Sport

St Raphael's unhinged by late St Flannan's burst

St Flannan's, Ennis cut loose in the last 10 minutes to shatter St Raphael's, Loughrea and take the All-Ireland Colleges senior…

By PAT ROCHE
Mon May 04 1998 - 01:00

St Flannan's, Ennis cut loose in the last 10 minutes to shatter St Raphael's, Loughrea and take the All-Ireland Colleges senior hurling title at Croke Park on Saturday.

A close, skilfully contested and see-saw match was suddenly transformed into one of inevitability by St Flannan's scoring blitz in the closing minutes.

St Flannan's looked capable from the start but the difficulties they encountered attempting to unhinge the well marshalled St Raphael's defence, inspired by Stephen Morgan for more than three quarters of the game, were finally overcome with style and panache.

The Ennis management would like to think that it was their sideline strategy in reshuffling their front six that brought about the collapse of the St Raphael's defence. However, it was a little more than that.

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The sides had been so closely matched that there was no real surprise that the sides were locked together (1-10 each) with 10 minutes remaining. A draw seemed on the cards when attack leader Tony Carmody, now operating on the right wing in a switch with his captain Brian Clancy, ignited the winning flurry with a point.

Then Cathal O'Reilly - another forward to be switched, from left half to left corner - came in on the end of a clever move involving Michael Greaney and top scorer John Casey to drill home a great goal.

Now, four points clear inside a minute, the St Flannan's raiders surged through the opening floodgates for Shane Mullane, Gerry Considine, Cathal O'Reilly (again), Clancy and Gerry Quinn to mercilessly extend the lead. It was reminiscent of Offaly's stunning win over Limerick in the 1994 All-Ireland final.

And it was every bit as sweet for St Flannan's, given the extent of St Raphael's earlier promise and sound hopes for a second title.

The timing of St Flannan's' final assault could not have been better. They recovered from being a point down in just over 19 minutes of the second half to finish up handsome winners by eight points. Packing 1-4 into a purple patch (49th to 51st minutes) proved the real hammer blow to the Galway boys' hopes.

All St Raphael's could manage in the final 11 minutes was a point from a free by Niall Kelly as their impressive performance for more than three-quarters of the match was replaced by a closing display of nervous errors and evaporating confidence.

St Raphael's could claim to have produced the man of the match in Stephen Morgan despite close challengers for the honour in St Flannan's' wing backs Brian McMahon and Dermot Gleeson. Gerry Quinn amd Gerry Considine eventually edged it over Donal Ward and Anthony Keane in midfield. Morgan, given great support by John Conroy especially, was the lynchpin of St Raphael's defence.

But St Flannan's finally found a way to unhinge the Galway side's defence through Cathal O'Reily, Tony Carmody, Brian Clancy, Michael Greaney, top scorer John Casey and Shane Mulholland and take their 12th All-Ireland title.

St Flannan's: G Howard; T McNamara, K Kennedy, C Plunkett; B McMahon, B Geary, D Gleeson; G Quinn (0-2) G Considine (0-2); B Clancy (0-1), T Carmody (0-1), C O'Reilly (1- 2); M Greaney (1-0), J Casey (0-7, four frees), S Mullane (0-1).

St Raphael's: J O'Loughlin; K Egan, D McClearn, J Conroy; C Murray, S Morgan (0-1), P Tierney; D Ward, A Keane (0-1); G Keary (0- 5, one free), J Dooley, P Garvey; N Kelly (0-3, two frees), K Daniels (1-1), A Morgan.

Referee: A MacSuibhne (Dublin).

Tyrone's explosive start provided them with the perfect launch pad in the Ulster Minor League final at Ballybofey on Saturday, two early goals by Damien Kelly and Darren O'Hanlon setting them on their way to a 2-7 to 0-8 win over Derry.