Five star display from Breckan’s yields championship glory

St Breckan’s celebrate winning the U15B football championship. Photograph: Gerard O’Neill

A five star display from St Breckan’s who bounced back superbly from last year’s final defeat to finally capture the Under 15 Division 2 Football title following a 5-8 to 0-11 victory over Kildysart/Coolmeen.

St Breckan’s 5-08
Kildysart/Coolmeen 1-11
Venue: Cusack Park, Ennis

St Breckan’s are destined for a regional Féile tournament in Nenagh this Saturday after also securing a county Féile and Championship double, in Division 2 in the opening match in the Park.

The sensational scoring power of Cathal McNamara (1-3), Michael Normoyle (1-2) and Adam Howley (1-0) were worth the admission fee alone but while it took 23 minutes for their opening goal when midfielder Donnacha O’Dwyer was on the end of a flowing passing move.

Within minutes, that goal tally has expanded to three after midfield partner Jack O’Loughlin and a superb solo goal for Cathal McNamara blitzed Kildysart/Coolmeen on their way to a 3-3 to 0-3 interval cushion.

True to form, Oran Meaney led the amalgamation recovery on the restart, grabbing two of Kildysart/Coolmeen’s three point rally lessened the damage to six. However, St Breckan’s emphatically slammed the door of opportunity shut when a teasing ball over the top was duly finished to the net by Normoyle.

Kildysart/Coolmeen kept up the fight, mainly through Ben Sheehan, Meaney, Liam Casey and substitute Andrew Watson. However, their comeback attempts would be continually thwarted, with Adam Howley firing a cinching fifth goal down the other end for St Breckan’s to seal a 5-8 to 0-11 win, twelve months after losing the 2022 equivalent.

Scorers for St Breckan’s: Cathal McNamara (1-3); Michael Normoyle (1-2); Donnacha O’Dwyer, Adam Howley (1-1 each); Jack O’Loughlin (1-0); Rian O’Neill (0-1 each)

Scorers for Kildysart/Coolmeen: Oran Meaney (0-5, 4f); Liam Casey, Ben Sheehan (0-2 each); Kelan Casey, Aidan Murrihy (0-1 each)

St Breckan’s
1: Rory McNamara

4: Darren Fitzpatrick
3: Noah Nibbering
2: Eoghan Shannon

5: Tristan O’Loughlin
6: Rian O’Neill
7: Gavin Fitzgerald

8: Jack O’Loughlin
9: Donnacha O’Dwyer

10: John McDonnell
11: Cathal McNamara
12: Luke Callaghan

15: Michael Normoyle
14: Adam Howley
13: Ronan Garrihy

Subs
21: Conor Kelly for Shannon (47)
20: Hayden Roosa for Callaghan (52)
17: Darragh O’Dwyer for Fitzgerald (55)
22: Darragh Colleran for T. O’Loughlin (56)
23: Cathal O’Leary for Normoyle (57)
24: Paddy Lawless for Howley (62)

Kildysart/Coolmeen
1: TJ O’Donoghue

4: Oisin Garry
3: James Casey
5: Shane Casey

7: Siney Neenan
6: Darragh Murtagh
2: Ryan Keane

8: Reuben Ginnane
9: Ben Sheehan

10: Aidan Murrihy
11: Liam Casey
12: Kelan Casey

15: Oran Meaney
14: Daniel Moloney
13: Mark Kennedy

Subs
17: Alex Garry for Keane (27)
20: Andrew Watson for Ginnane (42)
18: James Eyres for O. Garry (45)
19: William Neenan for Kennedy (51)
16: Aidan Tompkins for Moloney (55)
21: Cuan Meaney for A. Garry (61)

Referee: Barry Kelly (St Joseph’s Miltown)