Eight-goal St Finbarr’s power to Division 5 title

St Finbarr’s were crowned Callaghan Electrical U17 Division 5 championship winners after an eight-goal performance overwhelmed Mountnugent in a final which was decided by the winners ability to create and score goals.

Shaun Crowe led the charge with 3-3, while Iarlaith O’Reilly and Thomas Pierce contributed two goals apiece. Their willingness to attack defenders and seek out goal chances proved decisive, particularly after the interval when they turned a five-point advantage into a commanding victory.

Mountnugent started brightly with the wind behind them. Eddie Tynan pointed from the throw-in before Callum Lynch landed an excellent two-pointer to establish a three-point lead.

St Finbarr’s responded immediately, Matthew Ferrick’s strong solo run creating the opening for Iarlaith O’Reilly to find the net and level matters after four minutes. Lynch restored Mountnugent’s advantage with a free and a left-footed point after they won the opposition kick-out. Dara Brunton then converted a close-range free following a foul on Nathan Snell, putting three points between the sides again.

However, St Finbarr’s were already showing their threat. Fionan Smith pointed from 25 metres before Pierce, fouled as he bore down on goal, converted the resulting penalty to put them ahead.

Crowe added a point from recycled possession and, although Lynch replied, another Crowe score at the end of a quick break maintained St Finbarr’s momentum. Tynan then supplied Lynch for another well-taken point, while goalkeeper Dylan Foster produced a superb save to deny Brunton a goal.

That intervention was followed by a productive spell from O’Reilly. Two frees in quick succession preceded his second goal, finished emphatically after exchanging passes with Pierce. St Finbarr’s now led by 3-5 to 0-8, with Brunton’s point reducing the deficit to five at half-time.

The opening stages of the second half proved crucial. Foster’s ’45 was stopped on the line, but Crowe reacted quickest to force the rebound into the net. O’Reilly added a free before Brunton responded following another foul on the industrious Snell.

Foster then landed a superb two-point free from 50 metres as St Finbarr’s began to take control. Smith fisted over, O’Reilly added another point and captain Lorcan Monahan also fisted a score after his side secured Mountnugent’s kick-out.

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