U15 Munster Football Victory for St. Josephs College, Borrisoleigh

St. Josephs College, Borrisoleigh 5-10

North Monastery, Cork 3-10

Well done to our fantastic u15 football team on their victory over a highly fancied Cork city side last week down in Ballypooreen. North Mon had accounted for Colaiste Mhuire of Thurles in round 1 so they would have been expecting to complete the double over Tipperary opponents but our boys were having none of that.

Playing against the breeze and the hill in the first half, North Mon made a flying start scoring 1-2 within 5 minutes and things were looking ominous, but man of the match Harry Stapleton got on the ball steadied the ship and set up Kevin Maher for our opening score. This settled everyone in the team and when goals from Fintan Holland and Kevin Maher as well as points from Evan Kearns and inspirational centre back and Captain Dan Ryan followed, St Josephs were in a great position but a late flurry of points from North Mon saw them take a 4 point lead to the break. This would have been greater only for the excellence of Darragh Quigley in goals and James Kelly ahead of him at full back.

A few positional changes and Bryan Murray’s introduction and St Josephs took the field knowing they had a huge task ahead. Little did anyone think they would only allow their opponents 2 points in the half. Within a few seconds of the throw in, Sean Dunne weaved him way through the Cork defence to smash the ball to the net. Spurred on by this, this drove on and rattled over three more pointed free`s and a Bryan Murray goal put daylight between the teams.

North Mon tried in vain to attack but the stout defence of Cian Stapleton, Adam Galvin and especially Luke Cooney who marked their star player out of the game. This allowed our midfield and half backs to break at pace. Cathal Hogan, Aidan Ryan and Mark Kinane worked their socks off to move the ball of pace up the field.

In the last ten minutes as North Mon looked for goals, the class of Borrisoleigh shone through. Time after time, Harry Stapleton, Dan Ryan and Kevin Maher orchestrated a supply of ball to the forwards and a brilliantly taken goal from Jack Fitzgerald as well as points from Evan Kearns and Sean Dunne again left 6 points in the difference as the whistle blew for full time.

This result sees St Josephs into the Munster quarter final with their opponents Colaiste Craoibhin of Fermoy in Cork. Best of luck lads.

Darragh Quigley,Adam Galvin, James Kelly, Cian Stapleton, Luke Cooney, Dan Ryan © Mark Kinane, Cathal Hogan, Aidan Ryan, Sean Dunne, Kevin Maher, Harry Stapleton, Evan Kearns, Fintan Holland, Jack Fitzgerald, Bryan Murray, Stephen Delahunty, Josh Young, Oisin Stapleton, Pauric Stapleton and Paul mc Cormack