Munster Vocational Schools Junior B Football Final – Coláiste Gobnathan Baile Mhúirne (Cork) 2-12 Coláiste Mhuire Askeaton (Limerick) 1-10

Baile Mhúirne seal the deal early

Coláiste Gobnathan Baile Mhúirne (Cork) 2-12 Coláiste Mhuire Askeaton (Limerick)1-10

By Murt Murphy for the Irish Examiner newspaper

A bright start helped Mickey Ned O’Sullivan-coached Coláiste Gobnathan, Ballyvourney overcame the spirited challenge of Coláiste Mhuire, Askeaton to win this Munster Vocational Schools Junior B Football final, played at a sun-soaked Firies yesterday. The Baile Mhúirne attack proved the more potent with corner forward Dan Ó Duinnin, proving the difference between the sides. Ó Duinnin looked a class act with his pace and balance, too much for an overworked Askeaton defence, laying on two goals and kicking four points from play in a man of the match display.

However, it was the opening five-minute scoring blitz by Coláiste Gobnathan that sank Askeaton, who never recovered from falling 1-3 to 0-0 behind before they had settled. A point from the throw-in by Donal Ó Donnchu, was followed by a Shane Murphy goal and further points from Gearoid Ó Faoileain and Dan Ó Duinnin, seemed to stun Askeaton.

Three converted frees from Daire Noonan, Seamus Mangan and Richard Hayes kept Askeaton in touch, but after another defence-splitting move in the 13th minute, Shane Murphy scored his second goal and despite some spirited play by David Holland, and Ross Mann, Askeaton were always playing catch up. Baile Mhúirne led 2-5 to 0-7 at the interval but early second-half points from Sean McSweeney and Michael Grealish reduced the deficit to just two points and it looked like game on. However Askeaton could only manage one more point (their goal came from an injury-time penalty by Ger Kiely) as Baile Mhuirne added six more points to secure a deserved win.

Scorers for Coláiste Gobnathan: S Ó Murchu 2-1, D Ó Duinnin 0-4, G Ó Faoileain 0-3, D Ó Ceallaigh 0-1 free, M Ó Deasuna, D Ó Donnchu and D Ó Meachair 0-1 each.

Scorers for Askeaton: G Kiely 1-0 pen, S Mangan 0-3 frees, Sean McSweeney 0-2, R Hayes and D Noonan 0-1 free each, R Mann, Seamus McSweeney and M Grealish 0-1. each.

COLÁISTE GOBNATHAN: G Ó Luasa, P Ó Criodain, G Ó Goilli, T Ó hAileasa, A Ó Cuana, D Ó Ceallaig, C Ó Murchu, A Ó Murchu, M Ó Deasuna, G Ó Faoileain, D Ó Donnchu, I Ó Riordain, A Ó Scannnail, S Ó Murchu, D Ó Duinnin. Subs: D Ó Meachair for C Ó Murchu (44), D Ó hAllamhan for A Ó Scannail (58.

ASKEATON: D Coleman, L Horgan, E Cuddihy, D Holland, D Hanley, R Mann, S O’Connell, G Kiely, J Naughton, R Hayes, D Noonan, S Mangan, Sean McSweeney, D Guerin, Seamus McSweeney. Subs: M Grealish for D Noonan (inj 25), D Noonan for Sean McSweeney (48), G Fitzgerald for S Mangan (52), P Maher for Seamus McSweeney (58).

Referee: Eddie Walsh (Rathmore)