Kerry Colleges

Colaiste na Sceilge produce a spell-binding Hogan Cup display

March 31st, 2009
by Weeshie Fogarty

I have been fortunate to have seen all three Hogan Cup finals won by Kerry colleges. The first was by St Brendan's College,Killarney way back in 1969 as captained by John O'Keeffe when they defeated St Marys, Galway. Seamus Moynihan captained them to their second title 23 years later as they beat famed St Jarlath's Tuam. In 1996 Mike Frank Russell was the star of Intermediate School Killorglin when they captured the Hogan Cup proving too good for St Patrick's Maghera.

However last Saturday's stunning victory by Colaiste Na Sceilge as the turned in a magnificent display to defeat St Patrick's, Dungannon in the Hogan Cup semi-final at Portlaoise surpassed any college display I have ever witnessed. And I must add that I have been a great admirer of Colleges football since I went to St Brendan's back in the late 50s.

This display by the South Kerry boys was unbelievable. And I must emphasise that my comments on this win are judged not just on the brand of football played by Colaiste Na Sceilge but by virtue of the fact that they were up against a Northern side that going on their record and their team on paper looked simply unbeatable. Dungannon were the holders. They had nine of last year's All-Ireland winning side in their ranks including four in inter-county minors.

Gavin Teague, Niall McKenna, Ciaran Gervin had played for Tyrone while David Laverty was an Armagh minor. These four boys played around the midfield area often referred to as the midfield diamond. The task facing the young men from South Kerry appeared to everyone near impossible. That is to everyone outside Colaiste Na Sceilge.

O we of little faith! We should have realised that any team of footballers leaving this football mad county, but particularly a side coached and trained by Jack O'Connor ably assisted by Micheal O'Shea, Niall O'Shea, Brian Moran and Brendan O'Shea, was capable of surmounting the greatest of obstacles. I had watched them struggle to win out in Kerry and Munster and those displays were certainly not good enough it appeared to reach the elusive and longed for AllIreland Hogan Cup final.

There was so much to admire and so much to gladden the heart as we looked on in total admiration last Saturday. From the throw in the lads simply tore into their Northern opponents never for one minute giving them the chance to play the style of football which saw them capture the Hogan Cup last year. Not alone, however, did Jack's boys display tremendous heart and commitment but the style, class, wonderful ball skill, deadly finishing and panache they displayed as they swept fordward in waves of attack was simply breathtaking. In attack both with and against a very stiff breeze they were on top of their game. Receiving lovely low ball, each and every man was always first to the ball rounding their markers and cutting in for some superb scores.

The final score speaks for itself: 3-10 to 1-6. And just one point came from a free. It was a total team effort. It had to be because to achieve a victory of this proportion every boy from one to fifteen (or should it be every man?) was required to lift his performance from previous games by at least 50%. Ian Galvin's two goals following wonderful support play were vital and clinically taken. Niall O'Shea with 1-2 was superb, the two points being lofted over from away out on the wing.

Then you had the manager's son at the verge of the big square. Eanna O'Connor was the near perfect full forward. Isolated for long periods he kicked five beautiful points, fielded high and low, passed with great precision as he teased and tormented the Dungannon lads for the whole hour. And then you had Damian Horgan in goal. An appropriate headline for this game might be "Horgan's double save sends Colaiste Na Sceilge on their winning way".

Ten minutes into the game Niall McKenna bust through for St Pat's. He was downed in the square. Up stepped Dermot Thornton to take the penalty. Jack O'Connor rushed down the wing, shouting to his goalkeeper to protect his left hand post. The kicker had scored here from a penalty in the Ulster final. Horgan dived to his left, parried the drive repeated the save from the rebound when a goal seemed certain and the rest is history. His old St Mary Cahersiveen club mate and former great Kerry goalkeeper of the 1950s Donal 'Marcus' O'Neill would have been proud of that double save.

Full back Mark Griffin was unbeatable while Max Thiemann in the middle of the field had the proverbial blinder. His display was crucial to the final result and ably assisted by centre fordward Damien Kelly and Dominic O'Sullivan they curtailed that afore mentioned midfield diamond. It must be stressed again that it was a complete team effort and this together with some brilliant well laid plans as to defending in depth and keeping it wide and open up front carried the day.

St Pats were shell shocked at the final whistle. I spoke to their trainer Ciaran Gormley and he admitted that they did not expect their Kerry opponents to lift their game to the extent which they did. `The holders, I believe, were over confident and cocky and when the tide turns against you in circumstances such as this it is near impossible to lift your game.

I make no apologies for lauding this display of magnificent Kerry football as I do. Yes, it was that great. Jack O'Connor will have his squad back to earth before this column is printed. A repeat display will be necessary to lift the Hogan Cup and defeat St Mary, Edenderry in the final. It's a big ask for the South Kerry school and following this victory they will most likely be installed as favourites. It's a dangerous situation and we look forward to the final with great anticipation.

Fogra: Congratulations to Kerry's John Evans on steering Tipperary to their second successive promotion in the National League. His two years with Tipp must rank as one of the great managerial success stories. No man deserves the accolades more that the genial Killarney based Garda. We will look at Kerry's unbeaten march to the League final next week.



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