Abbey CBS defeated Hamilton HS Bandon by 3-9 to 0-8 in the Munster GAA Post Primary Schools Corn Dhonncha Uí Nuanáin (18.5 B Football) Final at Mallow on Saturday.
Munster SFC ‘B’ Final
Abbey CBS 3-9 Hamilton High School Bandon 0-8
Report by Jerry Ring
The Abbey Power past Hamilton High School in the Munster Post Primary Schools Noonan Cup SFC ‘B’ Final to ease into the All Ireland semi-final against an Ulster side on March 28th.
In a game of no little skill and physical endeavour from both sides, the Abbey took a fourth Cork scalp in this hard fought competition last Saturday afternoon in the final in Mallow. The Abbey had defeated St. Colman’s Fermoy, St. Declan’s Rosscarbery and Coláiste an Spiorad Naomh, Bishopstown on route to this final. Bandon were a highly regarded outfit and had victories over Listowel, Rockwell College and St. Augustine’s, Dungarvan on their path to the final. Though the Hamilton High School were slight favourites, the Abbey carved out a magnificent victory, to be the first school to put their names on the recently presented Denis Noonan Cup. The Abbey last won this competition in 2011, but contested two finals in the meantime.
The Abbey laid the platform for this victory in the first half. The first quarter exchanges were tight with scores at a premium. The Abbey had played against the breeze and defended heroically. They kept their shape and played their sweeper to advantage. However two goals from Daire Egan at the beginning of the second quarter proved the crucial turning point of the game and was the difference between the sides at the end. However credit too must go to Callum Fanning for a marvellous goalkeeping display. Fanning guessed right to save a crucial penalty and brought off three other wonderful saves. Indeed the ten point winning margin did not adequately show the difference between the sides on the field of play. Hamilton High School would have been much closer on the scoreboard only for their early obsession with looking for goals, squandering gilt edge point chances. They had periods early in the second half in the ascendancy but failed to convert this dominance into scores.
Wind assisted in the first half Cathal Maguire opened for the Hamilton with a point after just one minute. Daire Egaan replied for the Abbey before points by Luke Meade and Eoin O’Reilly put the Cork side into a 0-3 to 0-1 lead. Shane Neville pointed to reduce the lead and Hamilton led 0-3 to 0-2 at the end of the first quarter. Then after Tommy Lowry put Josh Ryan through,he was hauled down in the square Daire Egan converted the resultant penalty. Cathal Maguire replied with a pointed free. Then came the Abbey’s second goal, Tommy Lowry combined with Neville and Egan finished the move to the Bandon net. At this stage Ian Crowley was sent to mark Egan. So after eighteen minutes the Abbey led 2-2 to 0-4. In this short period the Abbey went from two down to four up and were never led from hereon.
Points from captain Keith Landy and Brian Fanning increased the Abbey lead and Cathal Maguire added a pointed free for the Bandon boys before half time. In injury time following some indiscipline both sides were reduced to fourteen men, two harshly sent off, however others were lucky to escape following this melee, but the Abbey led 2-4 to 0-5 at the break.
Immediately after the interval Josh Ryan and Cathal Maguire swapped points. However despite their best efforts The Hamilton High School did not raise a flag for the next twenty minutes. This was in the main due to a gritty, determined close marking defense ably led by the magnificent Shane Power and Tommy Lowry, who soaked up the Hamilton High School pressure and came forward to launch attacks. Josh Ryan and Daire Fanning were also controlling matters around the middle third, especially as Bandon felt the loss of Jonathan Mulcahy from this sector. Shane Neville, Daire Egan and Shane Power added points for the Abbey and after forty minutes the Tipperary boys led 2-8 to 0-6.
Things were not going well for the Bandon boys and then Colm Dineen failed to convert a penalty after forty one minutes. This was a real downer. Andrew Vance pointed a free for the Abbey and Cathal Maguire replied with a pointed free after fifty three minutes. In the final eight minutes, goal shots from Chris O’Leary and Darragh Curran were dealt with at the expense of 45’s by Calum Fanning and Shane Ryan deflected another goalbound shot out of danger. With three minutes remaining Andrew Vance goaled to finish the game with a flourish put the victory out of sight for Hamilton after a fine move involving Davy Byron and Shane Ryan. Chris O’Leary had a point for Hamilton before the long whistle and the Abbey ran out deserving winners.
The introduction of fresh feet from the bench also played a part in this victory. The Hamilton High School will be disappointed. They had only recently had been eliminated from the Harty Cup. However the Crowleys, Ian and Billy were solid in defense. Chris O’Leary fought hard at midfield. Up front Luke Meade had his moments while Darragh Curran, Colm Dineen and Cathal Maguire caught the eye. After the game the Denis Noonan Cup was presented,for the first time, to Keith Landy by the sons of Denis Noonan, Donagh and Mark.
The Abbey team are coached by Damian O’Brien and Noel Kilcoyne.
The Abbey CBS: Callum Fanning (Galtee Rovers); Cian Ryan (Arravale Rovers), Shane Ryan (Lattin/Cullen), Stephen Moloney (Lattin/Cullen); Tommy Lowry (Arravale Rovers), Shane Power (Galtee Rovers, 0-1), Brian Fanning (Pallasgreen, 0-1 free); Josh Ryan (Oola, 0-1), Darragh Fanning (Pallasgreen); Davy Byron (Galtee Rovers), Keith Landy (Golden/Kilfeacle, 0-1), Shane Neville (Lattin/Cullen, 0-2); Andrew Vance (Emly, 1-1, 0-1 free, Daire Egan (Galtee Rovers, 2-2, 0-1 free), Stephen O’Dwyer (Galtee Rovers).
Subs: Shane Ryan (Galtee Rovers) for Stephen O’Dwyer (black card), Caolán Hennessy (Cappawhite) for Shane Neville, Paul Ryan (Solohead)for Keith Landy, Eoghan McNamara (Oola) for Davy Byron.
Hamilton High School: Danny O’Sullivan; Joe O’Mahony, William Hurley, Eoin O’Brien; Billy Crowley, Ian Crowley, James Kelleher; Chris O’Leary (0-1), Jonathan Mulcahy; Darragh Curran, Luke Meade (0-1), Michael Crowley; Colm Dineen, Eoin O’Reilly (0-1), Cathal Maguire (0-5, 0-4 frees)
Referee: JP Kiely
Munster Post-Primary Schools Senior B Football Final
Preview supplied by Jerry Ring
On Saturday the 7th February the Abbey School, Tipperary take on Hamilton High School, Bandon in the Munster Post-Primary Schools Senior B Football Final at 2pm in Mallow.
The Abbey will be aiming to take a fourth Cork scalp in this hard fought competition. The Abbey have defeated St. Colman’s, Fermoy (0-14 to 1-2), St. Declan’s, Rosscarbery (1-15 to 2-6) and most recently Coláiste an Spiorad Naomh, Bishopstown (3-11 to 2-10) on route to their second final in three seasons. In the 2013 decider the Abbey came off second best against a talented Templemore outfit. The Abbey have won this competition previously on six occasions 1997, 1998, 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2011.
On reaching the final in 2013 the Abbey defeated Hamilton High School in the semi-final by the narrowest of margins. Bandon are a highly regarded outfit and have had victories over Listowel, Rockwell College (in a replay) and St. Augustine’s, Dungarvan.
In the County Tipperary championship the Abbey defeated Templemore in the County Senior Football semi-final (1-8 to 2-1) and lost to Rockwell in the Senior Football County final on January 6th after a high quality encounter (0-11 to 0-9).
The Abbey will be looking to the Lattin/Aherlow duo of Shane Ryan and Stephen Moloney in the full-back line and Tommy Lowry (Arravale Rovers) and Shane Power (Galtee Rovers) in the half-back line to keep the much vaunted Bandon forward line in check. At mid-field the high fielding Josh Ryan (Oola) and Darragh Fanning (Pallasgreen) will be aiming to gain a foothold and supply possession for forwards such as Daire Egan and Stephen O’Dwyer (Galtee Rovers), Andrew Vance (Emly) and Captain Keith Landy (Golden/Kilfeacle).
Bandon will enter the game as slight favourites owing to their defeat of a strong Rockwell outfit in the quarter-finals but the Abbey have shown a high degree of organisation and quality thus far and will have high hopes of bringing back the Corn Dhonncha Uí Nuanáin to the Tipperary Town school next Saturday afternoon.
The Abbey team are coached by Damian O’Brien and Noel Kilcoyne.
