THREE County Under-20 Football Championship finals were decided at the tail end of last year.
In the Premier showdown, ice-cool Mark O’Brien clinically dispatched home a late penalty to earn Mungret St Paul’s a dramatic 1-14 to 0-13 win over Oola at Mackey Park, Ahane.
Up until O’Brien’s conversion, following a spot award after a foul on Conor Mangan, the tie appeared on course for a time extension.
Rory Mullins and Luke Walsh both chipped in with three lovely points each for a team well-managed by influential senior full-forward Shane Barry.
With this merited win, Mungret thus secured a truly historic Minor, Under-20, and Senior titles in 2025.
The senior triumph of Kevin O’Hagan’s outfit – at the expense of Newcastle West in the final – marked the club’s breakthrough at this level.
In the A contest, Drcomcollogher/Broadford edged out Galtee Gaels, 3-18 to 1-13, following extra time, at Kilmallock’s Fitzgerald Park.
Ryan Sheehan (2) and Rory O’Dell grabbed goals for the victors, while Conor McNamara landed ten points for the runners-up.
In the B decider, St Kieran’s defeated Naomh Eoin (Hospital/Herberststown and Knockainey), 2-12 to 0-12, in Mungret.
The crucial scores came in either half from Mikey Kelly and Jack O’Sullivan, who top-scored with a terrific 1-5.
Winning captain was the neat defender Fionn Gleeson.
Interesting, the inaugural County Final at Under-21 (as it was back then and for many years) was 60 years ago.
In that contest of 1965 (not played until ‘66), St Patrick’s beat Newcastle West, 1-8 to 0-3, in Askeaton.
St. Patrick’s: Wally Moloney; Billy Ryan, John Griffin, Brian Hogan; Richard O’Connor, John Frost, Tom Barry; Tom O’Sullivan, Michael Collopy; John Moloney, Brendan Cross, Brian Cobbe; Donie Russell, Tom O’Brien, Vincent Phelan.
Patrick’s also captured the hurling equivalent back in ‘65, defeating Caherline (10-11 to 4-3) in the final.