Cobh edge Erin's Own in thrilling U21 B FC final

  • Nov 13,2026

Cobh 2-14
 
Erin’s Own 3-10

 

A couple of last gasp frees from Scott Molloy made the difference as Cobh came from behind to defeat Erin’s Own and win the Mulcahy Steel U21 B Football Championship final at Park South Midleton on Wednesday evening.

 

It was a brilliant battle, especially in the second period, where Cobh saw themselves go from five points clear after 40 minutes to two behind with only two minutes to go.
 
Erin’s Own had produced a brilliant second half fightback, sparked after three quarters of an hour when sub Peter O’Shea launched a deep ball in over the top for Darragh O’Sullivan, who gathered and blasted to the roof of the net, leaving it 3-4 to 1-11.
 
Immediately though Cobh responded with their second goal – albeit with a little fortune – as Erin’s Own players Thomas Lynch and Darragh Jeffers collided and went down, before Kai O’Neill swooped in to pick up the loose ball and drive it home to restore Cobh’s four point advantage.

 

Erin’s Own remained undeterred though, as Darragh O’Sullivan assisted both Matt O’Riordan and Ryan Dineen for white flags. Then, in the 55th minute, a sublime two-pointer from O’Shea restored parity for Erin’s Own.
 
Points from Darragh O’Connell and O’Sullivan followed and suddenly Erin’s Own were two ahead and poised for victory.

 

Evan Cummins popped up with a crucial score for Cobh in the 59th minute to end their run of 12 minutes without a score, and then Molloy sent over a free to level it for the fourth time on the hour mark.

 

Then, deep into added time, Charlie Morrissey won a close-range free which Molloy converted, pushing Cobh in front. Erin’s Own tried desperately to find a leveller in the time that followed, but to no avail.

 

Cobh march on to face St Colum’s in the county quarter-final this weekend.

 

The first half had begun at a much slower pace. A two-pointer from Morrissey gave Cobh a 0-2 to 0-1 advantage after 10 minutes, but the concession of two goals would see them fall way back.

 

O’Sullivan – who was superb at wing-forward for Erin’s Own – was involved in the creation of both and the finishing of one, as he sent a kick pass into Jack Norton, then roamed in to receive possession back and blast home the first on 11 minutes. Then, with 15 played, he worked it again to Norton, who set up Matt O’Riordan for the close-range finish.

 

At 2-1 to 0-2 Erin’s Own were in a strong position, but Cobh worked their way back into it, as Molloy dropped into midfield for kickouts, giving them a strong platform on Erin’s Own restarts.

 

They had reduced the deficit to four after 21 minutes and drew level shortly after when Stevie Dennis and Cummins both kicked two-pointers, leaving it 2-2 to 0-8 at the break.

 

Erin’s Own nudged ahead on the restart, but scores from O’Neill and Molloy gave Cobh the upper hand once again, just in time for Jack O’Shea’s goal in the 40th minute, which pushed them five clear.

 

Though they still prevailed, Cobh were made work very hard for it in the final quarter.


Scorers for Cobh: S Molloy 0-5 (0-4 f), K O’Neill 1-1, J O’Shea 1-0, S Dennis (1 tp), E Cummins (1 tp) 0-3 each, C Morrissey 0-2 (1 tp).

 

Scorers for Erin’s Own: D O’Sullivan 2-1, M O’Riordan 1-1, T O’Riordan 0-4 (0-2 f, 0-1 45), P O’Shea 0-2 (1 tp), D O’Connell, R Dineen 0-1 each.
 
Cobh

 

1. Ruairi Matthews

 

2. Ryan McCormick, 3. Jake Doody, 4. Aaron Cahill

 

7. Charlie Morrissey, 6. Jack Barrett, 5. Alex O’Mahony

 

9. Oisin Dorgan, 8. Timmy Wilk

 

12. Theo Foley, 11. Evan Cummins, 10. Stevie Dennis

 

15. Kai O’Neill, 14. Scott Molloy, 13. Jack O’Shea

 

Subs: 23. Jack Leahy for Morrissey (21 inj), Morrissey for Dennis (35 inj), 21. Luca O’Regan for McCormick (57).

 

Erin’s Own

 

1. Tadhg Cronin

 

4. Darragh Jeffers, 3. Brian Nolan, 18. Thomas Lynch

 

17. Sam Foley, 9. Donnacha Collins, 7. Darragh O’Connell

 

8. Billy Lynch, 6. Cian Dunphy

 

10. Darragh O’Sullivan, 11. Ryan Dineen, 12. Tom O’Riordan

 

15. Jack Norton, 14. Matt O’Riordan, 13. Dylan Mulcahy

 

Subs: 23. Peter O’Shea for Mulcahy (41), 2. Dara Murphy for Jeffers (47), 19. Fionn Morrissey for B Lynch (53), 20. Jack McGrath for Foley (60).

 

Referee: Peter O’Donovan (Carraig na bhFear)