Screeney secures title for impressive Colaiste Naomh Cormac

THERE was All-Ireland glory for Colaiste Naomh Cormac in Kilmallock, Limerick, on Saturday afternoon. This was thanks to an outrageously impressive individual scoring performance from the ever exciting Adam Screeney.

All-Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior Hurling ‘B' Final Paddy Buggy Cup

Colaiste Naomh Cormac 2-17 

Hamilton High School Bandon 0-14

Screeney's 2-13 coupled with a near-water-tight defence, meant that the national ‘B’ title is now safe beside the Leinster title.

The silverware is named in honour of former Kilkenny hurler and GAA President, Paddy Buggy. There was little doubt that it would be heading back to the Faithful County by half-time, with a scoreline of 1-10 to 0-5. That said, Kilcormac had played with the advantage of a strong wind.

That man Screeney opened the scoring with a point inside two minutes from the left wing. He then intercepted a poor puckout, before burying low to the net from the 20-metre line. Hamilton High School were shellshocked and Alex Kavanagh quickly added another point to make it 1-2 to no score.

The Cork side, who won the Munster title last month against Limerick’s Castletroy, got on the scoresheet when Darragh McCarthy got a fine point from the 45-metre line.

But the Offaly men stepped up in all sectors. They got seven of the next eight points. Colin Spain was tireless at midfield, but it was the reliable Screeney who did the damage on the scoreboard.

Daniel Hand also chipped in with a point at it was 1-9 to 0-2 after 23 minutes. Bandon did get three of the last four first-half points, with Conor O’Sullivan and Evan O’Shea (2). This left the gap at eight points.

There was no change by the 45th minute as O’Shea and Screeney swapped frees. The wind, still strong, wasn’t being used and Coláiste Naomh Cormac were sharp in defence.

They denied Michéal Maguire any space to influence the game. The corner-forward bagged 2-4 in the aforementioned Munster decider.

Bandon, to their credit battle gamely, but were unable to make inroads on the lead, short of that breakthrough score that might have ignited this contest down the stretch. Instead, it came for those in the white jerseys.

Screeney, after a brief lull in scoring, by his standards, ended the contest with a goal on 51 minutes. He collected an Alex Kavanagh pass and again finished low to the bottom left corner to the huge roars from the travelling support.

There was an air of inevitability between that goal until the final whistle, after which the impressive team captain Alex Kavanagh collected the national silverware on behalf of his school and teammates.

MATCH ANALYSIS 

MAN OF THE MATCH 

Adam Screeney (Colaiste Naomh Cormac): 2-13 in an All-Ireland final, is there much more to say?

THE TEAMS

Colaiste Naomh Cormac: (Kilcormac-Killoughey unless stated) Cillian Spain (Drumcullen); Luke Bracken, James Mahon, Mark Mulrooney; Richard Bracken, Brecon Kavanagh, Oisin Guinan; Colin Spain, Harry Sweeney; Daniel Hand, Leigh Kavanagh, Ciaran Scully; James Hennessey, Alex Kavanagh capt, Adam Screeney. Subs: Dillon Hollywood for Hennessey (Drumcullen) (52), Stephen Gleeson for Scully (63).
Hamilton High School Bandon: Aaron White (Valley Rovers); Fionn Ustianowski (Kilbrittain); Charlie O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers), Jack Cullinane (Bandon); Kevin Dart-O’Flynn (Valley Rovers), Cian Johnson (Valley Rovers), Jonathan O’Leary (Valley Rovers); Darragh McCarthy (St. Oliver Plunketts), Niall Kelly (Newcestown); Olan Corcoran (St. Mary’s), Eoin Guinane (Valley Rovers), Evan O’Shea (Valley Rovers); Michéal Maguire (Courcey Rovers); Conor O’Sullivan capt; Séan Ahern (Bandon). Subs: Josh Woods (Valley Rovers) for Ustianowski (29), Ronan Crowley (Kilbrittan) for McCarthy (44), Séan McEntee (Valley Rovers) for Cullinane (51), Harry O’Sullivan (Valley Rovers) for Corcoran (56), Hugh O’Mahony (Bandon) for Kelly (60).

Referee – John O’Halloran (Limerick). 

REFEREE WATCH 

Limerick’s John O’Halloran is considered one of the most consistent and best within the county, he was lenient with the cards for both sides and consistent in applying the rules for pushes, high tackled and shirt pulls.  

MOMENT OF THE MATCH 

The first goal, as the clock ticked beyond two minutes helped make the Offaly support believe. Screeney had work to do after intercepting the puckout, a low, powerful finish gave them an immediate grip. 

VENUE WATCH 

Limerick’s secondary venue, Kilmallock has hosted many big games down the years. The Fitzgerald Park surface was in decent order considering the deluge of rain in Limerick, and the volume of games this pitch hosted in 2022. The venue, like so many, could do with a modern day facelift and would benefit greatly from that. A new electronic scoreboard was a welcome addition to the facility.   

TALKING POINT 

How do you stop a forward like Adam Screeney? The Cork school tried different men, and even two men at once, but the pacy, skillful forward makes sure that the question isn’t any easier to answer now. Bandon will be scratching their heads for some time.

THE SCORERS

Scorers for Colaiste Naomh Cormac: Adam Screeney 2-13 (0-9 frees); Daniel Hand, Alex Kavanagh 0-2 each.
Scorers for Hamilton High School Bandon:  Evan O’Shea 0-7 (4 frees, 1 ‘65’); Eoin Guinane 0-2; Darragh McCarthy, Conor O’Sullivan, Ronan Crowley, Michéal Maguire, Sean McEntee 0-1 each.