Fr. Caseys - County Minor Champions

Fr. Caseys 1-08, St. Kierans 0-08

Fr. Caseys travelled to the Gaelic Grounds on the third Sunday in October hoping to bridge a four year gap and capture the clubs 8th county minor title. Standing in their way was a very experienced St. Kierans team who were tipped by many pundits as favourites.

Playing into the breeze Fr. Caseys were the first to raise the white flag when Darren Keane pointed in the opening minutes. St. Kierans soon responded with a brace of points to take the lead after five minutes. For the next fifteen minutes neither team registered a score with both defences coming out on top. In this period St. Kierans dominated the possession stakes but some poor shooting and a tight Fr. Caseys defence under the guidance of Tommy O’Keefe kept the deficit at one point. After twenty minutes St. Kierans doubled their advantage with their third point and they could have been further in front only for a great save by James O’ Mara. From the next attack the ball travelled to Chris Smith and he rattled the crossbar from thirty yards. TJ Lane was first to react, he picked up the rebound and kicked a fine point. The momentum was now with Fr. Caseys and they levelled the scores when Jack Breen converted a twenty yard free.  Daniel Daly then lost his marker and kicked Fr. Caseys fourth point to leave the men from Abbeyfeale leading at the break. Fr. Caseys were fortunate to be in front after a poor opening twenty minutes. Thankfully we were more clinical in front of goal and the team finished the half in positive fashion. The half time score was Fr. Caseys 0-04, St. Kierans 0-03

St. Kierans levelled the scores early in the second half with a pointed free. The next score went to Fr. Caseys thanks to the boot of Paudie Walsh, making his mark after being introduced into the game. Jack Breen soon doubled the lead and Fr. Caseys were now looking a more dominant force. After fifteen minutes Fr. Caseys delivered the killer blow to St. Kierans hopes. Shane O’Connor picked up the ball on the forty five and evaded several tackles to rifle the ball into the St. Kierans net. Leading by five points Fr. Caseys were now in the ascendancy. St. Kierans don’t know how to give up and a pointed free reduced the margin but with ten minutes remaining Darren Keane kicked a wonderful point from thirty five yards to restore the five point cushion. Fr. Caseys dropped deeper to hold onto their lead but this gave St. Kierans more reason to attack. Three consecutive points from St. Kierans made the closing stages extremely nervous but Jack Breen stepped up to the mark once more to kick the assurance point for Fr. Caseys. When the final whistle went there were joyous celebrations from the fealesiders. The team that Georgie Browne built along with the guidance of Tomas Cahill, John Lenihan and Andrew Scannell had got their reward. The final score was Fr. Caseys 1-08, St. Kierans 0-08.

The team captain Eoin Kelly gladly accepted the cup to the delighted of the large Abbeyfeale crowd present. He thanked his management team and fellow players as well as giving a special mention to St. Kierans who pushed them all the way in a highly enjoyable and sporting game. It has been a long road for our minors. There were worrying times and times when we questioned if the conveyor belt of underage talent in Abbeyfeale was coming to an end. Today every question was answered by a gallant bunch of warriors. Fr. Caseys are still the underage kingpins of Limerick football and someday soon we hope to dominate the Senior ranks. Congratulations to everyone involved in this team, the club and the town of Abbeyfeale are extremely proud of you.

Team: James O’Mara, Joe Browne, Tommy O’Keefe, Paddy Lane, Keith Hartnett, John Quirke, Darragh Quirke, Shane O’Connor, Tim Tobin, Chris Smith, Daniel Daly, Darren Keane, TJ Lane, Eoin Kelly, Jack Breen; Jack Madden, Patrick Brislane, Paudie Walsh, Darren Foley, Liam O’Connor, Jamie O’Connor, Dean Hartnett, Danny Hartnett, Peter Browne, Tommy Enright