2009 - County P1 M F C -
| Date | Saturday 07 November 2009 |
|---|---|
| Time | 15.00 |
| Venue | Pairc Ui Chaoimh |
| Referee | James Bermingham |
| Competition | County P1 M F C Football Championship |
| Round | 7 |
Martin O'Brien Match Report
A strong final quarter enabled St Finbarrs to see off the strong challenge of Fermoy in this gripping Ulster Bank Co Premier 1 Minor Football Championship Final which was played in Pairc Ui Chaoimh on Saturday afternoon last. Despite the greasy conditions after a morning of heavy rain the pitch was in fine order and both sides have to be complimented on the standard of fast free flowing football they served up. Both sides had their moments and but after going four points adrift as the final quarter approached St Finbarrs upped their performance and reeling off a goal and four points they secured the lead which they held despite a determined effort on the part of Fermoy to rescue the situation.
Although playing against the wind in the opening half St Finbarrs got off to a flying start when Joe Fitzpatrick found the net in the 2nd minute after some fine work from Dave McCarthy. Spurred into action Fermoy hit back and four minutes later the sides were on level terms when a high ball from David Clancy deceived the ‘Barrs ‘keeper David O’Gorman to dip under the crossbar into the corner of the net. A point from the impressive Fitzpatrick edged St Finbarrs into the lead but then Fermoy with Jeff Daly, Darragh O’Carroll, Colm Hynes, Jack Hutchins, sub Mattie Condon, who came in as an early replacement for the injured Muiris Bartley, and Mark O’Flynn increasing their efforts came more into the game and with four points from Hutchins, three from placed balls and one from play, they raced into the lead as half time approached. A well executed point from Cian Madden following a fine pass from Sean Keane reduced the deficit for the ‘Barrs but on the whistle Hynes kicked over a great point to see Fermoy go in at the break leading 1-05 to 1-02.
On the resumption St Finbarrs came out in a much more determined mood with Jamie Burns, David O’Brien, James Goggin, Patrick Wiley, Jonathan Holland, Robert Browner and Joe Fitzpatrick leading by example and within five minutes were on level terms after some excellent points from Holland, Fitzpatrick and sub Eoin McGreevy who was introduced at the break. Now playing with aid of the wind it now seemed that they would drive on from here but Fermoy were equal to the challenge and after a point from sub Michael Pyne saw the regain the lead they strengthened their position with a cracking goal from Mark Flynn after he had slipped inside the ‘Barrs rearguard to receive a brilliant pass from Colm Hynes. It was now advantage Fermoy and in fact they again had the ball in the net minutes later but they were found guilty of an infringement which resulted in a free out for their opponents. This was the wake up call the “City” side needed for they now knew that if they were to take the title they would have to up their performance and this they did when following a swift move involving Burns and Gearoid Neff, Wiley was on hand to finish the ball to the net in the 43rd minute to bring to within a point of their opponents 2-05 to 2-06. Gaining in confidence they began to take the game to their opponents with purpose and with well taken points from McGreevy and Goggin they took the lead. Maintaining their momentum they increased their advantage with a brace of superb points from Holland to lead 2-09 to 2-06 with the game entering its final phase. Fermoy were not going to let this game slip without a battle and they gave themselves some hope with a point from Condon after some fine work from Hutchins but a magnificent point from Fitzpatrick kept the ‘Barrs lead in tact. As the game was now in injury time Fermoy tried their utmost to secure a goal that would give them equality but the ‘Barrs defence stood solid and limited their opponents to a pointed free from Hutchins and in their final attack it was only fitting that Fitzpatrick would have the honour of sealing their victory with a powerful point to see them take the title on the final scoreline of 2-11 to 2-08 and deprive Fermoy’s ambition of an unique double after their Junior Hurlers success seven days earlier.
After the game the cup was presented to the winning captain, David O’Brien by Brid O’Donovan in the presence of Diarmuid O’Donovan Chairman of the Cork Co Minor Board.
Scorers: St Finbarrs Joe Fitzpatrick 1-04 (0-01 free); Pat Wiley 1-00; Jonathan
Holland 0-03 (0-01 free); Eoin McGreevy 0-02; Cian
Madden 0-01; James Goggin 0-01.
Fermoy Jack Hutchins 0-05 (0-04 frees); David Clancy 1-00;
Mark Flynn 1-00; Conor Hynes 0-01; Michael Pyne 0-01;
Mattie Condon 0-01.
Teams: St Finbarrs David O’Gorman; Alan O’Connor, Jamie Burns, Ian
Power; David O’Brien (Capt), Cormac Holland, Sean
Keane; James Goggin, Patrick Wiley; Cian Madden,
Jonathan Holland, Gearoid Neff; Joe Fitzpatrick, Dave
McCarthy, Robert Browner.
Subs: Eoin McGreevy for Dave McCarthy
Eoghan Kenefick for Joe Fitzpatrick (B/S)
Joe Fitzpatrick for Eoghan Kenefick
Fermoy Sam Burke; John Mullins, Jeff Daly, Kieran Dorgan;
Kieran Morrison, Darragh O’Carroll, Colm Hynes; Jack
Hutchins, Jack O’Driscoll; Ronan Gubbins, Sean
Shanahan, Muiris Bartley; Ian Brennan, Mark Flynn
(Capt), David Clancy.
Subs: Mattie Condon for Muiris Bartley (Inj)
Michael Pyne for David Clancy
John O’Flynn for Ronan Gubbins
Nicky Redmond for Kieran Morrison
Roy O’Riordan fro Jack O’Driscoll
Referee: James Birmingham (Bride Rvs)