Tralee CBS provided this report of an amazing Munster A U18 1/2 Corn Uí Mhuiri Semi Final Replay, plus loads of great photos from Adrienne McLoughlin…
Tralee CBS 2-11
Coláiste Críost Rí 1-14 (AET)
The term “epic” in a sporting context is reserved for contests that surpass the norm in terms of entertainment and theatre.
Having now played 160 minutes and drawn four times, we now await at least another 60 to separate these schools.
The term term “epic” is apt as this truly has been gladiatorial stuff.
Continued below…
The Green would have rued their opportunities in Mallow in game one to put the tie to bed, this time Críost Rí will regret their inability to kill the game.
Neither team can face losing it seems, neither capable of winning either. The stalemate goes on to game three.
Played in idyllic winter conditions on a good Ballyvourney pitch, the Green raced out of the traps with a fortuitous David Fitzmaurice goal after two minutes.
Further points from Michael Kelliher (3), Kieran Dwyer and Gearoid Fitzgerald to Criost Rí’s two put the Tralee boys three up before Fitzgerald was brought down and Kelliher converted the penalty to open up a significant six point gap after 20.
Immediately, Críost Rí replied with a goal and a point however to leave the score 2-4 to 1-5 in the Green favour at the half way mark.
Into the second half and two further Tralee points from Tom Hoare and Kieran Dwyer put the Green lead at three again.
At this juncture however, the tide swung once again in Críost Rí’s favour as they reeled off five points without reply to edge two in front with only two minutes left.
With the tension at fever pitch, a speculative Tomas O’Connor ball hopped over the bar to reduce the margin to one and as the referee penalised the Cork men for time wasting in injury time, a hop ball saw Joseph O’Connor upended.
Tom Hoare was the coolest man in the ground as he nailed the resulting free from an acute angle to force extra time.
Into 20 minutes extra time and two points from sub Daire Keane and the influential Joseph O’Connor gave the Green a good cushion but once again the Cork boys responded with three points either side of the break to take the lead as the game edge towards yet another finale.
With a Tomas O’Connor shot that drifted agonisingly wide, the Cork faithful bayed for the final whistle, but the ref played on deep beyond the regulation time and sure enough, a tremendous Fitzgerald catch earned Tralee a free, which was dispatched by Kelliher to tie things up again.
It would be wrong to identify any individuals in these matches for individual plaudits. These games have been characterised by wholehearted group endeavour and as yet unbreakable resilience from both sides.
Tralee CBS have gone toe to toe in this slugfest and are still standing. They’ll retreat, rest and recuperate before crossing the border to advance once more. Scroll down for loads more photos…
Team
1 Shane Foley (Kerins O’Rahillys)
2 Brandon Patterson (Austin Stacks)
3 Tommy Lynch (St Pats, Blennerville)
4 Jack Myers (John Mitchels)
5 John Walsh (Knocknagoshel)
6 Niall OMahoney (Na Gaeil)
7 Sean Donnellan (Churchill)
8 Kieran Dwyer(St Pats, Blennerville, 0-2, 2f)
9 Joseph O’Connor (Austin Stacks, 0-1)
10 Tomas O’Connor (Ballymac, 0-1)
11 Tom Hoare (Kerins O’Rahillys, 0-2, 1f)
12 Michael Scanlon (Castlegregory)
13 David Fitzmaurice (Austin Stacks, 1-0)
14 Gearoid Fitzgerald (Austin Stacks,0-1)
15 Michael Kelliher (John Mitchels, 1-3, 1f, 1 pen)
Subs Used
Jason Mortimer (Churchill) 30mins
Aaron Roche (Keirns ORahillys) 48mins
Daire Keane (Ballymac, 0-1) 59mins
Subs not Used
Sean Hamilton (Churchill)
Eoin Greaney (St Pats, Blennerville)
Austin Clifford (Churchill)
Josh OKeeffe (Ballymac)
David Couchman (Austin Stacks)
Darragh Regan (Ballymac)
Cillian ORiordan (St Pats, Blennerville)
Dylan Burns(NaGaeil)
Michael Hoare (Ballymac)