Kinsale CS U15 footballers crowned Munster champs

KINSALE Community School’s U15 footballers rounded off 2018 in style when, for the first time, a team from the school was crowned Munster champions.

It was Kerry opposition, Causeway Comprehensive, in the way in the Munster U15 C final at Ballyagran in Limerick, a game where there were more goals scored than points, but crucially it was Kinsale who came out on top, winning 5-6 to 4-2.

Kinsale opened the scoring with a point from Matthew Higgins and with Riordan Stewart superb in midfield, they winners had one of the game’s standout performers.

Kinsale CS are a very athletic team and when they attacked in force, the Causeway school found it hard to cope. Powerful runs from the O’Callaghan twins along with Paul Graham and Charlie Sheehan helped Kinsale get the first goal of the game. It was a great move up the pitch and James Murphy was on the end of it to finish the ball in the back of the net. Kinsale now led 1-1 to 0-0 after 10 minutes.

Causeway responded with a goal of their own but Kinsale’s lead was stretched to 2-2 to 1-0 by the break after a goal from Louis Allman and a Matthew Higgins’ point.

Kinsale full back Jason Russell was on top of his game all through, he made sure his side had a strong foundation in defence at all times. The full-forward line of Daniel O’Donovan, Louis Allman and James Murphy had the Causeway backs under serious pressure in the second half. Daniel O’Donovan got on the end of a few moves but the Causeway goalkeeper made a few fantastic saves. 

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Kinsale opened up a nine-point lead. Causeway got on top then and soon there was only three points between the teams with ten minutes left. 

Kinsale CS responded well and finished strong with points from Max Cronin, Matthew Higgins and a late goal from Daniel O’Donovan sealed the win. Overall it was a well-deserved victory and a great achievement for to win a first-ever Munster football championship for the school.