Masita All Ireland Post Primary Schools Senior B Hurling Final

St. Raphael’s College, Loughrea 1-18 Castlecomer Community School 1-14

By Kevin Egan at Bord Na Mona O’Connor Park

St. Raphael’s College won their second ever All-Ireland senior title tthanks to a powerful all-round display that overcame Castlecomer Community School in Tullamore.

Kevin Broderick and Vinnie Maher were part of the team that won the Croke Cup for the school back in 1995, and on the evidence of this display there are plenty of young hurlers with the potential to go on and emulate those two Galway hurling stars with long inter-county careers of their own.

Captain Adrian Prendergast lifted the cup following an inspirational performance that saw him fire over seven points, four from play, while beside him Seán Connaughton produced some real moments of magic, including two sublime sideline cut points, to chip in with five.

However the man of the match honours went to centre back Evan Cox, who put in a resolute defensive performance. His use of the ball was impeccable and thoughtful throughout, while he crowned his hour’s hurling with a stunning score from midfield midway through the second half.

All across the field, however, Francis Forde was well-served by some impressive performers. Castlecomer got out to a fast start, with 2018 Kilkenny minor Jack Morrissey picking off the opening score and Ciarán Cooney following up with a close-range effort that was created by a blistering burst of pace through the heart of the defence.

However St. Raphael’s settled into the tie, inspired by their defence that began to get to grips with Castlecomer’s main attacking threats. They drew level by the fifth minute and now that both sides had found their feet, what followed was a splendid half hour of hurling, with plenty of pace and skill at both ends of the field.

The Galway school put daylight between the sides after 23 minutes when Conor Slattery – a late inclusion in the side to replace the injured John Cooney – made an acrobatic catch and sprinted through on goal, only to be denied by a crafty hook from Colm Kealy. However Slattery was able to get the ball back across the goal, and Mark O’Regan was on hand to flick it to the net. That put five points between the sides and that was how it stayed up until half time, with Morrissey, Connaughton and Alex Connaire among the scorers in the five minutes before the break.

St. Raphael’s led by 1-10 to 0-8 at the interval and their supporters would have been happier to see a slightly less frenetic third quarter, with the rate of scoring dropping considerably. Adrian Prendergast was the only scorer from play – albeit with one of the most skilful scores of the afternoon – in that quarter, after which the two schools had each added just two points.

The tempo picked up again for the closing stages however, with both schools enjoying brief periods of dominance. St. Raphael’s pushed the lead out to nine points after firing four points in a row through Darren Shaughnessy, Alex Connaire, Evan Cox and Mark O’Regan, but there was a finishing kick in Castlecomer. They shot three points in a row and then set up a dramatic finish through a great goal from substitute Bill Dowling, blasted into the top corner after a slaloming run from Ciarán Cooney opened up the defence.

That left Castlecomer just a goal adrift with three minutes of injury time to play, but the St. Raphael’s defence held firm and their win was confirmed when Prendergast split the uprights with his seventh point of the afternoon in the final attack of the contest.

Scorers for St. Raphael’s College, Loughrea: Adrian Prendergast 0-7 (3fs), Seán Connaughton 0-5 (1f, 165, 2 sidelines), Mark O’Regan 1-2, Alex Connaire 0-2, Evan Cox and Darren Shaughnessy 0-1 each.

Scorers for Castlecomer Community School: Jack Buggy 0-9 (7fs, 265s), Bill Dowling 1-0, Jack Morrissey 0-2, James Brennan (f), Eoin Cahill and Ciarán Cooney 0-1 each.

ST RAPHAEL’S, LOUGHREA: Cian Warde; Shane Morgan, Adam Nolan, Dean Moran; Ryan Keleghan, Evan Cox, Keith Dervan; Alex Connaire, Tiernan Killeen; Seán Connaughton, Adrian Prendergast, Aidan Fahy; Mark O’Regan, Conor Slattery, Darren Shaughnessy.

Subs used: John Cooney for Fahy (41), Ciarán Connaughton for Keleghan (56).

CASTLECOMER CS: Karl Downey; Conor McMahon, Colm Kealy, Dara Delaney; Dan Coogan, James Brennan, Chris Korff; Declan Buggy, Dean Bray; Eoin Cahill, Thomas Brennan, Jack Buggy; Michael Doyle, Jack Morrissey, Ciarán Cooney.

Subs: Bill Dowling for Doyle (HT) Billy O’Neill for Brennan (53).

REFEREE: Seán Stack (Dublin)