the dying moments St Flannan’s had a match winning goal when a long effort by Gearoid Cahill seemed to be going wide but wind assisted got inside the post for a vital goal. St. Francis tried very hard for a goal in the closing moments, they forced two ’45s but both were cleared. The final whistle followed and nan’s were through to the semi final.

Scorers for St Flannan’s: Gearoid Cahill 1-3 (0-3f) Eoin Thynne 0-5 (0-4f) Philip Talty 0-2, Conor Breathnach 0-1.
St Francis: Rory Doyle 1-1, Brendan Powter 1-0, Colin O’Mahony 0-2f. Adam Hennessy 0-1, Liam O’Sullivan 0-1, Conor Russell 0-1.

ST. FLANNAN’S: Tom O’Brien (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield) Darragh Hickey (Banner) John Finucane (Kilmihil) Liam McGrath (Corofin) Ikem Ugwueru (Eire Og) Darragh O’Shea (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield) Gearoid Collins (Eire Og) Ian Molloy (Banner) Ronan Cahill (Kilmaley) Eoin Thynne (St Joseph’s Doora-Barefield) Gearoid Cahill (Corofin) Ronan Collins (Banner) Philip Talty (Eire Og) Niall Galvin (Clarecastle) Conor Breathnach (St. Joseph’s Doora-Barefield.
Subs: Conor Wynne (Corofin) for Ronan Collins, Stephen Talty (Eire Og) for Gearoid Collins, Kevin Keane (Corofin) for Darragh Hickey, Daniel Daly (Banner) for Conor Breathnach.

ST. FRANCIS: David O’Keeffe (Douglas) Joe Cahill (do) Jack Lester (Passage) Diarmuid Cormack (St. Michael’s) Liam O’Sullivan (Douglas) Jack Ryan (St. Finbarr’s) Dylan Corkery (do) Daniel Quinlan (Nemo (Rangers) Patrick Buckley (Douglas) Colin O’Mahony (do) Conor Russell (do) Adam Hennessy (St. Michael’s) Rory Doyle (Douglas) Brendan Powter (do) Donagh Gribbon (St. Michael’s)
Subs: Aaron Long (Nemo Rangers) for Liam O’Sullivan, David Nason (Douglas) for Patrick Buckley, Shane Downey (Shamrocks) for Jack Ryan (inj).

Referee John Paul Kiely (Shamrock Gaels)