RAHEENS was the venue for this U21 B Football final on Saturday and despite the weather we have been enduring of late the new pitch in Caragh was certainly in tip top condition as St Kevin’s lifted the trophy after a thoroughly convincing display against a St Laurence’s side that did well in the opening quarter but once behind found themselves chasing the game from there on in, writes Tommy Callaghan.
The boys from the south were probably the favourites to win this one and they opened brightly with Pádraig Fogarty converting a 45 inside a minute and while the impressive Declan Flaherty soon equalised. The Larries went on to open a 0-4 to 0-1 lead mid way through, with three converted frees.
Flaherty got his second for Kevin’s and when Darran Fox and Flaherty added two more the sides were level after 21 minutes.
Probably the most decisive score of the game soon followed, Tom Barron, who had a mighty game, attacked down the middle, passed to Jack Kenny who lost the ball but it was quickly turned over, this time back to Barron whose shot dipped under the cross bar and into the Larries net.
Adrian Dunne replied with a free but Barron and a fine individual point from Declan Flaherty extended the lead to 1-6 to 0-5 at the break.
On the resumption it took all of seven minutes before the opening score arrived and when it did it practically ended any hopes Larries had of winning.
Flaherty sent in a high ball to the Larries square; up went Darran Fox and Luke Doyle; Fox gained possession, turned and planted the ball in the net and Kevin’s lead was extended to seven points.
Larries did up their game but found scoring hard to come by through a combination of excellent defending and some poor shooting.
However, Tomás Mulreid did hit a beauty from wide on the left to reduce the deficit as the boys in red and yellow suddenly found another gear and nearly hit the net through Pádraig Fogarty only for a brilliant block by Brian Fogarty .
Adrian Dunne got his fourth point of the game but Tom Barron eased the Kevin’s worries with a brilliant individual effort showing his strength and character to stretch the lead back to six.
Pádraig Fogarty hit a lovely long range point before the same player was denied a goal, this time with a great Dean O’Regan block as Larries threw everything at their opponents but four wides on the trot did little for their cause.
Darran Fox then increased the Kevin’s lead and a few minutes later substitute Ciarán McMahon ensured the win, finishing off a move involving Barron and Flaherty to fire to net. Darran Fox ended the Kevin’s scoring with a point and while Pádraig Fogarty added one more it was too late as Kevin’s won on a score line of St Kevin’s 3-9 St Laurence’s 0-9.
A decent game, worthy winners who had excellent displays from Tom Barron, Declan Flaherty, Darran Fox, Jack Kenny and Dean O’Regan.
St Kevin’s, Darran Fox 1-3, Tom Barron 1-2, Declan Flaherty 0-4 (1 free), Ciarán McMahon 1-0.
St Laurence’s, Pádraig Fogarty 0-4 (45, 1 free), Adrian Dunne 0-4 (3 frees), Tomás Mulreid 0-1.
Keith Fitzharris; Brian Fogarty, Dean O’Regan, Mark Mitchell; Eamon Cox, Mark Grace, Kevin O’Brien; Tom Barron, Jack Kenny; Eoin Lenihan, Ross Carew, Seán Hartnett; Darran Fox, Seán Mitchell, Declan Flaherty. Subs: Ciarán McMahon for Colm Mitchell (45 minute); Luke Reilly for Eoin Lenihan (49 minute); Robert Beirnes for Seán Hartnett (60 minute); Gavin Craig for Eamon Cox (60 minute).
Dan Leigh; Luke Doyle, Eoin Clifford, Robin Lawlor; Billy Kiernan, Paddy Nolan, Shane Molloy; Pádraig Fogarty, Roger Glynn; Eddie Dwyer, James Fahey, Benny Keatley; Chris Fenner, Adrian Dunne, Tomás Mulreid.