Missed chances prove costly as Colaiste Naomh Cormac miss out on All-Ireland title

Masita All-Ireland Post-Primary Schools Senior ‘C’ Final

ST JOSEPH’S, BORRISOLEIGH 2-17

COLÁISTE NAOMH CORMAC, KILCORMAC 2-12

BORRISOKANE bathed in sunshine, the crowds came out in force, and the hurlers of St Joseph’s Borrisoleigh and Coláiste Naomh Cormac (CNC) delivered a memorable All-Ireland final worthy of the occasion, but ultimately it was one where St Joseph’s prevailed due to their greater accuracy, and their control of the game for longer spells.

For 15 minutes, Coláiste Naomh Cormac were exceptional, but 12 wides in all, eight in the first half, and a plethora of missed goal chances was just too much to overcome against a balanced, impressive St Joseph’s side that had far more depth than one might normally expect from a small, rural school.

20 years on from when a St Joseph’s side featuring Seamus Callanan and Brendan Maher couldn’t quite get there at All-Ireland level, this team, dominated by players from Borris-Ileigh and Toomevara, played a controlled sweeper system that suited them down to the ground as they slowed down the ball coming out of the Offaly school’s backline, while at the other end CNC struggled to make it stick, instead having to try for scores from distance.

That led to a half-time wide count of eight to three on a still day, while St Joseph’s were also on target with their two goal opportunities and CNC’s James Hennessy slammed a penalty into the foot of the post.

Throw in being delayed by five minutes to allow the huge crowd to make their way into the North Tipp venue showed the level of public interest and within 60 seconds of the game getting underway, the first massive roar of the day came when Cody Quirke blocked down an attempted pass from James McLoughlin in the CNC goal lifting and striking to the net from close range.

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There were classy points at either end from Jack Dunican, Mairtín Ryan, Eoin Ryan, Quirke and Michael Ryan, but the excellent midfield play of team captain Micheál Collins in particular was a trump card for St Joseph’s, who led by 2-8 to 0-5 at the turnaround.

Fast forward 15 minutes into the second half and the lead was now ten, with two more glorious CNC goal chances having gone askew.

The angle looked too tight when Hennessy won a hard ball in the left corner and went to slam it into the roof of the net but once the twine danced, there was hope.

60 seconds later Lochlann Fletcher played an inviting pass across the middle that Mairtín Ryan flicked to the net, and there was a game on.

By now Luke Bracken, James Dooley and Fiachra Carroll were dominating the middle and a series of treacherous deliveries were sent into the St Joseph’s goalmouth, but time and again Oisín Ryan and Daniel Groome made the catch or the batted clearance to keep their goal intact.

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Aaron Screeney knocked over a couple of points to reduce the lead to the bare minimum but there was to be a final kick in St Joseph’s, enough to see them home.

Team captain Micheál Collins landed a high pressure '65', Shane Ryan nailed a couple of frees and split the uprights from a tricky angle on the left hand side, and the Cusack Cup was theirs.

Scorers: St Joseph’s: Shane Ryan (0-6, 0-4 frees), Micheál Collins (0-6, 0-4 frees, 0-1 '65'), Michael Ryan (1-2), Cody Quirke (1-1), Liam Hackett Eoin Ryan 0-1 (each).

Coláiste Naomh Cormac: Jack Dunican (0-4, 0-2 frees), Aaron Screeney (0-4, 0-2 frees, 0-1 '65'), James Hennessy (1-1), Mairtín Ryan (1-1), Fiachra Carroll (0-2).

ST JOSEPH'S BORRISOLEIGH: Oisín Ryan; Cormac Frend, Daniel Groome, Adam Whyte; Ciarán Troy, David Rabbitte, Jack Gould; Micheál Collins, Cathal Kennedy; Eoin Ryan, Shane Ryan, Michael Ryan; Liam Hackett, Eoghan Anderson, Cody Quirke. Subs: Mark Hoare (for Rabbitte, 46 mins), Billy O’Brien (for E. Ryan, 47 mins), Tadhg Kelly (for Troy, 52 mins), Rabbitte (for Anderson, 59 mins), Darragh Kelly (for Quirke, 63 mins).

COLAIStE NAOMH CORMAC, KILCORMAC: James McLoughlin; Niall Fitzgerald, Tomás Carroll, Seán Cleary; A.J. Bracken, Luke Bracken, James Dooley; James Hennessy, Joe Quinn; Seán Gill, Fiachra Carroll, Oisín McKeown; Lochlann Fletcher, Mairtin Ryan, Jack Dunican. Subs: James Lynch (for Hennessy, 29mins-HT, blood), Lynch (for Cleary, half-time), Aaron Screeney (for McKeown, half-time).

REFEREE: John Bugler (Clare).

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